Having written Psalm 51 after the visit of Nathan the prophet, David would have keenly felt the effect of sin and the relief of God’s mercy. “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… create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” David is incredibly thankful for God’s mercy, and now seeks to re-establish his relationship with God with a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
Romans 5-6 also deal with sin and God’s mercy. Through Christ we have “obtained access by faith into the grace in which we stand“. We can rejoice that Christ died for us, even while we were sinners, giving us a chance to “walk in newness of life“.
Let us follow the advice of Paul and the example of David, every day a new chance to be slaves of righteousness, leading to sanctification and in the end, eternal life.