I was asked the other day what I thought repentance really meant.  I’ve known the Latin derivative - to “re-think” since 9th grade Latin. But I dug more deeply this time and studied Psalm 51.  I now believe that true repentance is simply: spiritual brokenness. This well-known psalm was written by King David after he was caught in his sin with Bathsheba, (2 Sam. 11 and 12).  David, who had successfully reigned as King of Israel for many years, succumbed to not just one sin, but four breaches of the ten Commandments.  He coveted his neighbor’s wife; he lied (false testimony); he murdered; and he committed adultery.  Nine months later, the prophet Nathan confronts David with his sin.  The outpouring of David’s repentant heart is Psalm 51.This Psalm reflects David’s profound awareness of God’s holiness (the light of which shines on the sin and brings conviction) AND God’s mercy.  The spirit of brokenness described by David in the Psalm demonstrates the essence of repentance. David cries out to God, and begs to be washed clean, to have his heart purified and to be kept in the Heavenly Father’s presence.  He calls to the LORD, “sustain me.”This word, “sustain” in Hebrew is camak (sã-mack').  It is the same verb as the one used by the priest at the time of the sacrifice.  When the priest holds the lamb’s head still, so that the animal’s juggler can be sliced and blood spilled out at the time of the sacrifice — that is camak.  This willingness to break completely, to lay oneself out in sacrifice, to lose one’s life is repentance in its deepest form.In Christ,