«Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions» (Psalm 51:1).
For years while we lived in Buenos Aires, we had a dog in the house. We adopted her when she was a couple of years old. She was half German shepherd, and her name was Pamela. Pamela loved hearing my sister Betina play the piano. She would sit with her head resting against a wall and fall asleep listening to the music. Pamela loved to eat the remains of our food—especially the pizza crusts—and catch raindrops. What my dog really hated was bath time. You had to bribe her with cookies in order to bathe her. In all the years we had her, and thank God there were many, that never changed. Pamela always hated soap and water.
Repentance involves voluntarily undergoing cleaning. After Nathan confronted him for his sin with the wife of Uriah, David composed Psalm 51. Pay attention to the language David used in this prayer that was sung, «Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin» (v. 2). «Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow» (v. 7). The Holy Spirit, like a mirror, showed David his filthiness, and David begged Him to be cleansed. You don’t have to bribe Him or push Him. David desperately begged, «Have mercy upon me . . . blot out my transgressions!»
Imagine walking through the countryside and encountering a skunk. The animal is scared when it sees you and, before you can run away, sprays you with its stinking spray. What would you do? You’d run back to your house. You’d shower five times with all the scented products you found in your bathroom, and then burn the clothes you were wearing. Sin is much more foul-smelling, but the difference is that only Christ can cleanse us.
David was right! True repentance involves telling God: «Do what you have to do, but please take this stain off me.»
«Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin 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» (Psalm 51:1, 2, 7-9).
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
