Psalm 51: When God is Glad

In the pain
of my confession
it's hard to recollect
the fleeting pleasures
of my sin.
My shame
hides your face.
My anguish
drowns out your voice.
The lingering visions
of what I've done
haunt
my soul
assault
my heart
dominate
my thoughts.
I want to undo
what
I've done.
I want
to turn back time
so that
my thoughts would be
pure
and my hands would be
clean.
But
lust was born
and
the deed was done.
I can't undo
what dark pleasure has wrought.
So I come to you
just as I am.
I bow before you
shamed and unclean.
The searching light
of your righteousness
puts fear in my heart
and
reveals more stains than
I ever thought I had.
I bow before you
because I've nowhere else
to go.
I confess to you
because I've no other
hope.
There's no place
to run
There's no place
to hide.
I can't escape
what I have done.
I can't erase
my stains.
So in my grief
I ask for one thing.
I long
to hear You sing.
I long
to see You rejoice.
For when my ears are graced
with Your song
and when I am blessed
by Your gladness
and when the angels
celebrate
then I can be sure
that I've been given
the greatest
of gifts
the miracle
of miracles
the thing that only love
could purchase
the blessing that only love
could offer;
forgiveness.

"Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you've crushed rejoice." Psalm 51:8

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

"I tell you that in the same way there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:7