Psalm 51

I appreciate G. Campbell Morgan in his book, "An
Expository Exposition of the whole Bible," when he said that "the
penitent soul cried for forgiveness on the basis of confession." And he's
right. If we're going to get right with God, looking at David's example, we
have to be able to confess, be willing to admit, "Hey, I did wrong." 

Also, the progression that J. Campbell Morgan pointed
out was, first, David asked for pardon, for purity, for cleansing of his heart,
and finally a renewal of his spirit. And when I look at the work that Christ is
to do in our lives as Christians, it matches. We come to him and ask for
forgiveness. He imputes his righteousness to us. He begins cleansing our hearts
and renews our spirit by His Spirit coming in and renewing us and making us
more like him. That's the plan. The plan isn't that we are just to be forgiven,
but that we are supposed to have pure hearts and a new spirit. That's what God
wants for His people. And we see that in the heart of David in Psalm 51.