“Clean Up”
SERMON Title: Clean Up
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51 ESV
Introduction - Who is David?
When most people think of David, they remember the boy who faced Goliath, the king who unified Israel, or the psalmist who poured out his heart to God. Scripture itself tells us in Acts 13:22 that David was “a man after God’s own heart.” And yet, David was not perfect. He was human—broken, frail, and prone to sin just like us.
Psalm 51 was written after one of the darkest chapters of his life. At the height of his power, instead of leading his men in battle, David stayed home. From his rooftop he saw Bathsheba, desired her, and took her. When she became pregnant, he tried to cover it up, eventually arranging for her husband Uriah to be abandoned on the battlefield to die. David, the man after God’s own heart, fell into adultery, deception, and murder.
But God did not leave him there. Through the prophet Nathan, David was confronted with his sin. Nathan told him a story about a rich man who stole a poor man’s lamb, and David was outraged. Then Nathan declared, “You are the man!” In that moment, David was pierced to the heart. He saw his guilt not only against Bathsheba and Uriah, but ultimately against God Himself. From that brokenness came Psalm 51, a raw and honest prayer for mercy, forgiveness, and cleansing.
This psalm teaches us that the path upward in the Christian life begins by being brought low. Before God can elevate us, He must cleanse us. And that cleansing involves three steps: Contrition, Confession, and Cleansing.
1. Contrition – A Contrite Heart
Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” To be contrite is to be crushed with grief over sin, bowed down with the weight of guilt, and aware of our spiritual poverty. Jesus described this in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matt. 5:3–4).
A contrite heart does not excuse sin, rationalize it, or blame others. From the very beginning, humanity has played the blame game. Adam said, “The woman you gave me handed me the fruit.” Eve said, “The serpent deceived me.” But David, when confronted, did not shift responsibility. He cried, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love” (v.1). He knew he deserved judgment, but he pleaded for mercy.
God’s mercy is His compassion toward those who deserve punishment. It is undeserved pardon. And this is what a contrite heart seeks—not to bargain with God or promise more good deeds, but to honestly admit guilt and appeal to His mercy alone. Many of us, when convicted, try to offer God bargains: “I’ll pray more, I’ll give more, I’ll never miss church again.” But God is not impressed with our attempts to balance the scales. He desires a heart that is truly broken over sin and willing to turn from it.
This is where restoration begins. Until we see sin as rebellion against a holy God, until we feel sorrow for grieving Him, we will not seek true cleansing. Contrition is the first step.
2. Confession – Owning Our Sin
David continues: “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (vv.3–4). His confession has two dimensions. First, he admits to himself: “I know my transgressions.” The guilt haunted him; he could not escape it. Second, he admits to God: “Against you, you only, have I sinned.” Ultimately, every sin is rebellion against the Lord.
True confession involves three elements:
Acknowledgement – We own our sin honestly. It was not a slip-up or mistake; it was disobedience.
Attitude – We learn to hate sin, not tolerate or excuse it.
Action – We forsake it, renounce it, and turn from it.
David does not argue with God or claim special treatment as king. He does not ask for leniency. He simply declares, “You are right, I am wrong.” This is genuine confession.
The Bible gives us many examples: Isaiah cried, “Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). Peter fell at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). The tax collector beat his chest and prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Paul confessed, “Christ Jesus came to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Tim. 1:15).
Proverbs 28:13 summarizes it: “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” Confession is not about eloquent words; it is about honesty before God. Until we own our sin, we cannot receive His cleansing.
3. Cleansing – A Desire for a New Heart
After contrition and confession, David pleads, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (vv.7, 10).
David recognizes that he cannot cleanse himself. He does not say, “I’ll try harder.” Instead, he uses temple imagery: hyssop, a plant used in sacrifices, dipped in blood for purification. David is asking God to do a priestly work in his soul—to wash him clean through a sacrifice.
Then he prays, “Create in me a clean heart.” The Hebrew word bara is the same as in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created.” It means to create from nothing. David is not asking for a repair job but a miracle—a brand-new heart.
This points forward to Christ. On the cross, Jesus fulfilled what David longed for. John 19:29 records that a hyssop branch was lifted to Jesus’ lips as He bore our sin. Through His blood we are cleansed; through His resurrection we are made new. God does not merely forgive our sins; He transforms us. He does not only wash the outside; He recreates us from the inside out.
The world tries to deal with guilt in shallow ways—through distraction, comparison, or self-improvement. But the gospel declares: we cannot cleanse ourselves. Only God can, and He already has through Christ. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Conclusion – The Path of Cleansing
Psalm 51 shows us the pattern:
Contrition – a broken heart that seeks mercy.
Confession – an honest admission without excuse.
Cleansing – God’s miracle of renewal through Christ.
David’s story proves no one is beyond grace. He committed adultery and murder, yet found mercy. If David could be restored, so can we. And we have what David only hoped for: the cross of Christ and the indwelling Spirit.
So the call is clear: Don’t remain in denial. Don’t settle for shallow regret. Don’t try to fix yourself. Bring your sin to God. Let Him cleanse, renew, and lift you up—not for your glory, but for His.
Reflection & Response
Where have I grown complacent in my spiritual walk?
What sins must I confess fully before God this week?
Do I truly believe Christ’s work is enough to cleanse me completely?
How can I build daily rhythms of repentance and renewal?
Like David, let us come before God in contrition, confession, and cleansing, trusting that in Christ we are washed, renewed, and strengthened to walk in His Spirit. Amen.