I really like David. He was so “real.” David was in touch with his feelings, inspired and able to communicate to us exactly how he felt. He had a demonstrable and full range of emotions. I like that because I do too. Full range. And, if you catch me at the right moment, you’ll see them – full range.

But, when we look at David in Psalm 51, we encounter a humbled David. Nathan, the prophet has spoken with David and convicted him of his sin. I can only imagine the depth and weight of what David was feeling at the time. Afterall, he had committed adultery and arranged for a murder to cover up his indiscretions. Yet, even still, David, recognizing his depravity went to the Lord with a cry out for mercy. He opens the Psalm with a request – have mercy!

He is very clear and doesn’t spend time beating around the bush with the Lord. He recognizes that he is in need of mercy from our Righteous God. And, he recognizes that he needs it in abundance for he says “have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” [KJV, verse 1] Now, this is significant. David is not looking for “a little dab will do ya” type mercy. He is asking God to have mercy according to His own attributes. He is asking according to God’s loving kindness, which is limitless. He is asking for mercy according to God’s abundant mercy when he says “unto the multitude…” God is never short on anything and David, in full recognition of his state and God’s ability, is asking for mercy. He is crying out to God for as much mercy as possible.

And, when he makes his case here, he then goes forward asking God to blot out his transgressions. Oh, he knows he doesn’t deserve this to be done, but he is asking in faith that it might be done, according to the attributes of God.

We sin too. For some of us, we go to the Lord seeking mercy. We are humble before the Lord in the same spirit of reverence like David. Yet some of us do not approach our sins this way. Sometimes we get stiff neck and defiant when confronted with our sin. We approach forgiveness of our sins in our own strength. But I wonder what would happen if you would just let go of your own strength and depend on His. Would you humble yourself and admit that you have sinned, confess your sin and then go to the Lord and ask Him to have mercy?