Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

What does this mean?

David wrote this psalm after the prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba, and it is a prayer of honest repentance. He asks God to 'create' a clean heart in him, using the same word the Bible uses for God creating the world, so David is asking for something only God can do. He also asks God to renew a 'right spirit' in him, which means a steady and true spirit, because his own heart has proven it cannot fix itself.

What does this teach us?

A clean heart is God's work, not yours. David does not promise to try harder; he asks God to make something new in him, and that is the honest prayer of anyone who has seen the depth of their own sin.

How can we apply this?

If you know your heart needs cleaning, pray David's prayer in your own words: God, make my heart clean. Do not start with a plan to be better; start with the God who creates, and let him do the new work in you.

Related KJV passages

• “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

  1 John 1:9

• “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

  Psalm 32:8

• “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

  Psalm 30:5