“Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones You have crushed rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquities.” vs7-9

This may sound like decreeing and declaring, but it's not. Surely covid-19 has shown us the vanity of "commanding God." Commanding Him who rules the world, our Maker, to do what?

1 We beg and plead boldly!

In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence. [Eph 3:12]

David committed two horrible transgressions. He slept with his friend's wife and then killed him to cover the pregnancy. Is it not shocking that he's asking for forgiveness at all? God does, however, forgive the worst of sin, when we confess sin, and David's boldness must encourage us.

2 We are horrible sinners. We've spit in God's face time after time. We've GONE BACK to corruption after cleansing and joy.

So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. [Rom 7:25]

We know that He'd deliver us, if we fought, because no temptation is too great for Him [1 Cor 10:12-13]. Yet, we must return again and again to the throne of grace after we’ve fallen.

We'd never come back, however, if we weren't convinced that we have a right, at this moment, through the precious blood of Christ. We must also be convinced that we cannot bear the burden of separation: the forgiveness and nearness “that's too good to be true” must be ours, so that we can serve Him [Ps 51:13, 18-19]. We can't carry the guilt and do well. David said boldly,

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will return to You. vs12-13

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper;

build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices,

in whole burnt offerings;

then bulls will be offered on Your altar. vs18-19

This is what the world needs; it needs Christians reconciled to God enjoying the power of His presence, so we can do good. He will heal us for this purpose, as He healed David, and He will allow us to glorify Him.