Daily Devotion

Friday, January 16, 2026  

Today's Scripture
Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (NRSV)

Listen up, Doug Cleveland! This King David psalm, one of the Bible’s most poignant expressions of repentance, is addressed to the director of music. Why?

Because the chief musician led the musical aspects of worship (as Doug does), and David knew the music director would ensure the psalm was sung correctly and convey the king’s desire to praise God through it. 

And no wonder. Psalm 51 is a heartfelt cry for mercy and a plea for cleansing and renewal. Indeed, it is the equivalent in poem form of a book jam-packed with life-shaping insights and invaluable counsel. Who wouldn’t want it sung perfectly? 

Especially with the weight of guilt pressing on one’s soul. David felt the deep remorse of moral failures (adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband). He longs for transformation, pleading to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” He desires healing and God’s reconciliation, so clear in his desire to “restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” 

David knew that conveying his psalm beautifully in song would help those listening then, and us today, to seek God’s redemptive power with humility, genuine repentance, and forgiveness. Again, no wonder. God’s mercy is limitless, and from God’s forgiveness springs restoration and renewal. 

Our Fourth Church choir, under Doug’s direction, would deliver the psalm’s messages clearly and superbly. As do these young voices of the Dock Mennonite Academy here.    

Prayer

Written by Tim Schellhardt, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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