Scripture Reading : Psalm 51
Theme : Prayer of Repentance
- Plead for Forgiveness (1–6). This psalm is one of the most detailed description of what repentance looks like in the Bible (cf. 2 Cor 7:10-13). Repentance is a honest plead to God for forgiveness of sins based on God’s compassion, not based on one’s goodness (who they are) or ability (what they do). For all humanity is helplessly born with a sinful nature and need forgiveness from God. We also need a miracle from God to set us free from our sinful nature through the Spirit.
- Plead for Reconciliation (7–12). Not wanting to go to hell can never be the sole reason for repentance. Such repentance is not repentance at all. Repentance includes the desire to be reconciled with God and fellowship with Him. For that to happen, one must understand the character/nature of God (such as love, righteous and forgiveness) and find joy in God. David knows God’s great character and wishes to be in God’s presence again and to find joy and gladness in God. This can only happen if God removes his sins.
- Plead for Service (13-19). The natural result of repentance is a desire to worship God through service, out of love for God, not out of a desire to earn forgiveness or repay God. For forgiveness is based on God’s free compassion, not what we do. David has tasted God’s goodness and naturally wants to tell others and to sing about this great God. God delights in a genuine contrite heart that is sadden by sin’s ugliness and destruction and wishes God to wash his dirty heart away.
Praying the Scripture
The message of this psalm is that the vilest offender among God’s people can appeal to God for forgiveness, for moral restoration, and for the resumption of a joyful life of fellowship and service, if he comes with a broken spirit and bases his appeal on God’s compassion and grace. Repentance is not a one-time event that happens at salvation, but a lifestyle. Repentance at salvation results in a new nature, repentance after salvation results in strengthening the new nature and subduing the sinful nature (Rom. 8:13). Repentance is always hard and bitter in the beginning because it hurts your pride, but it is sweet later. May you see the beauty and pleasure of repentance and pursue it every day in order to be like Christ.
主题：悔改的祷告
- 原谅的恳求（1-6）。这首诗篇是圣经里其中最详细地解释何为悔改的一篇（参：林后7:10-13）。悔改是恳求神原谅我们所犯的罪，是按照神的怜悯恳求求的，而不是依靠我们的好行为（我们的身份）或能力（我们做的事）。由于人一出世就有罪性，所以都需要神的赦免。我们需要神的奇迹，通过圣灵让我们从罪性中得到释放。
- 和好的恳求（7-12）。不愿下地狱并不能是悔改的唯一理由。这样的悔改根本不是悔改。悔改还应该包括想与神和好及与祂相交的意愿。若要如此，我们必须认识到神的属性（例如慈爱、公义和宽恕的心），并且也在神里有喜乐。大卫认识到神伟大的属性，也希望能再次回到神的面，在神里得到喜乐。而除非神先要除去他的罪，这是不可能的事。
- 侍奉的恳求（13-19）。悔改的自然结果就是期望通过侍奉敬拜神；这是出自对神的爱，而不是要博得原谅或回报神。这是因为饶恕是出自神无限的怜悯，而不是我们所做的事。大卫尝到神的良善，因此自然地想告诉别人并颂赞这伟大的神。神喜爱一个真正忧伤的灵；这是一个因罪的丑陋和破坏力而忧伤，并渴望神能洗涤心中污秽的灵。
用经文祷告
这章诗篇的信息是要告诉我们，即使一人在神的子民中是最可恶的罪人，只要他愿意以忧伤痛苦的灵来到神的面前，并且依靠神的怜悯和恩典请求神，他也能得到饶恕、道德的复原、喜乐的团契和再次的侍奉。悔改不是得救时所发生的一次性事件，而是一个生活方式。得救时的悔改让我们得到一个新的属性，得救后的悔改就是要加强这个新的属性并且抑制罪的属性（罗8:13）。悔改起初是艰难和痛苦的，因为它抹杀了我们的自尊心，但之后却是甘甜的。愿你能认识到悔改的美好和愉快，并且每日追求悔改使之更像基督。
