Create in me a new heart

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

(Psalm 51:10) E xhaustion is defined as “the state of being deprived of strength or spirits; the act of emptying completely of the contents”. In game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, Michael Jordan played one of the most memorable games of his career, but what made this performance so memorable was not the 38 points he scored in that game or any of the plays that he made, but the fact that he played four quarters in the NBA Finals with the best two teams in the league while suffering “flu-like symptoms” and at the end of the game had to have the help of teammate Scottie Pippen as he made his way to the locker room because of his extreme exhaustion. Many of us can relate to the feeling of being exhausted, maybe we have had the flu and had to continue on in our duties at work or at home, maybe we have exerted all of our energy in some type of athletics, maybe we have deprived ourselves of the much-needed rest and suffer from exhaustion.

How many have ever been Spiritually exhausted?

Have we ever reached the point in “fighting the good fight of faith” that we are exhausted and feel like it would be easier to give up? Have we given up fighting this fight and have allowed sin to take us wherever our adversary (Satan) wishes and now we are at the point of exhaustion because you are either tired of living the sinful life or tired from running God? If you are exhausted now because of sin or if you are exhausted in the fight of faith may this lesson help you be restored/revived/refreshed.

Let’s examine a case of exhaustion and what was needed in order to revive David was exhausted because of his sins. There are several points from the life of David that could be examined to prove that he did indeed have sin in his life. This particular Psalm comes on the heels of the adulterous relationship David had with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11). In this particular occasion, David was guilty of many sins, each of which only add to the sincerity and gravity of the situation. First David is seen looking at Bathsheba, then he sends to inquire of her, then he commits the act of adultery with her, which will lead to his deception and ultimately the death of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. The sins of David are just as the Word of God warns us of sin. Sin is seen as a progression from walking, to standing and then to sitting in Psalm 1. Many of us can relate to David. Many of us have been guilty of allowing ourselves to have a moment of weakness, giving into temptation, allowing us to be drawn away from God, and when the smoke clears, we find ourselves in full blown apostasy to God and wondering how we got to the point we are in. Many of us trying to live the life of running from sin, avoiding to our greatest abilities, and then we may become tired of running from and start running along with, and then we find ourselves running from God, and we reach the point of exhaustion because sin has taken our lives and run us down, Satan has made a mockery out of us, and we have allowed it because we are unable to run any longer. David was a man that was allowing himself to be drawn away from God. Nathan the prophet would be sent to David and speak to him (2 Sam 12) reminding him “thou art the man” (v.7), as if to tell him he was the one guilty of these horrible sins. As we read Psalm 51, 33x in 19 verses David acknowledging the fact that it was his actions/sins that had caused him to transgress God’s law. It was David that depart, and David that had to return. Christians need this reminder also.

Sometimes we need to examine ourselves and make the proper changes. We need to understand that it is our actions/sins that have caused us to depart. There has never been a time when people have been more self-righteous than they are now. No one ever makes mistakes anymore, but if something happens to them it is because of the actions of someone else. We have to stop these kinds of ideas and lies and begin to take personal responsibilities for the sins that we commit. Only until then will we remain exhausted from sin.

David wanted relief from his sins. Just as the sincere child of God that is fed up, and exhausted with sin desires to have relief from their torment, David also cries out for the mercy and forgiveness of God. David wants the mercy of God (v.1). Before David mentions his sins, he appeals to God for his mercy. David is in need of the mercy (“punishment withheld”) in order to have some relief from his sins.

David wants to be cleansed from his sins (v.1-2, 7).

David asks of God to blot out his sins, to wash and cleanse him, and to purge him in order to cleanse him. He feels the filth that sin has marred his soul with and is crying out to the Lord to be clean once again. David is desiring a clean heart, one that is not carrying the heavy burden of sin. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalms 51:10 KJV).

This Psalm is the words of a broken man that realizes his departure from God, and his desire to be reconciled to Him, are these words that have ever related perfectly to the situation we may have been in or maybe are in now. Can you remember a time when you were beaten up and broken because of sin? Are you exhausted from hiding from God and facing the music while there is still time? Someone has said before when a person is at their lowest the only way to look is up, whether we are at our lowest or not, if we are guilty of departing from God, we should have the attitude of David and cry out for the mercy and forgiveness of God while we have the opportunity.

David wanted to be restored from his sins.

David’s plea to God changes from being cleansed (v.1-11) to being restored (v.12ff). David wanted to be brought back to his former position, before sin removed him from God. David wanted to be the “man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). David’s plea is to restore the joy of his salvation (v.12). Without this salvation there is no joy for David. Without the restoration David is like every sinner (Eph. 2:12 “no hope”). With the restoration there is joy as everything is made right within him. We should desire the restoration of our souls, if we have sinned. We should desire the joy that is had by salvation. We should desire to be made right in the eyes of the Lord. We should be in anguish if we are in sin The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded.

One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.” Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy.

He would never admit he was beat – he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.” Are you exhausted from running from God? Have you let sin drag you down and separate you from God? It is our Lord’s will that all come to repentance (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:10) Will you be like David and cry out for the mercy of God before it is too late? Why not come to the rest offered by Jesus: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jeremy Thornton is Minister of Highway 77 Church of Christ in Marion, Arkansas.

Jeremy Thornton

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