How do you ask forgiveness when you’ve really done something wrong?
Consider the prayer of Psalm 51, where King David asks for forgiveness after his affair with Bathsheba.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
Against you have I sinned,
and done that which is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward being;
therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Fill me with joy and gladness;
let the bones which you have broken rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God,
God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall show forth your praise.”
Amen