Give Me A Clean Heart
Create in me a clean heart,
O God. And renew a steadfast spirit in me.
Psalm 51: 10
"Give
Me a Clean Heart." These are words I have prayed, meditated on, stated loudly and uttered softly for many years.
But one day as I prayed these words, there was a stirring in my spirit that caused me to pause. After which, I was led to
look deeper into why this proverbial petition was first prayed by King David, then by countless others for
centuries.
Most of us know the history-making story of King David and Bathsheba. David’s
lust for Bathsheba led to an adulterous affair, between them, and her pregnancy. Subsequently, in an attempt to cover up his
sin, David endeavors to get Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah ( a very loyal soldier to David) home
from war to be with her. When his attempts fail, he then orders that Uriah be positioned on the frontline in the “fiercest”
battle, then purposely left alone to intentionally have him murdered.
After Bathsheba’s time of mourning for her husband’s death passes, seven days,
David brings her to his house, takes her as his wife, and she then gives birth to their son. But the Bible says: “the
thing David had done displeased the LORD.” II Samuel
11: 27
The LORD sends Nathan, the Prophet, to rebuke David. He shares a story in the manner
of a parable, with David, about a rich man who has a very large number of sheep and a poor man who has nothing except one
little ewe (female) lamb. He tells how the rich man who has everything, for his own selfish use, takes and kills the lamb,
the only possession the poor man had. David thinks the story is factual, and the Bible says that
David burned with anger against the man, and declares, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves
to die!” But, of course, in reality the story is about the sin David has committed, so Nathan says to
David “You are the man!” Nathan then begins to declare the Word of the LORD to David. David’s
eyes are opened and he then confesses, “I have sinned against the LORD.” II Samuel 12:13
Thereafter, David’s sinful actions of covetousness, adultery, and murder
brings “calamity” upon him, but David understands that it is, in fact, his own “heart,” that had enabled
him to carry out such evil deeds.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? - I the Lord,
search the heart, I test the mind, even to give everyman according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”
Jeremiah
17: 9-10
One month, or even one day before David committed adultery with Bathsheba, I’m
pretty certain no one could have convinced him that in a matter of hours he would take another man’s wife,
impregnate her, and later have her husband killed, then marry her. But David’s heart was unguarded
and sin had entered in. David chewed on it, (his fleshly desire/sin), “swallowed” it
and the rest is a historical tragedy. (Note: David was also not where he was supposed to be…he was supposed to be at
war but he sent his army instead of leading them to war…so he was “idle,” doing pretty much nothin’…but
that’s a lesson within itself)
Proverbs 4:23 tells us to Keep or guard
our hearts with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life. “Issue”:
an outgoing; outflow- a result or consequence-
A sending or giving out…offspring
Jesus says
in Mark 7:21, “For from within,
out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.”
Every single issue of which we willfully initiate, partake in, or cause, good or evil,
infiltrates our hearts first. It enters; we then contemplate it for a moment or for a substantial amount of time. But
it is not possible for us to carry it out if our “heart” or our “will” does not accept it or “settle”
with it first.
“These
six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
-A heart that devises wicked plans”
Proverbs 6:16-18a
“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, -But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26
It’s apparent that our own hearts
cannot be trusted. We would find ourselves “missing” the mark more often than not if we trust in our own
heart or believe that we are always “thinking” rightly. See, within us are hidden faults:
“Who
can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins….Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord…”Psalm 19” 12, 13a, 14
“Search me oh God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead
me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139: 23-24
Clearly, by the Spirit of God, David had
an understanding of a man’s heart and the need of the Lord’s purification so David prayed accordingly:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast (unwavering) spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your
presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Psalm 51: 10-11
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God,
You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17
Sin within our hearts blinds us,
jeopardizes the joy of our salvation, and weakens our relationship with the Father.
“But
the Lord said to Samuel…..For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16: 7b
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart
to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? –While it remained, was it not your
own? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but
to God.” Acts 5:3-4
“You
have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. –Repent therefore of this your
wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart
may be forgiven you. –For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:21-23 (Read Chapter
8)
David was an Anointed man of God. But we
know that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. However, we can rejoice because the Lord has also given
us His Spirit. We have been instructed to walk in the Spirit and not after the Flesh. The works of the Flesh come
out of the “heart.” But when we fall short, when our hearts are not “right,” or we’re
not thinking on the things that are “pure,” we can confess our sin and know that through Jesus, our Lord, our
redeemer, and our Purification, that our hearts are cleansed. “
…and it is the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, that will guard our hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
It is no wonder that many have prayed as
David prayed. Those who desire to love God with all of their hearts, and those who desire
an intimate relationship with our Beautiful Father through Jesus, our Savior, would meditate on
these words. I believe those who long for God, who have a need to see God, and the yearning to rest
in His Abiding Presence with the complete Joy of the Lord’s Salvation, pray this prayer. For it is a clean heart, a pure heart, that is, absolutely, necessary for a sweet communion
between us, and our Holy Father.
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His Holy place? He who has clean hands and a
pure heart …” Psalm
24: 3-5
“Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” --Jesus… Matthew 5:8
