Psalm 51: 1-19 SIN IS TO BLAME
A little boy went to a grocery store to buy some detergent. (Strong) I don't think it was the soap that did it. Dog dead. I think it was the rinse cycle that got him."
Man says that sin is an accident. God says it's an abomination. Man says that sin is a blunder. God says its a blindness. Man says that sin is a chance. God says it's a choice. Man says that sin is a defect. God calls it a disease. Man says that sin is an error. God says it's an enmity. Man says its fascination. God says it's a fatality.
Man says that sin is just a luxury. God says that sin is leprosy. Man calls its a mistake. God calls it madness.
Man says it's a trifle. God calls it a tragedy. Man says that is a weakness. God declares that sin is wickedness.
David knew this by personal experience. For here in ( Ps 51 ) David faces up to his personal sin. Instead of fighting on the battlefield, David was walking on the rooftop. He saw his neighbours wife. He coveted her. He took her. He committed adultery with her. Later, she sent word to him saying, " I am with child." He called her husband, Uriah the Hittite from the battlefield but Uriah would not go home. David's plan didn't work. So David made Uriah drunk. So David arranged to have Uriah murdered. Shortly after that, David married Bathsheba, a baby was born and then the baby died. And now 12 months later David is facing up to his own personal sin !
(1) THE DEFINITION OF SIN
What is 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: 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.3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Its real. Indeed did you notice the three words he uses to define sin ? Transgression: Iniquity: Sin ! The word transgression means " rebellion," for in defying the law of God which he knew David was a rebel. ( 1 Jn 3:4) Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. The law of God said, " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours wife," ( Exod 20:17) but he coveted. The law of God said, " Thou shalt not commit adultery," ( Exod 20:14) but he did God's law also said, " Thou shalt not kill," ( Exod 20:13) but he murdered ! He was a rebel against the God of Heaven. The command of God is to repent, have you repented ? ( Acts 17:30) God's call to you is to seek the Lord ? Have you sought Him (Is 55:6) Gods Word to you is " be ye reconciled to God."( 2 Cor 5:20 Are you reconciled ?
David also uses the word " iniquity," The Crookedness of sin ! David committed adultery and then he became crooked and 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." "I'm not as bad as this fellow,"
God's standard of comparison is Jesus Christ ! 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.
He's taking responsibility for his own sin. Adam blamed Eve for his sin. Eve blamed the serpent and the serpent did not have a leg to stand on !
Reality of His Sin. (3) For I acknowledge my transgressions Responsibility of His Sin (3) and my sin is ever before me.
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.
Root of His Sin 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
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, "Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications" Mk 7:21 "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." ( Matt 5:28) 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 said to Potiphars wife, " How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God." ( Gen 39:9) Samuel said to the people, " God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you." ( 1 Sam 12:23)
(2) THE DEVASTATION 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 DESTROYS US SPIRITUALLY:
Heres a King who bathing in his marble tub. Here's a King who's wearing his royal robes. Here's a King who's sleeping upon his silk sheets. Yet he feels dirty. " Purge me, Wash me, Cleanse me, Create in me a clean heart." Sin had broken David's fellowship with God ! Gen 3:8, And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
Psalm 51: 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
(b) SIN DESTROYS US 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.
Leonardo Da Vinci was painting "The Last Supper," he sought for a model of his Christ. He located a chorister in one of the churches of Rome, a young man named Pietro Bandinelli. Years passed, .... Judas Iscariot. At last he found a beggar on the streets of Rome.
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.
(c) SIN DESTROYS US ETERNALLY: 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
God in mercy does not give what we deserve Hell, and God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve Heaven !
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 DESTRUCTION 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 WAS 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. "I shall be clean." 3. Faith in the merit of atonement. "wash me" 4. Faith in the mercy of atonement. "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."
