Heart After God

Psalm 51
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath–she'ba.

David was known as a man after God's own heart yet he sinned terribly. Not only did he steal another man's wife, but also had him killed in battle. So how can this be possible? Is it possible for you to be known as a man or woman after God's own heart even after all you have done? Yes! 
This teaching will help you discover for yourself how you too can be known as a man or woman after God's own heart by understanding how David addressed his sin before God. I will go through Psalm 51 and identify key aspects for you to take to the Lord.

vs 1 - Have mercy upon me, O God.
David knew that God was the one he need to go to. He believed God was real and his answer for whatever was happening in his life. He didn't run from God, he ran to Him, even when he did some really ugly things.
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vs 2 - Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
He knew there was nothing he could do about it but take his transgressions and sins to God for Him to cleanse Him.

vs 3 - For I acknowledge my transgressions: vs 4 - Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Rom. 3.4
David acknowledged His own heart condition and realized it was against God that he sinned. He know God was the only one who could forgive, heal and restore.
vs 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me
David knew that iniquity was in his family line! If you recall, Solomon was David's son who had hundreds of wives and concubines... So that spirit of lust passed on from David to his son. 
vs 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
David had to see all that was in his heart so he could repent. Sometimes God wants us to see things that we say, "It's too hard." Those are the things that are keeping you bound. Open your heart and allow God to expose everything that is not of HIm to bring you into more holiness and healing.

vs 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
In vs. 6 - 7 - Oonce we see what is in there, it's God who purges us and makes us whiter than snow!

vs 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness;

vs 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

vs10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
vs. 8-10 - David had lost his joy because he hadn't gone to the Lord yet. As a matter of fact, it was a year later as he was deceived that he did anything wrong - well, not until Nathan the prophet exposed it to him. Then David's eyes were opened and He ran to God. He knew only God could restore his joy and gladness. He knew that he would have peace restored if only God would hide from David's sins and blot out all his evil deeds. He knew by confessing and being humbled before God that He would create in him a clean heart. That's the ticket!

vs 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

vs 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
vs 11-12 - David knew that the Holy Spirit was given to him because of his love and holiness in the Lord. And he knew that by sinning, he was jeopardizing that. He knew that without the Holy Spirit he wouldn't have that joy. So he was asking for mercy and he got it. Ask and you shall receive! And he also knew that he couldn't do it, it had to come from the power of God in his life.
vs 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Because of his experience, he has the compassion and understanding to minister to others and restore them to the Lord.
vs 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
He knew God delivers and began shouting out the goodness of God.
vs 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise.
David was thankful! He praised God to everyone he could. Telling others how God's love and forgiveness is greater than anything he could ever have done. He shared this for the rest of his life. He wrote Psalms and praised God in every breath. I know personally that we praise God more when we are delivered from much! David's fire was re-kindled. Yes, it was going out,but it was still a little ember that was sparked because of truth.
vs 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

vs 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise.
vs 16 - 17 - David knew it wasn't what he did, but was a matter of his heart.
vs 18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

vs 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
So what is this passage instructing us to do?
1 - Look to God. We don't run away, we run to Him. That is faith, believing God loves us no matter what!!!
2 - Acknowledge our sin before Him. 
3 - We are accountable for our actions and take responsibility for them before God.
4 - We confess our sins to God as it is He who then cleanses, heals, purges and restores us. 
5 - We then can receive forgiveness and with that forgiveness, we can forgive others. He puts back in us the joy of the Lord - which becomes our strength. 
6 - Then we can help others. We are excited to share with others what God did in our lives so that they are restored as well. 
7 - We now understand the fullness of His glory. There is nothing that can separate us from His love!
8 - We enter into His rest. When we come to the Lord we are received with gladness and our praise and worship toward Him is heard! We find peace there, we find acceptance and joy. Having the "rest" of God means we take Him at His word in everything! Remember, Jesus taught that if we come to the alter with unforgiveness in our hearts toward another, to leave our gift at the alter and be reconciled to our brother, then come and offer the gift (Matthew 5). In the book of Geneses, Cain's sacrifice was rejected - why? I believe it's because God knew his heart and contempt toward his brother - and of course you know the story, Cain killed his brother later. I don't believe Cain got jealous of his brother because his offering was rejected, I believe he hated his brother all along but this was the last straw that brought him to that murderous act. 

Prayer for you:
Father in Heaven, I pray that this individual sees that they may have done some terrible things, but you are bigger than anything they could have ever done. As demonstrated in David's life, we too can be restored in the joy you so desire us to have. Help us to come clean before you, confess our hearts to you, believe you are the one who is able to deliver, and help us receive the forgiveness you give. Restore them Lord to your heart, so that they are known as a man or woman after God's own heart. Bless them as the seek you more each and every day. In Jesus name, Amen.