Psalm 51

Certainly this is one of the most profound Psalms of David and one of the most recognizable by even casual readers of Scripture.  While there seem to be several Psalms of “confession” by David in response to the terrible sins he committed in his immoral relationship with Bathsheba, this one is most noted for application in the lives of believers.  In it we learn the marvelous grace of God, the nature of true confession of sin and the necessary heart attitude for forgiveness.  

·        51:1-6 is David’s prayer for forgiveness, including his confession of sin.

·        51:7-13 is David’s prayer for restoration.

·        51:14-19 is David’s prayer for deliverance from what enslaves him.

In praying for forgiveness David seeks to have his sin expunged completely.  Let us remind ourselves of what sin we are talking about.  He committed immorality, taking another man’s wife, even though he already had several wives.  He then arranged the death of the Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband.  He then covered it up for a time.  This was a grievous sin! (Read the story for yourself, including David’s confrontation by the prophet Nathan, in 2 Samuel 11-12.)

What David prays for is …

• Blotting out: complete erasure, any thought of this destroyed.
• Washing: what a fuller does, beating the clothes so they are free of impurity.
• Cleansing: thorough cleaning, used of religious cleansing (e.g. Mal. 3:2-3).

But to ask for this what David actually prays for is “mercy” from God.  This is how he begins the Psalm and in the only way it can possibly happen he pleads for God to treat him according to His lovingkindness (checed, grace, covenant kindness) and compassion.  Clearly that is his only standing. But here is the amazing truth: God Himself has spoken of being just that kind of God.  Remember how God revealed Himself in Exodus 34:6-7:

6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

God spoke these word in the very context of “forgiveness”, the very situation faced by David.  We see David putting his trust in God for something God promised.

But notice too how David comes to God.  He comes confessing his sin with humility and honesty (v3-6).  Hid confession first is specific (v3-4), acknowledging not only the reality of wrong-doing but the fact that he had sinned against God himself.  He maintains God’s justice even as he asks for mercy.  In addition his confession recognizes his sinful nature (v5-6).  This terrible sin is but the expression of a heart that had been sinful from the beginning.

The confession is essential in coming for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  There is no way he is just putting on a front because he is in the presence of God.  If he is just playing a game or acting God would know and he would not be forgiven, restored or delivered.  

His prayer for restoration recognizes his desire and need for experiencing God’s forgiveness.  It’s one thing for God to blot out the sin and not hold it against David.  But what about David’s own heart, his own memory, his own feelings of guilt?  Sin in the life of those who know God will bring this kind of suffering, as David speaks of his bones being broken by God.  The sense of purpose, the ability to rejoice in life and the freedom of a clear conscience, all this is gone.  Life is truly miserable.  David longs to be clean in his own heart.

Concerning v11 let us note that the promise of Christ to believers after the cross was that they would receive the Holy Spirit forever.  David’s prayer fits perfectly, especially given the experience of his predecessor, King Saul.  God’s Spirit had come upon him (1 Sam. 10:9-10) but at a later time, because of his obstinate disobedience, left him (1 Sam. 16:14).  David’s prayer is that God will still use him by His Spirit.  For believers today we understand there is a difference between the presence of the indwelling Spirit and the control of (filling) the indwelling Spirit.  Unresolved sin will grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) making us unfruitful in our service and breaking our fellowship with God.  While we may not pray “take not Your Holy Spirit from me” we will seek to present ourselves again to Christ that His Spirit can fill us.

In praying for deliverance (v14-19) David is recognizing that he has been held captive by guilt.  His overriding concern is for the people of God whom he is called to lead.  Notice the profound understanding of David, an Old Testament saint, who nevertheless understands that the blood sacrifices themselves are useless when one comes with a wrong heart.  God commanded the Levitical offerings.  And yet God was often offended by the worship of His people.  The period of covering up his sin left David in a situation where he was trying to look normal on the outside, before people, while knowing in his own heart he was separated from God.  He stands to lead the people astray.  In the end, if God enables him, he will be able to lead by example in worship (v14-15).  And that will help the people in their own worship to honor the Lord through the sacrifices and offerings (v18-19).  We too must remember that our sins are against God, but also are against men.  What we do can be an encouragement to others to sin.

Do you not see then the tremendous value of this Psalm?  Here is a plea for great grace in the context of deep contrition.  God’s love and justice are both held in proper perspective.  And the evidence of Scripture is that God did, in fact, forgive David (2 Sam. 12:13).  How gracious of God to include in Scripture this Song which so perfectly pertains to the life of every person!