June 23, 2025

June 23      Psalm 51

It is interesting in this verse when David says, "don't take your Holy Spirit from me".  I think this may come based on his awareness of what happened to King Saul.  Saul started out his ministry as King humbly, but over time pride began to take over.  He started make adjustments to God's plans and not follow orders exactly as the LORD had said.  14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil[a] spirit from the Lord tormented him. (1 Samuel 16:14).  David knew this well because he was the musician brought to King Saul to try to calm him.

David has sinned greatly with Bathsheba and the following actions to cover it up.  David feels remorse and guilt for his sin and does not want to see his relationship with God damaged.  He does not want to end up like what he saw in King Saul.  So, he cries out to God not merely with words of I am sorry, but with a plea for God to change him.  There is value in learning from the mistakes and experiences of others.  Saul's problem is that he did not obey God completely then was quick to make excuses when he was called out for his disobedience by Samuel.