A New Heart

Psalm 51:7-17

Introduction:

1. This psalm is the psalm of David’s repentance for having committed adultery, for having killed Uriah, and for all his deceptions.

2. There was an agonizing sin in his life—a real failure that weighed against his heart, crushing his spirit.

3. When David faced up to his sin, he wanted a different heart, a new opportunity to do right.

When You Have A New Heart:

I. You will mourn the sin in your past.

1. Psalm 51:1,2 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

2. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, And done what is evil in Thy sight, So that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, And blameless when Thou dost judge.

a. It is an important day in a person’s life when he takes responsibility for his actions.

b. Matt. 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

3. Psalm 51:6 Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.

a. It is not always easy to be honest with ourselves; easier to deny a sin, ignore it, or hide it

b. none of this will make sin go away. David found that out.

4. Psalm 51:16-17 For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

II. You will despise sin.

1. Rom. 12:9 Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

a. Repentance doesn’t just despise the penalty for sin—being lost and condemned—it hates the sin itself.

b. It hates the fact that anything could hurt God like that.

2. Psalm 119:104 From Thy precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

a. “It is much easier to repent of sins that we have already committed than to repent of those we intend to commit.”

b. When we hate sin, we can’t go back to that again, do that again, give in to that temptation.

c. We know the harm and hurt and ruin of our sins. We hate that behavior.

3. Prov. 8: 13 "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.”

a. when you love God, you will hate sin

b. when you fear God, you hate what sin does to the souls of those you love.

III. You will hunger for righteousness.

1. Psalm 51:7-9 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

a. David wanted to be clean—felt filthy and wanted to be clean again.

b. Matt. 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

2. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

a. a new start, a rebirth, a new creature

b. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

3. Psalm 51:11,12 Do not cast me away from Thy presence, And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit.

a. Joy comes from knowing I am right with my God. “When the soul has laid down its faults at the feet of God, it feels as though it had wings.”

b. Joy comes from knowing God is with me, for me. I have His presence in my life.

c. I want and need God in my life—when I have Him, I am so thankful

IV. You will tell others of God’s goodness.

1. Psalm 51:12ff. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, And sinners will be converted to Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Thy praise.

2. Mark 7:36 when Jesus healed the deaf mute in Decapolis: “And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.”

3. Joy and love and thanksgiving will create in your heart an excitement that cannot be contained! You will want everyone to know this Jesus who has loved you.

4. When we grow more thankful and mindful of what God has done for us, we will more gladly tell others!

Conclusion:

1. Ezek. 18:31 "Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?”

2. Are there sins you need to cast away from yourself?

3. Do you need a new heart, a new attitude, a new life?