Psalm 51:17
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
KJV
Read in Psalm 51Meaning
The sacrifice God welcomes is a broken and contrite heart: humble repentance, not self-hatred, self-harm, humiliation, or submission to abuse.
Restored witness and the sacrifice of a contrite heart
Psalm 51 is a penitential prayer traditionally linked by its superscription to David after Nathan confronted him. It moves from appeal to God’s steadfast love and honest confession, through cleansing and inner renewal, toward restored witness, humble worship, and concern for Zion. Repentance here neither erases harm done to others nor turns contrition into self-hatred.
Read carefully
The sacrifice God welcomes is a broken and contrite heart: humble repentance, not self-hatred, self-harm, humiliation, or submission to abuse.
Reflection
The sacrifice God welcomes is a broken and contrite heart: humble repentance, not self-hatred, self-harm, humiliation, or submission to abuse.