Psalms 51

¹To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

²Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

⁴Against 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.

Psa 51:1-19. On the occasion, compare 2Sa 11:12. The Psalm illustrates true repentance, in which are comprised conviction, confession, sorrow, prayer for mercy, and purposes of amendment, and it is accompanied by a lively faith. 1-4. A plea for mercy is a confession of guilt. blot out--as from a register. transgressions--literally, “rebellions” (Psa 19:13; 32:1).

⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

⁶Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

5-6. His guilt was aggravated by his essential, native sinfulness, which is as contrary to God’s requisitions of inward purity as are outward sins to those for right conduct.

⁷Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

7-12. A series of prayers for forgiveness and purifying. Purge ... hyssop--The use of this plant in the ritual (Ex 12:22; Nu 19:6, 18) suggests the idea of atonement as prominent here; “purge” refers to vicarious satisfaction (Nu 19:17-20).

¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

13. Then--Such will be the effect of this gracious work. ways--of providence and human duty (Psa 18:21, 30; 32:8; Lu 22:32).

¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

14. Deliver--or, “Free me” (Psa 39:8) from the guilt of murder (2Sa 12:9, 10; Psa 5:6). righteousness--as in Psa 7:17; 31:1.

¹⁵O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

15. open ... lips--by removing my sense of guilt.

¹⁶For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

16. Praise is better than sacrifice (Psa 50:14), and implying faith, penitence, and love, glorifies God. In true penitents the joys of pardon mingle with sorrow for sin.

¹⁸Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

18. Do good, &c.--Visit not my sin on Thy Church. build ... walls--is to show favor; compare Psa 89:40, for opposite form and idea.

¹⁹Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

19. God reconciled, material sacrifices will be acceptable (Psa 4:5; compare Is 1:11-17).