True Worship Matters - Psalm 51-53

True worship happens not to "obtain" God's favor but because God has already shown us His favor.  We don't worship to "get forgiveness" or "obtain God's grace".  We worship because we God has already given us His favor and already forgiven us. In Psalm 51 we see David asking for forgiveness (and receiving it). This entire Psalm is about David being restored "by" God and yet ends with David realizing that His public worship is ONLY restored when God has shown him favor and mercy.   In our society today we have all this backward. In most "religious" groups today we see a desire to gather to "obtain" God's favor.   So, church is a place to go to gain God's grace and favor.   Certainly it would not be wrong to confess and ask forgiveness in Church.   But, our "worship" is only possible because God "has already" given us mercy and we rejoice over it.  Earlier David said he would "sing" because God showed him mercy.  We don't go to Church and worship to get it good with God.  We are able to worship because God has already made us good with Him, by His grace.