A Prayer of Repentance

Psalm 51 is one of the more well known Psalms. It captures the anguish of the soul of one brought low by his sin and provides a clear example of true repentance. If you had committed some sin & were under deep conviction for what would your pray? Forgiveness? Power over that sin? But David does not pray for sexual restraint or even deliverance or power over temptation. Instead he prays for restoration of joyful communion with God.