Overcoming the Blues through the Book of Psalms (Part 5)
- SNE.BCNA
- Feb 2
- 8 min read
“Confess, Create, and Clean” — Psalm 51:1–19
February 1, 2026
Today is the fifth part of a six-part sermon series we have titled, Overcoming the Blues through the Psalms. We have been talking about how you and I can overcome the blues through God’s Word, specifically from the Bible.
Series Reminder: The “Blues Virus”
This is the time of the year that many, many – many will catch the “Blues Virus.” Symptoms include depression, isolation, grief, sadness, a loss of faith, doubt, anger with God, disappointments, stress, and the dread of the day.
And this is what you must know about the Blues Virus: I am not immune to them (blues), and neither are you.
Also know this, if you are experiencing the blues:
This doesn’t mean that you are not saved, but it could.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t love Jesus, but it could.
This doesn’t mean that you are doing something wrong, but it could.
What it means is that you are human, and when you read the Bible, you will discover that many of God’s chosen vessels had some deep moments of the blues and doubt.
The Biblical Prescription
What we are doing in this sermon series is giving you a Biblical prescription as to how to overcome the blues using the Book of Psalms in the Bible.
The prescription:
Read the Psalm we preach on Sunday (today).
Each day this week: read, pray, and study the Psalm.
Sing, listen to, or read the songs we have printed for you.
I have really enjoyed singing the songs and reading the Word this week with Michelle, Carley, and Hunter. I sure hope you didn’t miss the opportunity at home this week.
And I must warn you, this prescription does have side effects.
Side Effects
Side effects include, but are not limited to: joy, a sense of peace, repetitive Jesus’ songs going through your mind all day, confidence in God, patience, and kindness towards others.
I guarantee you this is the best medicine you can take; it will cure your blues.
A Shift in Tone: Why Today Is Different
For the last four weeks, the sermons have been, let’s say, anointment of grace. Today, it will be different. Much different.
Many times, we have the blues virus because we are living in, embracing, supporting, and participating in SIN!
And this is what you must know about living in SIN: “If you don’t confess it and leave it, it will consume you.”
The Sin Question
Many times in our lives, the reason we have the blues is simply the fact that we are living in SIN.
Are you living in SIN? Yes or No? Is there unconfessed sin in your life?
Isn’t it true that your greatest regrets are because you sinned or someone else sinned that affected you?
Your greatest hurts in life are because you sinned or someone else sinned close to you?
Your greatest desire is to lie down in bed at night and have a guilt-free, conscience-clear, conviction-free heart?
The first step in getting out of the blues of this sort is confession.
Psalm 51 is one big prayer of confession by David.
The Backdrop of Psalm 51: A Sin That Snowballed (2 Samuel 11)
What is the backdrop of Psalm 51? We must go back to the Second Book of Samuel, Chapter 11.
David is king. The nation is powerful. David has won over many of Saul’s loyalties. Israel's army was unmatched. David had everything a man could desire: wealth, power, and God’s favor. He had at least two beautiful wives at this time.
One morning, David got out of his bed, walked around the roof of his palace, and he saw a woman bathing. Her beauty was unmatched. David lingers with his eyes that give birth to an unimaginable event that would lead to adultery, murder, cover-up, lying, and a sin sickness that crushed his soul.
Have you ever been just casually scrolling through your electronic device, and he or she caught your attention? And you begin to pick up the breadcrumbs, one click at a time, and before you know it, you are at a place you would regret.
David’s eyes became his guide, overwhelmed with the beauty of Bathsheba. David gives in to his desires and requests that one of his aides inquire about who she is. The aide reports back that her name is Bathsheba, she is married, and her husband is Uriah the Hittite.
At that point, David had an opportunity. He had an opportunity to cut the computer off, he had an opportunity to stop the text messaging, he had an opportunity to quit the flirting, and he had an opportunity to do the right thing.
But he didn’t. He requested Bathsheba’s presence, and he committed adultery with her.
What Sin Always Does
He chose sin over sanctification. He chose disobedience over obedience. He chose rebellion over righteousness. He chose the flesh over the spirit. He chose evil over good He chose sickness over strength.
He sends her home. And all is well. “My sin is hidden.”
Let me ask you—do you really think you can hide your sin? Actually, we are living in a trend that people do not hide their sins – “much”: - they just keep on going like it is no big deal.
Listen carefully to me: If you are a follower of Jesus, living in sin, you cannot hide it forever.
“Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out” (Numbers 32:23)
Book of Numbers Chapter 3 warns the people that if they don’t follow what God is asking them to do, their sin of disobedience will catch up with them:
“But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.”Numbers 32:23 (NKJV)
Confess it to the Lord!“If you don’t confess it and leave it, it will consume you.”
The Pregnancy Message and the Cover-Up Spiral
Five, maybe six weeks later, Bathsheba sends her personal aide to David with a message.
Picture it this way. David is in the situation room, discussing the war with the Ammonites. One of David’s aides gets word that someone from the house of Bathsheba is waiting to talk to him with a message.
David leaves the room; what is he thinking? Is Bathsheba requesting me see her again? What is he thinking?
The aide approaches David and says to him: “Bathsheba is pregnant with your child.”
I am going to have to pick up the pace of the story. David will try to cover up his sin by committing more sin. How dumb is that?
David knows Bathsheba’s husband is in the military, fighting a war. David puts a plan together to have Uriah come home in hopes that when he gets home, the first thing he will do is go to his wife, who is “very beautiful.” He will have relations, if you will, and that will cover up David’s sins and the pregnancy.
It didn’t work. Uriah came home but refused the pleasure of his wife because of his loyalty to the cause of the army. David even encouraged Uriah to intoxicate himself. David’s thought was, “If he has too much to drink, he will go to his wife.” But Uriah didn’t. And he went back to fight with the army.
Joab, Murder, and a Displeased Lord
David now has to figure out another way out of this mess of sin. The fast way out of sin is to confess it and leave it!
David creates another plan that involves his cousin Joab, who is David’s personal “fixer” and commander over the army. He tells Joab to put Uriah at the front of the battle, then intentionally draws back in hopes the enemy would kill him. And that is what happened.
Uriah is killed (you could say) in first-degree murder. Now the sin is solved! Nope.
David takes Bathsheba as his wife. The Bible says, “But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.” (2 Samuel 11:27, NIV)
When We Displease the Lord
When we are willfully doing things that displease the Lord, we cannot experience the peace God has for us. When we are willfully doing things that displease the Lord, we cannot experience the joy the Lord has for us. When we are willfully doing things that displease the Lord, we cannot experience the happiness the Lord has for us. When we are willfully doing things that displease the Lord, we cannot experience His purpose and plan that He has for us. When we are willfully doing things that displease the Lord, we cannot experience His full blessing that He has for us.
What is the one thing that you are doing that is displeasing to the Lord? If you don’t confess it and leave it, it will consume you.
Nathan’s Moment: “You Are the Man”
What happened next? The Lord sends the old prophet Nathan to help David come to his senses.
Nathan constructs a story to help David confess his sins. He tells David about a problem: a rich man taking away a lamb from a poor man—a lamb that was raised from birth, a lamb that would eat at the table with the family, a lamb that even slept in the bed with the family. The rich man took the lamb away, killed it, and ate it.
King David is furious and says the man will die and repay four times the crime. If you do the crime, you must pay the time.
And Nathan looks at David and says to him: you are the man. You have committed adultery, you have lied, and you have murdered, you have covered up, and you are guilty. This is the backdrop of Psalm 51.
The Sin Blues: When Guilt Makes You Sick
David is sick, sick, sick. He now has the blues flu.
He says in Psalm 6:6–7 (NIV):
“I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of my foes.”
And Psalm 32:5 (NIV):
“Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgression to the Lord,’ and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”
David was sick! The sin blues. And he didn’t get better until he confessed.“If you don’t confess it and leave it, it will consume you.”
Today’s Cure: Confess, Create, and Clean (Psalm 51)
Do you feel separated from God? Would you like to make things right with Jesus today?
Confess
Psalm 51:6 (NKJV):
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”
Create
Verse 10 says:
“Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
This confession is a cure for the blues.
Restore
David says in verse 12:
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”
Today, confess your sins with your whole heart to Jesus, and He will heal you of the blues.
New Testament Connection: James 5:16
In the New Testament, one of Jesus’ brothers by the name of James wrote the Epistle of James. James states in Chapter 5:16:
“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Final Invitation
Life for the believer cannot experience joy apart from the Lord. When sin is allowed to remain in our lives, fellowship with the Lord is broken. Like David, we won’t be able to worship, pray, or enjoy life. The Christian is never happy when sin is in his life. We may pretend that all is well, but deep down, we are miserable. We are sick with blues, robbed of joy and wholeness.
Come and confess, and allow Jesus to clean your heart and create a new heart in your life today.
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