Psa 51:16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.à
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart–These, O God, You will not despise.
This was part of David’s prayer of contrition ,repentance, healing and moral renewal. This was after Nathan the prophet confronted him . The psalmist was sinful and needed to be forgiven. His sin was hurting because it was intentional and premeditated – deliberate adultery and murder.
If there was any sacrifice , regardless of what it may have costed him , to have his guilt lifted, he would have willingly and cheerfully given to to God; but there was not. So , he threw himself to the mercy of God. He knew that God would not reject a broken and a contrite heart.
The spirit broken all to pieces, and the heart broken all to pieces, stamped and beaten out are the sacrifices which God will not reject. When we come to him with a broken spirit and a contrite heard, our petitions will not only be heard but also answered. 1Jo 5:14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1Jo 5:15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Further readings:
Isa 57:15
Psa 34:19
Jer 23:19
Blessed Day