THE HOLY, RIGHT AND WILLING SPIRIT―THE MIND OF THE REPENTANT SINNER (PSALM 51:10–13)
David, who had so pre-eminently been in Yahweh’s presence mentally and morally throughout his life, had by transgression, interrupted that holy fellowship he had enjoyed with Yahweh. The “spirit” here in verse 11 is that right spirit of verse 10; a steadfast, constant spirit of faith which must be in the repentant sinner, so that he through Christ, can enter boldly into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19–23). This spirit must be a holy (i.e. set apart) spirit, for no other spirit (mind or disposition) will be acceptable in His sight. True repentance therefore, is a manifestation of a holy mind, truly set apart to do God’s will, in contrast to before, when we had gone our own way (Isaiah 55:7). The creation of such a mind will empower us with assured confidence to believe God will, “restore the joy of his salvation and uphold us with his free spirit (or as better translated ‘a willing spirit’)”; a spirit (mind or disposition) that wants to serve God with all the heart and soul, in holy dedication, that brings forth “the fruits of the spirit”, that is not only seen by God, but manifested to the ecclesia and all men.
The greatest of the fruits of this “willing spirit”, this mind of true repentance, is the overwhelming desire to help those who have similarly gone astray, that they might also learn God’s “ways” and “be converted” (verse 13). This is David’s public declaration of Psalm 51. Oh what a repentant heart! His sins, transgressions, iniquity, confession and hope should be memorialised, “to the chief musician” for all Israel to sing!
