DAVID’S PENITENTIAL PRAYER
PSALM 51
INTRODUCTION:
WHEN WE STARTED THIS STUDY I TOLD YOU THAT THERE WERE FIVE MAIN CLASSIFICATIONS OF PSALMS. WITHIN SOME OF THESE CATAGORIES THERE CAN BE SOME SUB-CATAGORIES. WITHIN THE PSALMS OF LAMENT, WE FIND ONE SUCH SUB-CATEGORY CALLED THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS. THERE ARE SEVEN OF THEM, PSALMS 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; AND PSALM 143.
JOHN CALVIN CALLED THE PSALMS AN “ANATOMY OF THE SOUL.” FOR CALVIN AS FOR BELIEVERS THROUGHOUT THE AGES, THE PSALMS GIVE EXPRESSION TO EVERY MAJOR ASPECT OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS HELP US CONFESS OUR SIN TO GOD AND ASK HIM FOR FORGIVENESS. NOW THE QUESTION COULD BE ASKED, “WHY DO WE NEED TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS?” WELL WE CAN LOOK TO CHILDREN FOR THE ANSWER. WE SHOULD BE TRAINING THEM THAT WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING WRONG TO SAY THEY’RE SORRY. WHAT THEN BECOMES THE PROBLEM? THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE CHILDREN FEEL THAT FORGIVENESS HAPPENS WHEN THEY SAY THEY ARE SORRY, NOT WHEN THE PERSON THEY HURT SAYS I FORGIVE YOU. I SAY I’M SORRY AND THAT’S IT. THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES, THERE IS NO DISCIPLINE.
WE’RE THE SAME WAY WITH GOD. IF I SIN I SAY I’M SORRY AND THAT WIPES THE SLATE CLEAN. BUT IT DOESN’T. THE SLATE IS WIPED CLEAN WHEN GOD SAYS I FORGIVE YOU. BUT EVEN A FORGIVEN SIN HAS CONSEQUENCES AND DISCIPLINE.
IN EACH OF THE SEVEN PENITENT PSALMS THE WRITER ACKNOWLEDGES HIS SIN TO YAHWEH AND ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS. THESE PSALMS VOICE THE REPENTANT ATTITUDE OF THE SPEAKERS AND DEMONSTRATE GOD’S LOVING FORGIVENESS WHEN SIN IS RECOGNIZED.
AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST TODAY WE HAVE THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS ABOUT SIN AND FORGIVENESS TO GUIDE US IN DEALING WITH SIN.
JOHN GIVES US THIS TEACHING ABOUT SIN:
1 JOHN 1:8-10:
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.
THERE ARE THREE REASONS FOR PENITENTIAL PSALMS:
1. THE FIRST RELATES TO OUR EXPERIENCE OF GUILT AND FORGIVENESS. KNOWING WHAT TO DO WHEN WE SIN AND DOING IT ARE OFTEN TWO DIFFERENT MATTERS. IT IS SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD. IT IS SOMETIMES EASIER TO CONFESS TO OTHERS THAN IT IS TO CONFESS TO GOD.
FORGIVENESS IS BY IT’S NATURE FOR THE UNWORTHY. WE CANNOT REPENT UNTIL WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DO NOT DESERVE FORGIVENESS. WE KNOW WE NEED TO CONFESS OUR SIN BEFORE GOD, BUT SOMETIMES THE WEIGHT OF THOSE SINS ARE OVERWEALMING AND WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO EXPRESS OUR REPENTANCE ADEQUATELY.
THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS WALK US THROUGH THE EXPERIENCE OF GUILT, CONFESSION, AND FORGIVENESS, THEREBY HELPING US TO PARTICIPATE EXPERIENTIALLY IN THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS
2. THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS SHOW US HOW NECESSARY GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HIS UNFAILING (HESED) LOVE ARE FOR CLEANSING HUMAN SIN. GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NECESSARY FOR FORGIVENESS BECAUSE, IF HE WERE NOT ENTIRELY HOLY, HIS JUDGMENTS WOULD BE ARBITRARY AND EVEN UNJUST. IT IS ONLY BY GOD’S GRACE IN US THAT LEADS US TO CONFESS OUR SINS.
3. THE THIRD REASON FOR THE PENITENTIAL PSALMS IS THAT IT ALLOWS US TO SEE THE WAY THAT GOD SEE SIN. LET’S ASK THE QUESTION “HOW SINFUL IS SIN?” THE ANSWER IS INFINITELY SINFUL.
WHAT IS THE PRICE OF SIN? THE PRICE OF SIN IS CALVARY, AND THAT IS INESTIMABLE. SALVATION IS A GIFT FREELY OFFERED TO ALL WHO BY GOD’S GRACE BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, BUT IT IS NOT A GIFT WITHOUT COST, FOR IT COST GOD THE DEATH OF HIS SON. GOD LOOKS ON SIN THROUGH CALVARY, MERCY FOR ALL WHO BY FAITH ACCEPT CHRIST’S SACRIFICE, AND JUDGMENT FOR ALL WHO REJECT IT.
SIN IS NOT JUST A SURFACE BLEMISH; IT MARKS THE WHOLE PERSON AND MUST BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. THE SCRIPTURE DECLARE
ROMANS 3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ROMANS 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THESE VERSES FROM ROMANS CLEARLY TEACH THAT THE ULTIMATE PENALTY FOR SIN IS DEATH. SOMETHING HAD TO DIE BECAUSE OF SIN. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT WAS THE SACRIFICIAL ANIMALS. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT WASN’T A SOMETHING BUT A SOMEONE, AND THAT WAS JESUS. WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST INTO OUR HEARTS WE COME TO HIM UNWORTHY OF SUCH A GIFT. WE CONFESS OUR SINFUL NATURE TO HIM AND OUR NEED OF HIS GRACE. WE SEE OUR SIN IN THE LIGHT OF HIS CROSS AND THAT HE PAID A PENALTY THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY SHOULD WE NOT ACCEPT HIM. SEEING SIN THROUGH THE CROSS NOT ONLY WILL CHANGE OUR HEARTS BUT ALSO OUR LIVES.
IF WE CHOOSE TO REJECT HIS GIFT, HE WILL HONOR THAT REQUEST AS WELL. IN HONORING THAT REQUEST, WE WILL PAY FOR OUR SINFUL NATURE WITH OUR LIVES. NO ONE EVER GOES TO HELL WITHOUT FIRST DEALING WITH THE CROSS, EITHER POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY BUT WE WILL ALL DEAL WITH THE CROSS.
PSALM 51
DAVID’S PENITENTIAL PRAYER
THE BEST KNOWN PENITENTIAL PSALM IS PSALM 51. IT IS DAVID’S PROFOUND CONFESSION OF HIS ADULTERY WITH BATHSHEBA AND THE MURDER OF HER HUSBAND URIAH. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT DAVID’S GODLY SORROW IN THIS PSALM.
C.S.LEWIS REMINDS US “A MAN WHO ADMITS NO GUILT CAN ACCEPT NO FORGIVENESS.”
POINT ONE: WHAT IS THE OVERALL EFFECT OF THE PSALM
THE FIRST IMPACT OF PSALM 51 ON US SHOULD BE THE INTENSITY OF DAVID’S GODLY SORROW FOR HIS SIN. NO LESS THAN NINE TIMES IN THIS PSALM DOES DAVID ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. IN EVERY SECTION OF THIS PSALM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER DAVID ASKS FOR MERCY (V.1). TO BE CLEANED (V.2,7) AND WASHED (V.2,7).
THE SECOND EFFECT ON US IS ITS EXPRESSION OF ABSOLUTE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY OF YAHWEH. NOTE THAT DAVID DOES NOT DWELL ON HIS SIN, BUT HE ALSO GLORIFIES GOD IN WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT HIM. THE FAT IS THAT DAVID SEES HIS SIN AS BEING SO OFFENSIVE BECAUSE BY GOD’S GRACE, HE SEES GOD FOR WHO HE IS.
IN THE PSALM DAVID REMINDS US OF GOD’S COMPASSION AND MERCY (VV.1,11-12,13), RIGHTEOUSNESS (V.3-4,14), HESED LOVE (V.1, 18-19), AND IMMANENCE (V.11-12). THE PSALMIST STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN DAVID’S REPENTANCE AND GOD’S GLORY. HE REMINDS GOD OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY AND THROWS HIMSELF AT GOD’S FEET.
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND COMPASSION PROVIDE THE BACKGROUND TO DAVID’S SIN AND ASSURE US OF FORGIVENESS. IT DOES RAISE A QUESTION THOUGH. WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE READ PSALM 51.
POINT TWO: WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE PSALM
THE GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF PSALM 51 IS THAT IT IS A PSALM OF LAMENT. IT IDENTIFIES A PROBLEM, IN THIS CASE IT’S DAVID’S SIN, AND CALLS ON GOD FOR THE SOLUTION, WHICH IS FORGIVENESS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR GOD TO JUDGE THE PSALMIST’S ENEMIES AS MOST LAMENTS DO, FOR THE PSALMIST HIMSELF IS THE ENEMY. DAVID NEEDS TO BE RESTORED IN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD HIMSELF.
HERE THEN IS THE STRUCTURE FOR PSALM 51
I. VERSES1-2: DAVID’S INTRODUCTORY PETITION TO YAHWEH.
II. VERSES 3-6: DAVID’S STATEMENT OF HIS SINFULNESS.
III. VERSES 7-9: DAVID’S PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS
IV. VERSES 10-13: DAVID’S PRAYER OF CLEANSING
V. VERSES 14-17: DAVID’S VOW TO PRAISE YAHWEH
VI. VERSES 18-19: DAVID’S CONCLUDING CONFIDENCE IN YAHWEH
DAVID BEGINS AND ENDS THE PSALM EMPHASIZING GOD’S HOLINESS AND MERCY (V.1-2, 14-17). HE DOES THIS DELIBERATELY FOR US TO NOTICE SOMETHING. HE PUTS OUR ATTENTION ON GOD, BEFORE WE SEE HIS SORROW FOR SIN. HE SHOWS US THE CURE BEFORE HE SHOWS US THE DISEASE. HE ALSO WANTS THE LAST THING THAT WE THINK ABOUT TO BE GOD AND HIS GOODNESS.
IN DOING THIS DAVID IS ALLOWING US TO FOCUS ON THE GREATER OF THE TWO. HE WANTS US TO FOCUS ON THE ISSUE OF SIN FROM THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS THROUGH GOD’S EYES. WHEN WE SEE HOW MUCH IT COST HIM, YET HE WAS WILLING TO PAY THIS PRICE FOR US, WE SEE HIS LOVE AND HIS GRACE OVERFLOWING. IT ALLOWS US TO SET A PROPER ATTITUDE FOR HEARTFELT CONFESSION AND BE ABLE TO SAY HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR ME.
POINT THREE: WHAT ARE THE FIGURES OF SPEECH IN THE PSALM AND WHAT IS THEIR EFFECT ON IT
VV1-2: THIS IS DAVID’S INTRODUCTORY PETITION TO GOD. HERE HE CASTS HIMSELF ENTIRELY ON GOD’S MERCY. THERE IS NO QUESTION OF HIS GUILT. HE DOES NOT TRY TO HIDE IT FROM GOD.
NOTE THAT DAVID ASKS GOD TO BLOT OUT HIS “TRANSGRESSIONS”. BECAUSE HE SPEAKS IN THE PLURAL HERE IT IS LIKELY THAT HE IS REFERRING TO HIS SPECIFIC SINS OF “ADULTERY” AND “MURDER”. THESE WERE THE SINS THAT HE WAS CONVICTED OF IN HIS MEETING WITH NATHAN.
IN THE SECOND VERSE DAVID AGAIN USES REPETITIONTO EMPHASIZE HIS REPENTANCE AND SORROW. “WASH” IS FOLLOWED BY “CLERANSE” AND “INIQUITY” IS PARALLELED WITH “SIN”. WE CANNOT MISS DAVID’S TOTAL DEPENDANCE ON GOD ALONE FOR FORGIVENESS. IT COULD BE IN THIS VERSE THAT DAVID IS REFERRING TO HIS SIN NATURE. THUS IN VERSE ONE HE HS REFERRING TO HIS GUILT OF SPECIFIC SINS, AND IN VERSE TWO HIS GUILT BECAUSE OF HIS SIN NATURE.
WE’D LIKE TO FORGET ABOUT OUR SIN NATURE. THIS IS THE NATURE THAT WE ARE BORN WITH. WHEN AGAM AND EVE FELL IN THE GARDEN, THIS SIN NATURE BECAME PART OF OUR LIVES. IT IS WHAT DRAWS US TO SINFUL THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS. IT IS THE NATURE, THAT, IF NOT WASHED BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, WILL CONDEMN US TO HELL FOR ETERNITY.
IN HIS CONFESSION DAVID USES THE FAMILIAR OLD TESTAMENT IMAGERY OF WASHING TO INDICATE FORGIVENESS. WE WASH TO MAKE CLEAN. WE WASH OUR CARS TO MAKE THEM CLEAN, OUR DISHES TO MAKE THEM CLEAN. I CAN REMEMBER MOM WITH AN OLD WRINGER WASHER WAHING OUR CLOTHES AND RINCING THEM IN A WASHTUB, ONCE A WEEK, EVERY TUESDAY. MY JOB WAS TO EMPTY THE WASHER AND WASHTUB. CLOTHES ALWAYS SMELL SO MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY WERE WASHED AND HUNG OUT ON THE LINE TO DRY. HOW MUCH BETTER WILL OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES BE WHEN WE ARE WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, AND DON’T HAVE THE STENCH OF THE SIN NATURE ON US ANYMORE.
WILLIAM VANGEMEREN STATES:
THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES AND RITUAL WASHING SYMBOLIZED THE REMOVAL OF SIN AND THE RENEWAL OF FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD. THE SACRIFICES BY THEMSELVES COULD NOT AFFECT SO GREAT A SALVATION (V.16), BUT GOD IS FREE TO GIVE HIS GRACE TO WHOMEVER HE WANTS. THE PRAYER IS FOR FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING.”
VV3-7: THIS SECOND SECTION OF THE PSALM, GOES A LONG WAY TO SHOW US HOW GOD SEES SIN. IN THESE NEXT FOUR VERSES DAVID’S SIN AND GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE ALTERNATED. DAVID ADMITS HIS SIN IN VERSE 3; HE TESTIFIES TO GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN VERSE 4, RETURNS TO HIS SIN IN V.5, AND REPEATS GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IN V. 6.
V.3: DAVID EMPHASIZES HIS SIN IN THIS VERSE BY USING PARALLEL STATEMENTS. NOW PARALLEL LINES ARE RELATED TO EACH OTHER IN THAT THEY RUN EQUIDISTANT TO EACH OTHER. IN VERSE THREE DAVID’S STATEMENT “FOR I KNOW MY TRANSGRESSIONS” ARE PARALLELED WITH, AND ENHANCED BY HIS STATEMENT “AND MY SIN IS ALWAYS BEFORE ME.” IT SHOWS HOW PROFOUNDLY DAVID FEELS ABOUT THE GUILT OF HIS SIN NATURE.
V.4: SHOWS HOW KEENLY DAVID FEELS ABOUT GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS. GOD IS “PROVED RIGHT” (IN GENERAL), THIS THEN MEANS THAT GOD IS “JUSTIFIED” (IN PARTICULAR) WHEN HE JUDGES SIN.
ILLUSTRATION: IT’S LIKE THIS. YOU ALL KNOW MIKE HOLMES. HE’S THE HOST OF HOLMES ON HOMES ON HGTV. HE’S A LICENSED CONTRACTOR AND CARPENTER. THIS MEANS THAT HE HAS STUDIED ALL ASPECTS OF CARPENTRY, WENT THROUGH THE PROPER APPRENTICESHIP, AND PASSED ALL OF HIS COURSES AND PROVINCIAL EXAMS TO BE A LICENSED CARPENTER AND CONTRACTOR. THIS GIVES HIM THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AS AN AUTHORITY ON ANY FORM OF CARPENTRY. HE SPEAKS IN GENERAL ABOUT THAT.
NOW ON HIS SHOW HE DEALS WITH SPECIFIC SITUATIONS AS THEY ARISE IN THE HOUSE THAT HE IS DEALING WITH ON HIS SHOW. AS HE SHOWS WHAT IS WRONG HE JUDGES THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE BEFORE HIM. BECAUSE HE IS A LICENSED CARPENTER AND CONTRACTOR (GENERAL) HE HAS THE RIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT AND JUDGE THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON A HOUSE ON HIS SHOW. (SPECIFIC).
V.5-6: FURTHER EMPHASIZES THE SINNER’S DILEMMA AND HUMAN SIN. THE TWO VERSES ARE PARALLELED BUT THIS TIME IN AN ANTITHETIC MANNER WHICH MEANS THAT THEY SHOW THE OPPOSITE ISSUES, VERSE 5 SPEAKING OF HUMAN SIN, AND VERSE 6 GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTHFULNESS.
DAVID DRAWS FURTHER ATTENTION TO EACH VERSE BY STARTING THE VERSES WITH THE WORD “SURELY” TO MAKE THE CONTRAST EVEN WORSE FOR THE SINNER IS DAVID’S STATEMENT “GOD DESIRES TRUTH IN THE INNER PARTS”. NONE OF US IN OURSELVES CAN PROVIDE SUCH TRUTHFULNESS. WE ARE DESPERATELY SINFUL WHEN BEFORE A HOLY GOD. JEREMIAH ESPLAINS THE DILEMMA EVEN MORE CLEARLY:
JEREMIAH 17:9-10:
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand
it? 10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man
according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”
WE ARE HOPELESSLY SINFUL, BUT GOD DEMANDS TRUTHFULNESS AND HOLINESS. IN OURSELVES WE HAVE NO ESCAPE.
V.7-9: THIS THIRD SECTION OF THE PSALM REPRESENTS OUR PROPER POSTURE WHEN WE HAVE SINNED. WE MUST ASK GOD FOR MERCY BEFORE WE CAN ASK FOR FORGIVENESS. DAVID HERE ASKS FOR FORGIVENESS IN THREE WAYS, EACH REQUEST USING TWO VERBS.
1. “CLEANSE” AND “WASH”. DAVID FIRST ASKS FOR PURIFICATION FROM SIN. HYSSOP WAS USED IN RITUAL CLEANSING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FIRST PASSOVER
EXODUS 12:22-23:
Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the
blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out
the door of his house until morning. 23 When the LORD goes through the land to
strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the
doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer
to enter your houses and strike you down.
THE ASSOCIATION OF HYSSOP WITH THE PASSOVER SUGGESTS GOD’S UNFAILING (HESED) LOVE TOWARD HIS PEOPLE FOR ONLY HE COULD REDEEM THEM OUT OF THEIR BONDAGE.
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.
FINALLY HE ASKS THAT GOD MIGHT “RESTORE” SPIRITUAL JOY TO HIM AND “GRANT (HIM) A WILLING SPIRIT.” SO THAT HE MIGHT CONTINUE TO SERVE HIM.
IN HIS REQUESTS DAVID PROGRESSES FROM PURITY (V.10), TO GOD’S PRESENCE (V.11), AND FINALLY TO SERVICE (V.12).
SO YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE SERIOUSNESS OF DAVID’S PROGRESSIONS THROUGHOUT THIS PSALM. HE IS FIRST SERIOUS ABOUT HIS CONFESSION, THEN HIS FORGIVENESS, THEN THE ASSURANCE OF HIS FORGIVENESS, AND NOW OF HIS CLEANSING, AS HE PROCEEDS TO TOWARD RESTORATION WITH GOD.
V.14-15: DAVID REALIZES THAT HE CAN ONLY RESPOND TO WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR HIM. IN V. 14 DAVID ASKS SPECIFICALLY TO BE CLEANSED OF THE MURDER OF URIAH.
2 SAMUEL 12:9: Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
NOTE THAT HE SPECIFICALLY ASKS TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS “BLOODGUILT.” IN VERSE 15 HE ASKS GOD TO GIVE HIM A WITNESS TO OTHERS AND THEN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE WILL BE ABLE TO PRAISE GOD WITH HIS WORDS.
I THINK WE FAIL IN THIS AREA OF OUR CHURCH LIFE. THE TESTIMONY OF A REPENTANT SINNER IS POWERFUL. IN MANY CASES THOUGH WE FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLE OF “ONE STRIKE AND YOU’RE OUT.” GOD CAN USE HIS WOUNDED SOLDIERS IN POWERFUL MINISTRY IF USED IN THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES.
DAVID DEMONSTRATES A MATURE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S DEALING WITH SINNERS. (V.16) TELLS US THAT EXTERNAL SACRIFICES DO NOT SUFFICE, ONLY HEARTFELT SORROW FOR SIN PLEASES GOD. DAVID ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT HIS CONFESSION DOES NOT COMPEL GOD’S FORGIVENESS, RATHER, GOD GRACIOUSLY MOVES THE PENITENT TO GODLY SORROW, ACCEPTS HIS CONFESSION AND THEN FORGIVES.
V.18-19: DAVID THEN CONCLUDED THE PSALM WITH A STATEMENT OF CONFIDENCE IN GOD. NOWHERE ELSE IN THE PSALM DOES DAVID MENTION ZION OR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL IN GENERAL. THESE CLOSING VERSES REMIND US THAT SIN IS NOT JUST A PERSONAL MATTER; IT HAS CONSEQUENCES IN OUR LIVES. DAVID’S SIN AFFECTED BATHSHEBA PERSONALLY, URIAH’S FAMILY, DAVID’S FAMILY, THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, AND THE NATION OF ISRAEL AT LARGE.
DAVID CONCLUDES THE PSALM WITH HIS CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL BLESS ISRAEL AGAIN, NOW THAT HE HAS CONFESSED HIS SIN. THE KING’S SIN STOOD IN THE WAY OF YAHWEH’S BLESSING HIS PEOPLE. DAVID’S CONFESSION REMOVES THE IMPEDIMENT, AND YAHWEH’S BLESSING FLOWS AGAIN TO HIS PEOPLE. THE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS BENEFITS FROM CONFESSION OF SIN.
POINT FOUR: WHAT ARE THE THEMES AND THEOLOGY OF THE PSALM
THERE ARE TWO BASIC THEMES IN PSALM 51. THE FIRST IS THE CHARACTER OF GOD AND THE SECOND IS THE SINFULNESS OF MAN. YAHWEH IS SEEN AS BEING ENTIRELY RIGHTEOUS AND MERCIFUL, AND MAN IS SEEN AS DESPERATELY SINFUL.
MODERN CHRISTIANS ARE QUICK TO CLAIM GOD’S MERCY AND COMPASSION, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS AS QUICK TO ADMIT HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. HOW OFTEN DO WE HEAR SOMEONE TESTIFY TO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
DAVID IS NOT AFRAID TO CONFESS GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS EVEN WHEN HE REPENTS OF HIS SIN. WHEN WE SIN WE NEED GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AS MUCH AS WE NEED HIS MERCY, FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS GUARANTEES THAT HIS MERCY IS NOT ARBITRARY. EVERY TIME GOD FORGIVES A REPENTANT SINNER, HE DOES SO ON THE BASIS OF HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF SIN ON CHRIST.
CLOSELY RELATED TO DAVID’S UNDERSTANDING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS HIS ADMISSION THAT ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE SIN. NOWHERE THROUGHOUT THE PSALM DOES HE CLAIM ANYTHING BUT GODLY SORROW FOR HIS SIN. HE ADMITS THAT HE SINNED AGAINST GOD ALONE (V.4). IF IT IS GOD THAT HE HAS WRONGED, THEN IT IS ONLY GOD WHO CAN GRANT FORGIVENESS.
DAVID ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE NEEDS TO BE FORGIVEN AND CLEANSED. WHEN GOD FORGIVES SIN, HE REMOVES IT FROM THE RECORD. WE WILL STILL FACE CONSEQUENCES AS A RESULT OF OUR SIN, BUT NOT THE GUILT OF OUR SIN. THAT IS TAKEN ON BY CHRIST. DAVID REPEATEDLY REQUESTS GOD TO “BLOT OUT” HIS “TRANSGRESSIONS” ( V.1) AND HIS “INIQUITY” (V.9), AND HE ASKS GOD WO WIPE OUT THE REGISTER OF THE SIN.
CONSIDER IT THIS WAY. SUPPOSE YOU WERE TO SPILL SOMETHING ON A WHITE SHIRT OR BLOUSE. WHEN YOU GO TO CLEAN IT EVERYONE SAYS, DON’T RUB IT, DAB IT, OR BLOT IT. WHAT DO THEY WANT YOU TO DO. THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO RUB THE SPILL FOR THAT WOULD JUST SPREAD THE STAIN. THEY WANT YOU TO DEAL WITH THE STAIN DIRECTLY. DAVID WAS ASKING GOD TO DEAL WITH THE SIN DIRECTLY. HE DIDN’T JUST WANT TO SPREAD IT AROUND.
THE SECOND THEME IS MAN’S SINFULNESS. IN ADAM WE ARE SINFUL BY NATURE, AND BECAUSE OF THIS NATURE, WE CHOOSE TO SIN WILLFULLY. WHY THEN DOES DAVID CONFESS HIS SIN SO POIGNANTLY IN THIS PSALM? THE ANSWER IS IN V.10. THE REPENTANT SINNER NOW HAS A PURE HEART.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:22: For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
HOW SINFUL ARE WE. WE ARE SO SINFUL THAT WE CANNOT REPENT APART FROM THE GRACE OF GOD. ALONG WITH OUR SINFULNESS IS THE FACT THAT IT EFFECTS OTHERS AROUND US. DAVID’S SIN EFFECTED BATHSHEBA, HER HUSBAND, DAVID’S FAMILY, AND THE NATION OF ISRAEL.
A THIRD THEME OF THIS PSALM IS THE CONFESSION OF SIN. PSALM 51 TEACHES US THAT CONFESSION OS SIN IS IMPORTANT FOR AT LEAST THREE REASONS.
FIRST, NOT TO CONFESS OUR SIN GIVES US A SKEWED AND INACCURATE VIEW OF GOD. WHEN WE FAIL TO REPENT WE FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MERCY.
SECOND, NOT TO CONFESS HARDENS OUR HEARTS TOWARD THE LOST (V.12-13). WHEN WE DO NOT CONFESS OUR SIN, WE LOSE THE DESIRE TO EVANGELIZE.
THIRD: NOT TO CONFESS ROBS US OF JOY AND PEACE (V.12). ONLY THE LORD CAN PROVIDE SPIRITUAL PEACE, AND HE MAKES US RESTLESS WHEN WE REFUSE TO REPENT.
APPLICATIONS
1. PENITENTIAL PSALMS LIKE PSALM 51 WILL MOVE US TO WANT TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS WHEN WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DO SO IN OURSELVES.
2. TO BE TRULY SORROWFULFOR OUR SINS, WE WANT TO SEE IT AS GOD SEES IT, AS A THOROUGHGOING STAIN THAT SEPARATES US FROM GOD. IN TURN WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SIN WITH GODLY SORROW, WE ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S TRUTHFULNESS AND PLACE OURSELVES AT HIS MERCY.
3. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT ALL SIN ATTACKS GOD AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE. THIS SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH FOR US NOT TO TREAT SIN LIGHTLY.
4. ONE RESULT OF CONFESSION OF SIN IS A HEALTHY DESIRE TO SEE OTHERS BROUGHT TO FAITH IN CHRIST. SIN HARDENS THE HEART NOT ONLY AGAINST GOD BUT AGAINST OTHERS.
5. NOT TO CONFESS IMPLIES THAT GOD IS A LIAR AND WILL NOT FORGIVE US.
PSALM 51 NOT ONLY REVEALS OUR SIN TO OUR EYES, IT PROCLAIMS GOD’S GLORY AND GRACE TO US. ONE OF THE REASONS WE SIN SO EASILY IS BECAUSE WE OFTEN FOCUS OUR LIVES ON OURSELVES ALONE AND NOT ON GOD. IN PSALM 51 DAVID DISCLOSES HIS HEART TO US, TO BE SURE. MORE THAN THAT, HOWEVER, HE REVEALS GOD TO US. THIS IS ITSELF IS AN ANTIDOTE TO SIN: IF WE WILL CONCENTRATE OUR LIVES ON GOD, NOT OURSELVES, WE WILL BE LESS INCLINED TO SIN. WHEN DAVID SEES GOD’S MERCY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AS HE DOES IN PSALM 51, HE CAN BE CLEANSED FROM SIN AND BOLSTERED AGAINST FURTHER SIN. SO IT WILL BE WITH US. IN PSALM 51 DAVID GIVES US THE WORDS TO PUT GOD BACK AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES, EVEN WHEN WE SIN.
