The Prayers of

The Man After God’s Own Heart

Why did God love and trust David so much?

Why did He give David so many chances?

The Prayers of David give us the

answer...

What prompted David to pray this prayer

?

Ps 51:1-17

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever

before me.

Notice how often he uses the word “My”.

David took responsibility for

his behaviors!

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

David is aware of his sinful condition and

his need to be cleansed!

He is also aware of what God desires for

Him- truth in the inward parts!

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit

from me.12 Restore unto me

the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

The Things that David wants are:

• A clean heart

• A right spirit

• To be in God’s Presence

• Spiritual joy

• Restoration from his past mistakes

David Understands Relationships

•With God

•With his fellow man

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,

thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing

aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth

shall shew forth thy praise.

Bloodguiltiness defined1818 dam (dawm); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal;) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood):

Notice our responsibility to others:

Ezek 33:3-11

3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and

warn the people;4 Then whosoever

heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not

warning;

if the sword come, and take him away, his blood

shall be upon his own head.

5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood

shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall

deliver his soul.

6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.

7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

• 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

• 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Now back to Psalms 51

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

What Kind of Sacrifice Does God Really Want?

•Obedience to His Word

•A broken and contrite heart

1 Sam 15:22-2322 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou

This is What the Strongs Dictionary defines contrite as:

1794 dakah (daw-kaw');

to collapse (phys. or mentally): break (sore), contrite, crouch.

In Gethsemene In Gethsemene Jesus offered the Jesus offered the sacrifice that was sacrifice that was

needed- obedience, needed- obedience, and contritionand contrition

Our conclusions regarding the

Prayer of David• He is honest with

himself and with God• He takes responsibility

for his actions• He values the things

that matter most in life

• He is willing to humble himself and ask for mercy