4. Wash Me Clean (Psalm 51)

There are many ways to talk about forgiveness in the Scriptures. Old clothes taken off and new ones put on. Bad habits trashed and holy ones committed to. A physical infirmity healed. An utter transformation of thinking. A dirty thing made absolutely clean. This last one is the image of forgiveness in Psalm 51, the song dedicated to David’s wrestling with his conscience over his mishandling of Uriah and Bathsheba.

Musically, this doesn’t sound much like a confession song, does it? Too happy a melody. I think there is a place for our prayers to be so confident of God’s grace that we are aware we are already receiving what we need even as we make our prayers. That makes for a major-key confession.

Behind the song:
This song as you experience it in this collection is a reworked version of the original I wrote in 1994. Thanks to Trish, Mark, and Jonathan for helping to guide the letting go and the re-formation.

Refrain
Wash me clean, wash me clean
Whiter than snow again
Wash me clean, wash me clean
And I know you’re done with my sin

Verse 1
Create in me a brand new heart,
Forgiven and renewed
Restore to me your Spirit, Lord
And the joy of your rescue

Verse 2
I know the things I’ve said and done
So take away this sin
I thank you, Lord; now let me heal
And rise to do your will