Psalm 51: 1-19 SIN IS TO BLAME
David arranged to have Uriah murdered. Shortly after that, David married Bathsheba, a baby was born and then the baby died. 12 months later David is facing up to his own personal sin !
(1) THE PROBLEM OF SIN
The Catechism, " Sin is any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God."
David's Confession:
(a) SIN IS AN ACTUAL MATTER: vs 1-3
Its real - notice the three words he uses to define sin ? Transgression: Iniquity: Sin !
The word transgression means " rebellion," The law said, " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife," ( Exod 20:17) but he coveted. The law said, " Thou shalt not commit adultery," ( Exod 20:14) but he did The law said, " Thou shalt not kill," ( Exod 20:13) but he murdered !
He was a rebel against the God of Heaven.
David also uses the word " iniquity," The Crookedness of sin ! David committed adultery and then he tried to hide his sin. "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."(Prov 28:13)
The third word David used to describe his actions was " sin." It means " to miss the mark." Rom 3 v 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
David's Condition:
(b) SIN IS A PERSONAL MATTER: Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
The Reality of His Sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions The Responsibility of His Sin (3) and my sin is ever before me.
The Rebellion of His Sin 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
David's Conviction:
(c) SIN IS AN INTERNAL MATTER: 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
It's a matter of the heart ! That's why the Lord Jesus said,
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
David's Concern:
(d) SIN IS A VITAL MATTER: 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Against whom did David sin ? He sinned against his family, He sinned against another family, He sinned against the kingdom over which God had given him rule ! But fundamentally He sinned against God. Joseph - Potiphars wife, "How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God."Gen 39:9
(2) THE PRICE OF SIN
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Sin will take you further than you want to go: Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay: Sin will cost you more than you want to pay."
(a) SIN COSTS SPIRITUALLY: Create in me a clean heart.
Heres a King in all his royalty Yet he feels dirty. Purge me, Wash me, Cleanse me,
(b) SIN COSTS MENTALLY: 3 and my sin is ever before me.
(c) SIN COSTS PHYSICALLY:
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Ps 32: 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
(d) SIN COSTS ETERNALLY:
Ezek 18:20" The soul that sinneth it shall die." James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(3) THE PARDON OF SIN 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
What is the cleansing power for sin ? The Blood of Sacrifice.
(a) IT IS EXPENSIVE:
Hyssop was the little shrub which the Jews used for applying the blood of the lamb to the doors of the houses on the Passover Night in Egypt ! ( Exod 12:22)
"without the shedding of blood there is no remission." ( Heb 9:22)
1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
(b) IT IS EFFECTIVE: and I shall be clean:
Here is, 1. Faith in the Method of atonement. "Purge me, with hyssop" 2. Faith in the Might of atonement. "and I shall be clean." 3. Faith in the Merit of atonement. "wash me" 4. Faith in the Mercy of atonement. "and I shall be whiter than snow,"
(c) IT IS ESSENTIAL: v13 "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."
Note The :-
(a) Timing Of His Message "Then"
(b) Teaching Of His Message "teach transgressors thy ways" The Nature Of :-
Sin, Of Sorrow, Of Sacrifice, Of Substitution,Of Salvation
(c) Target Of His Message "transgressors"
(d) Triumph Of His Message "and sinners shall be converted unto thee"
John Wesley "1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
