Psalm 51:6 says, “You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” (ESV)
I’m not sure I understand this phrase, to be honest with you. I’ll likely do a little research (and read your comments on what this verse is talking about), but for now here are my streaming thoughts in real-time, mostly in the form of a prayer as I wrestle with this verse.
The words “secret heart” seem a strange combination. I suppose it is deep, deep down within me that I want You to teach me wisdom. At the core of who I am, teach me wisdom, God.
If I squirt lighter fluid on charcoal and immediately light it, the fluid burns off before the charcoal itself has a chance to catch fire. But if given time to soak in, the briquettes have a greater chance of also being consumed.
So I guess what I’m praying here, God, is that I don’t want a brief stream of wisdom that mostly ricochets off the surface of my life, a form of wisdom that is little more than a flash of brilliance that quickly burns out. God, I need Your wisdom to soak into my “secret heart” – deep, deep down within me. I want a wisdom that is not only flammable but sustainable. What I do NOT want is some flashy wisdom that leaves others with the aftertaste of some undercooked words of surface wisdom.
David penned this psalm in the context of confession. As he repented and sought God’s forgiveness, he recognized his need for a deep-down-inside wisdom that consumed him and changed him at his very core. This was not an “Oops! You caught me, God!” confessional; it emerged from the depths of brokenness. Perhaps wisdom will only soak in as deeply as we allow our brokenness to fracture us. Shallow brokenness produces surface wisdom. But when our brokenness reaches the core of who we are, then wisdom has a chance to seep into that same secret heart.
David doesn’t appear to be looking for a quick fix. He is not interested in saving face; it was about saving faith. How do I respond to sin in my life? Am I more interested in saving face, or saving faith?
At the age of 32 I married my best friend, Beth. Thirteen years later we are blessed with two very energetic kids - Jack (12) and Calleigh (9). My wife is a ridiculously good cook who loves hosting dinners in our home, and then I go to the gym to work off the calories. I am an avid reader who appreciates contemplative, Spiritual conversations shared over a cup of coffee. Hobbies and interests include reading and writing, journaling, working out, and St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball. 
Gary
I think you’re absolutely right in your interpretation… Jesus told us that “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks…” Our secret, hidden, inner man is our true heart and that is what God transforms at rebirth and out of that the rest of us is transformed day by day as we connect, abide and allow Him to flow through us from the inside out… We may be able to fool people, but God sees the ‘secret’ heart and either He knows us or He says, “Depart from Me, I never knew you.”
I join you in your prayer.
Lauren
Maybe it has to do something our own inability to know the mysteries of even our own hearts. I am always comforted to know that even though the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked God can tame it. God is greater than our hearts and He has taken away the condemnation I once felt and given me confidence in my heart (1Jn 3:18-21) and it is an amazing gift!
Or maybe believers have it all wrong and our friends at Disney are on the path to happily ever after with their follow your heart mantra. Nahhhhhhh, I already know what a disaster that is. Thank you Jesus!
Great topic Gary.
Love this 🙂 Thank you for sharing! You’re a blessing…