David's Penitential Prayer

THE ACT OF WASHING ITSELF DOES NOT BRING FORGIVENESS. IT IS GOD’S MERCY THAT BRINGS FORGIVENESS.

MATTHEW 27:24: When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

IN PSALM 51 DAVID EMPHASIZES THE DEPTH OF HIS SORROW FOR HIS SIN BY REPEATING HIS REQUEST FOR FORGIVENESS TWICE, IN THE PETITION TO BE CLEANSED, AND THEN IN THE PETITION TO BE WASHED.

2. DAVID’S SECOND PRAYER IN THIS SECTION IS A WISH TO BE CERTAIN THAT GOD HAS INDEED FORGIVEN HIM. HE ASKS THAT HE MIGHT “HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS”, AND THEN THAT “HIS BONES MIGHT REJOICE.” (V.8). HE IS ASKING FOR THE ASSURANCE THAT GOD HAD FORGIVEN HIS SINS AND RESTORED HIM TO FELLOWSHIP.

THE IMAGE OF THE BONES SUGGESTS THE DEPTH OF DAVID’S SORROW FOR HIS SIN, WHICH IN TURN CALLS FOR AN EQUALLY DEEP CONVICTION THAT HIS SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN. DAVID IN LITERALLY ASKING THAT HE MIGHT KNOW GOD’S FORGIVENESS FROM THE DEEPEST PART OF HIS BEING AND TO REJOICE IN THAT KNOWLEDGE.

THIS TYPE OF ASSSURANCE CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD. I BELIEVE THERE IS A NATURAL TENDENCY IN US, NOT TO ACCEPT THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS OVER ANY MATTER. YOU SAY YOU FORGIVE ME FOR SOMETHING, TO THE DEPTH THAT I AM SORRY FOR WHAT I DID, AND YOU FORGIVE ME, I ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THAT SAME DEPTH OF THE ASSURANCE OF YOUR FORGIVENESS, AND MANY TIMES WE LIKE TO BEAT OURSELVES UP OVER A LACK OF ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS.

3. THE THRID REQUEST IN THIS SECTION OF THE PSALM IS THAT GOD WOULD REMOVE THE RECORD OF GOD’S SIN ALTOGETHER(V.9). DAVID SUGGESTS THIS IDEA IN TWO WAYS. HE REQUESTS THAT GOD MIGHT “HIDE HIS FACE” FROM HIS SINS, OR THAT HE WOULD TURN AWAY FROM THEM. DAVID THEN INTENSIFIES THIS PRAYER BY ASKING GOD TO “BLOT OUT ALL (HIS) INIQUITY” (V.9).

THE REPETITION AT THIS POINT IN THE PSALM OF THE IMAGERY OF ERASING THE SCROLL (V.1) UNDERSCORES HOW PRE-OCCUPIED DAVID IS WITH HIS NEED FOR FORGIVENESS. DAVID’S PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS (V.7-9) IS AS THOROUGH AND INTENSE AS HIS ADMISSION OF HIS GUILT (V.3-6). THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER.

V.10-13; IN THIS FOURTH SECTION OF THE PSALM, DAVID IS ASKING FOR CLEANSING FROM SIN. THIS PRAYER IS A PETITION FOR PURITY OF HEART (V.10). IT PARALLELS 1 JOHN 1:9.

1 JOHN 1:8-11:

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

DAVID MAKES USE OF THREE PAIRS OF VERBS TO ASK FOR CLEANSING. HE ASKS GOD TO “CREATE IN (HIM) A PURE HEART” AND “RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT” IN HIM (V.10). BOTH OF THESE ARE DEEDS THAT ONLY GOD COULD ACCOMPLISH.

NEXT HE ASKS THAT GOD MIGHT NOT “CAST” HIM AWAY, NOR “TAKE (HIS) HOLY SPIRIT FROM (HIM). ALL ARE REQUESTS FOR GOD TO REMAIN CLOSE TO HIM.