Comfort from Psalms

So far I’ve highlighted my first four 30-Day Devotionals. I released my fifth one “Comfort from Psalms” in August of 2021. I still love the concept behind it. Life is hard. It just is. But, there is great comfort to be found in God’s Word. There’s far better comfort to be found within its pages than in retail therapy or binging on our favorite comfort foods, or in wrapping up in a warm blanket. God’s Word has the power to comfort our heart and soul, to give us peace even when we’re caught in fierce spiritual battles or going through hard times. So, as the title suggests, the goal behind “Comfort from Psalms” was simply to help others find comfort from the specific psalms chosen for the study.

And, for this highlight, I just had to go with Day 14’s devotional because it’s from a well-known psalm I always love to read and study. Plus, the illustration I used in the devotional to go with the text is special to me because it reminds me of wonderful summer memories from my childhood. So, I hope you enjoy “A Good Scrubbing.”

A Good Scrubbing

“Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.” –Psalm 51:2

Psalm 51

Growing up my Mamma always planted potatoes, and digging them was a family affair. We would start early while it was still moderately cool so we could finish before it got blazing hot like it does in the summer in Arkansas. Still, by the time we finished, especially we kids would be covered almost from head-to-toe in dirt and sweat and in desperate need of a good scrubbing.

When David penned today’s psalm, he was in need of a good scrubbing spiritually speaking. He had skipped out on his kingly duties, which led to lusting after another man’s wife, which led to sleeping with another man’s wife, which led to ensuring the man was killed in battle… Needless to say, he was filthy with sin, and the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to him to make him see it, to make him not just see it but feel it.

Fortunately, David knew where to turn for a good scrubbing. He turned to the Lord, acknowledging his sin (verses 3-4) and pleading with the Lord to wash him and make him clean (verse 2), to make him whiter than snow (verse 7), to give him a clean heart (verse 10), and to restore the joy of His salvation (verse 12).

Bringing that to us today, none of us are perfect. Sometimes, like David, we’ll mess up. Sometimes, spiritually speaking, we’ll look like we’ve spent a summer day in a potato patch. Thankfully, we can take comfort in the God who’s able to clean us up. Like David in his day, we can turn to the Lord for a good scrubbing, and He’ll blot out our sins and make us clean.

Take comfort in the God who can clean us up.