In this Psalm, David prays for a heart that would be
firm in the purposes of virtue, a heart that would not yield to temptation.
David had sinned and was rebuked by the prophet Nathan (2 Sam 12:1-14). Thank
God for man like Nathan: for had he not had the courage to approach the king
and reprove him, David would continue in his sins. David was dead in his sins
until Nathan woke him up. It just tells us that we need to tell a person of his
sin and perhaps save his soul from damnation (James 5:20). Some will not know
the things they are doing are wrong until a kind soul wakes him up.
Solomon wrote: “Because sentence against an evil
work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully
set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). If you do not discipline a
child who has done wrong, he will just get worse in his character and will grow
up a wayward teenager and a worse adult. The Holy Spirit says: “Withhold not
correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not
die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from
hell” (Proverbs 23:13-14).
David was made to see his sin and it was awful. He was
before a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). But that was before he committed
adultery and murder. He knew his sin was against God. He didn’t want to go back
to his sinning way again. He went to God and asked God for help: “Create in
me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
The word “renew” here means to make new; to produce
something new. It is also used in the sense of making anew, as applied to
buildings in the sense of “rebuilding” or “repairing” them. The language is
that of one who had done right formerly, but who had fallen into sin, and who
desired that he might be brought back into his former condition.
David asked for a NEW spirit; one that is right with
God. It means one that is constant and firm, steadfast, not yielding to
temptation, and one that is walking right with God. In such a world as this, we
do need a firm spirit to overcome temptations and remain steadfast in the
faith. We need to have a clean heart and a right spirit with God.
But many, even some Christians, want a “free spirit”.
It means they want to be free from commandments; they want to do what please
them. The elders can’t tell them what to do. You just can’t get them to change
and be a true Christians. They won’t change! They want to be free! David did
not ask for a “free” spirit; he asked for a “right” spirit”. He wanted to be
right with God. Is your spirit right with God?
Today is the first day of a new year. What better
resolution to make than this same one that David made: “Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
When the heart is right, everything else falls into
its own place: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Christ warned about a sinful heart: “For
out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19).
We really need a clean heart and a new spirit! As we
begin a New Year, let us ask God for a clean heart, a heart that strives to
live holy life (1 Peter 1:15). And let us renew our spirit, a spirit that is
not idle but one that is fervent, and serving the Lord (Romans 12:11; 1
Corinthians 15:58).
Have a Blessed and Happy New Year.
Jimmy Lau
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