Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

This is a psalm pleading for reconciliation with the LORD, God, the Almighty's favor and help. Beautiful. Can't you hear this great plea as David sang it and as we do today?Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” I have shivers running up and down my spine as I type that beautifully succinct line. I don't need to arrange for the murder of my best friend; I was born in sin. Yet I can come to Yahweh, as David, pleading for restoration, can I become a man after God's own heart as David was?

I need to be moved to my knees as I think of my transgressions; I need to learn to be remorseful, not seeking ways to minimize my sin.