Sinned Against Who?

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Psalm 51:3–4, 10 “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done this evil in Your sight… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

What It Is Speaking to Me

David penned this psalm shortly after Nathan the prophet called him out for his sinful actions with Bathsheba and her husband, Uriah (you can find the story in 2 Samuel 11–12). David was so twisted in his heart and mind by the sin he had committed that he didn’t see the obvious parallel between his actions and those of the evil king in Nathan’s parable.

When Nathan said, “You are the man!” (2 Sam. 12:7), David was cut to the heart and confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

David acknowledges an important aspect of sin in this story and again in the psalm above: sin is first and foremost against God. When we sin against others (as David clearly did), we must first acknowledge that we have sinned against God.

David asked God to create in him a “clean heart.” When we sin, our heart is the first thing affected. God’s dwelling place in us is marred by sin, so the heart is the first thing David asks God to address in him. From there, we can begin our walk of repentance toward others.

What Is It Speaking to You?

When you last sinned, did you address it with God first?

Or did you deal with the people or the fallout first?

How is your heart toward God?

How is your spirit?

What Are We Going to Do About It?

If you have an unaddressed sin between you and God, pray through Psalm 51 today and ask Him to restore your steadfast spirit.