罪與認罪是今天你所讀的詩篇中最明顯的主題(詩50)。大衛在與拔示巴犯罪之後，樹立了一個認罪的榜樣(詩51)，隨後又描述舌頭詭詐的天性(詩52)，及行惡的愚昧(詩53)，只有上帝才是永遠的幫助的泉源(詩54)，可以助你對抗每日的試探和生命中的陷阱。

        具有「神效」的新產品不斷的出現，廠商大聲宣稱能把一切「頑強的污垢」洗得「潔白如新」，但也下過只有洗潔功效，卻無法把一顆污穢的心洗淨。
        大衛在一生中最黑暗的時刻裡寫下詩篇五十一篇。當時這位牧童出身的國王以公義治國約達二十年，但一夜之間他和拔示巴的罪破壞了一切，先是私通，繼而謀殺，造成大衛一生中的污點，上帝差遺先知拿單痛陳大衛犯罪的嚴重性，大衛遂誠心誠意的禱告祈求赦免：「求祢將我的罪孽洗除淨盡，並潔除我的罪；求祢為我造清潔的心。」(詩5l：2，10)
        大衛深知赦免包括兩方面：犯罪者與受害人。除非受害人願意讓已經造成的傷害成為過去，否則雙方的交通便不能修復。赦免的代價極大，大衛也知道必須償付，所以他說：「上帝所要的祭就是憂傷的靈：上帝啊，憂傷痛悔的心祢必不輕看。」(詩5l：17)。
        你曾否在與上帝同行中，因罪惡的污點而中斷？現在立刻起身，找個地方洗洗手，一面洗手一面求上帝洗淨你的心，向上帝坦承你冒犯祂的罪，如此就能經歷祂的潔淨──這可不是肥皂可以達到的效果(約壹1：9)。

七首求潔淨的詩
        除了詩篇五十一篇之外，還有六首「悔罪之詩」，它們是詩篇六篇、三十二篇、三十八篇、一○二篇、一三○篇及一四三篇。

如果我們的禱告未能改變自己，那麼這樣的禱告一定有錯誤。

English

        Sin and confession are prominent themes in the psalms you read today (50). David provides a model of confession after his sin with Bathsheba (51), and goes on to describe the-treacherous nature of the tongue (52) and the folly of pursuing evil (53). Only with God as your constant source of help (54) can you counter the daily temptations and pitfalls of life.

        New "miracle" products emerge all the time, loudly heralded for their ability to clean everything from "tough, ground-in dirt" to "ring-around-the-collar." But there is still one cleaning job they are powerless to accomplish: the cleansing of a dirty heart.
        Psalm 51 was penned during the darkest hour of David's life. For perhaps 20 years, the shepherd-king had ruled in righteous grandeur. But overnight his sin with Bathsheba changed all that. First adultery, then murder inflicted ugly scars on the king's life. Nathan the prophet was sent by God to confront David with the severity of his sin. And David responded with a heartfelt prayer for forgiveness: "Wash me ... cleanse me.... Create in me a clean heart" (w. 2, 10).
        David knew that forgiveness involves two parties: the offender and the offended. Unless the offended party is willing to put away the wrong that's been done, fellowship cannot be restored. The price of pardon is never cheap, but David knew it must be paid. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (v, 17).
        Has your walk with God been interrupted by a dark stain of sin? Then get up right now and find a place where you can wash your hands. As you do, ask God to wash your heart as well. Confess your specific offenses against God, and experience His cleansing—the kind no soap can produce (1 John 1:9).

Seven Cries for Cleansing in the Psalms —
        In addition to Psalm 51, there are six other "psalms of a penitent heart" in the Psalter: Psalms 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, and 143.

If our prayers do not change us, then we do not pray aright.