Psalm 51

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (v7).  Though Jesus had not yet come, the ancient saints understood that forgiveness was only possible through God’s mercy.  “For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it” (v16).  After falling into terrible sin, the psalmist recognized that ritual alone would not make him clean again.  He approached God with “a broken and a contrite heart,” asking for mercy.  He had sinned against God; only God could give him a clean heart (v10).

A thousand good deeds couldn’t erase the psalmist’s sin.  Only God can forgive, purify, and restore the joy of salvation (v12).