August 8

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. — Ps 51:1 BSB

This psalm perfectly fits the needs and feelings of every sinner who recognizes their condition. You don’t have to commit David’s sin to share in his repentance, confessions, and cries to God. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love,” he pleads. It’s often one of the first prayers a convicted sinner offers. It was the cry of the tax collector in the temple, and when it is genuine, God will surely hear, because He is full of love for repentant sinners.

David also pleads with God to “blot out my transgressions according to your abundant mercy.” Our sins—whether in thought, word, or deed—are countless, each one deserving punishment. But God’s mercies far exceed the multitude of our sins. Just as we see the stars in the sky or the sands on the shore, so God’s tender mercies outnumber them all. And how great was His mercy in sending His own Son to suffer and die for us!

David’s prayer continues: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Only God’s cleansing can remove the stain of sin. Even if we could shed oceans of tears, it wouldn’t wash away one sin. But the blood of Christ cleanses us completely. The Lord brings us to see and feel the weight of our sin, so that we might recognize that our pardon must come freely from Him—and every soul that experiences this feels the truth of it deeply.