Psalm 51 (Day 36): Drop after Drop

Holy Spirit, 

I thank You for teaching me, 

for instructing me in the way I should go. 

Enlighten my heart and illumine my mind 

to receive the truths of the Holy Word today. 

In Christ's name, I humbly pray. 

Amen.

On this thirty-sixth morning of my 50 days of waiting for Pentecost Sunday (scheduled for June 8 this year), I reach a new verse, which reads,

"Save me from bloodguilt, O God,

the God who saves me,

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness."

Ps 51:14, NIV

The above is a special verse because it is the only on in the whole psalm that plainly addresses a specific sin -- bloodguilt, which stands for murder. While verses 1-13 talk about his sin in general terms (transgressions, iniquity, sin, sins, evil, sinful, transgressors, sinners), verse 14 places all sins under one umbrella: bloodguilt.

What is so special about that?

For one thing, from a purely practical perspective, David was aware that his sins warranted the death penalty. As such, his request for salvation from bloodguilt might simply be an urgent plea so that his life might not be struck by God. David might also have been asking to be saved from the potential vengeance coming his way from Uriah's family and friends. He might also have been referring to the emotional turmoil that has been ravaging his heart ever since the prophet Nathan confronted him over his lust, adultery, murder, and cover-up.

More importantly, this request points to verse 4 where David said,

"Against You, You only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in Your sight,

so that You are proved right when You speak

and justified when You judge."

Along those lines, David's bloodguilt is reminiscent of Cain's wickedness of which God said,

"What have you done? Listen! 

Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground."

Gen 4:10, NIV

Indeed, so much "blood" cried out to God from David's actions.

Drop
Drop
Drop

drop . . .
     . . . after . . .
             . . . drop . . .

David's lustful heart
. . . drop . . .

Bathsheba's shame
. . . drop . . .

Uriah's death
. . . drop . . .

the conspiracy of David's accomplices
. . . drop . . . 

the stench of David's cover-up
. . . drop . . .

and so much more

drop . . .
     . . . after . . .
             . . . drop . . .

What about you and me?
How much bloodguilt do we have on our hands?

For each hate-filled look directed at our fellow man, a drop cries out to God. For each lustful thought aimed at someone other than our spouse, a drop screams to the Father. For each conniving word, each slanderous comment, each neglected task, each aggravating sigh, each abusive deed, each betraying kiss . . . drop after drop of blood moans, sighs, laments, erupts into a great crescendo saying: 

"O Christ, 

I fell upon the ground for You." 

impatience
insolence
ingratitude
immorality
impurity
irritation

drop . . .
     . . . after . . .
             . . . drop . . .

And each such drop trickles until it mingles with that of Christ for His great and holy purposes -- to guide us to a point of desperate need for the sufficiency of Christ's own blood.

O, what grace!

That You would transform our guilt into gratitude for the gift of Your righteousness, O Christ, is too much for me to fathom, too lofty for me to attain! Thank You, Jesus!!!