Psalm 51 (Day 12): God's Delete Button

Pentecost Sunday (June 8) is only thirty-eight days away. It is a day that commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after the resurrection and ascension of Christ (see Acts 2:1-4). Since the disciples waited fifty days for the Comforter and Counselor, and since waiting is about gaining wisdom, I am in the midst of my own 50 days of waiting as the Holy Spirit imparts His wisdom to my heart from Psalm 51.

On this twelfth morning, I turn once again to David's penitential psalm.

So far, we have read, 

"For the director of music. A psalm of David.
When the prophet Nathan came to him 
after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

Have mercy on me, O God,

according to Your unfailing love,

according to Your great compassion

blot out my transgressions."
Psalm 51:1, NIV

Holy Spirit, please teach us as we meditate further upon this truth.

In the last line of the first verse, David appeals to God's unfailing love and great compassion in his request, " . . . blot out my transgressions . . ."



What does God's unfailing love promise to us? 


It promises unlimited patience and kindness; it grants us access to the Father's gentleness, forgiveness, meekness, faithfulness, goodness, humility, and joy; it reminds us that God always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, and never ever fails.



What does God's great compassion tell us?


It communicates that God forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our lives from the pit, crowns us with love and mercy, satisfies our desires with good things, renews our youth like the eagle's, works righteousness and justice on our behalf, treats us much better than our sins deserve, removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west.



How does God blot out our transgressions?

" . . . I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more."

Jeremiah 31:34, NIV


He wipes us clean like a parent changes a baby -- removing the soiled diaper, wiping the flesh clean, and replacing the nasty diaper with a fresh and clean one. At the end of a diapering session, most parents kiss their little ones; God kisses us when He changes us. 

Moreover, our transgressions are like ink. In Old Testament times, ink was typically a mixture of water with soot or powdered charcoal; though it was black, it could be easily removed with a damp cloth. Such is what the Lord does for us.



Through the Lord Jesus Christ, the Father fulfills the covenant He made with His people. He made blotting out transgressions possible through Christ's broken body and His shed blood. By the life-changing power of His death and resurrection, transgressors are covered with the righteousness of the Son. 

Sins are forgiven.
Deaf ears are unlocked. 
Hearts are changed within.
Intimacy with the father is restored.

Oh, the beauty of His grace is a marvel to behold! 
God has a delete button and He uses it freely when we repent. 
Praise His name!

I cannot think of a more blessed thought than the presence of the Rock of ages being with me, walking with me, securing my foot in dire straits, and blotting out my transgressions when I disobey His ever true Word. Indeed, I find comfort in knowing that it is a solid, a firm foundation I have in Him.

"How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

What more can He say than to you He hath said

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? 

When through fiery trials, thy pathway shall lie

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply

The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."

Extracted from How Firm a Foundation, John Rippon

Dear Comforter, Counselor, and faithful Friend of mine, I thank You for loving me. You know my name -- O, the blessed thought! That my name passes through Your glorious lips is GRACE, lavish grace too expansive for me to fathom. You are not ashamed to be associated with me. You are my Rock, my anchor, my true North. You have Your washcloth, Your delete button, your eraser ever ready to blot out my numerous transgressions. You never, EVER, forsake me. Thank You for Your firm grip clinging to me when the floods of temptations rise and when the wildfires of disobedience rage within me and around. I do not trust my own slippery fingertips; I trust Your hold on me. Help, guide, and instruct me, Holy Spirit, to lean on Christ. Though all hell break loose and endeavor to pry my soul apart from You, I thank You for holding onto me so that I may never forsake You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen!