Bible teaching: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Psalm 51, is the psalm of the repentant sinner, also known as Miserere. In this psalm he speaks of the "new man", which has a great resemblance to the doctrine of the apostle Paul in the letter to the Ephesians: "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness", Ephesians 4:23-24; and the teachings of the prophet Ezekiel: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you", Ezekiel 36:26.
The word heart in the Bible means will. Basically a pure heart or a pure will is a wise and understanding heart, a heart free from any inclination to error. The love that is born from a new heart is the love projected towards the whole creation of God. This is how the "code of holiness" is fulfilled, taught in Leviticus: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.", Leviticus 19:18.
And this is what the psalmist request:
"Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me", Psalm 51:10-12
The Old Testament summarizes the spiritual duties of man: "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man", Ecclesiastes 12:13. Although in the old testament, the fulfillment of the law of Moses is necessary, something more is needed to receive a new heart towards God and that is the Fear of God, that is, constancy, firmness, devotion.
Receiving a pure heart is the realization of the Kingdom of God within one: "The coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ´Here it is,´ or ´There it is,´ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.", Luke 17:20-21.
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