The young man giving his testimony in the morning service would be baptized in a few minutes. He told of a life gone haywire until he hit bottom. One night, overcome with sorrow for his sins, he slid to his knees by his bed, crying out for a fresh start with Jesus. I listened with tears filling my eyes, thinking how for millions those low points become our highest points as we claim the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.This is the thrust of Psalm 51, which is a king’s confession of sin and prayer for mercy and a changed life. It’s deeper than deep. Eighteenth century preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who could preach hours off one verse, found himself so overwhelmed by the truths in this psalm that he procrastinated for weeks before trying to write about it. I can understand his reluctance. What more could I add to what is said so well here about God’s mercy and loving us so much that He gave!
Psalm 51 is the fourth of the seven so-called “penitential
psalms” (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). The March 21 blog on Psalm 32 (“Hidden
Places”) considered David’s later-in-life perspective of what he learned from
his fall into sin. Psalm 51 was probably written closer to his confession of
sin after confrontation by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 11-12).
HAVE MERCY! (1-2)
Under the Mosaic law of the Old Testament, no sacrifice
could be offered to forgive adultery and murder, both of which David committed.
His only hope of forgiveness was God’s “mercy.” The Hebrew word for mercy (hānan) pictures bending or stooping in
kindness to an inferior. Don’t skip over the “O” in front of “God” (the Hebrew “Elohim,”
referring to the most high God). In English, the “O” indicates intensity of
expression, almost a deep sigh. He precedes God’s name with “O” four more times
(vv. 10, 14, 15, 17). He appeals to God’s “unfailing love,” from the Hebrew hesed, referring to God’s covenantal
love. Then he appeals to God’s great compassion before three specific
sin-descriptions (the same as in Psalm 32).
I SINNED! (3-6)
We want our elected officials
to rule with integrity, but many fall. How well I remember the sad episode of a
former president accused of adultery—in his oval office!—who tried to weasel
out of the accusations that nearly removed him from office. David didn’t shrug
off his wrongs with a casual “I blew it.” He was specific about the scope of
sin against a holy God:“Blot out my transgressions”—sin that crosses over into forbidden territory.
“Wash away all my iniquity”--perversion, what we call “original sin.”
“Cleanse me from my sin”—falling short, missing the mark, like an arrow missing a target.
David didn’t say, “Everybody sins a little once in a while.” He looked at himself as one tainted with the original sin passed through Adam and Eve (v. 5), and confessed his great fall: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (v. 4). Today, pride and being “culturally correct” keep us from the flat-out honesty about the seriousness of sin. “One of the greatest crises of our day,” wrote Oswald Chambers in Devotions for the Deeper Life, “is that we are contented with easy satisfaction in our spiritual lives. We are content with moral fastidiousness. If we are to get at the heart of the religion of the Cross, we will have to forget such religious trivialities. We must be ‘unblamable in holiness before God’….We need broken-hearted preachers with an awful conviction of sin, preachers who cry, ‘My God! My God! Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned!’” (Zondervan/God’s Bible School, 1986, p. 83).
CLEAN! (7-9)
David wanted:*Cleansing (literally, purging) “with hyssop.” This small, rock-clinging plant was used as a brush or to sprinkle. In the Exodus, the Hebrews used it to smear blood on their doorways to alert the angel of death to pass over them. It was also used in ceremonial cleansing for people with skin diseases (Lev. 14:4, 6) or who had touched a dead body (Num. 19:18). Hebrews 9:19-22, in pointing to Christ’s death, explained, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” In asking cleansing with hyssop, David was literally saying, “De-sin me.”
*A new, pure
spirit, clean like new-fallen snow. Though rare, Jerusalem does get some snow, and David had
probably witnessed a morning when pure white covered the usual dirty landscape.
This part of Psalm 51 inspired James Nicholson, a devout Christian and postal
worker, to write this much-loved Gospel hymn, published in 1872:
Lord Jesus, I long
to be perfectly whole; I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe.
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
RENEWAL (10-12)
David wanted a fresh start, so he asked God to:*Create a pure heart for him. This was a bold request, for in asking God to “create” this new heart, he used the word “bara” which was also used in Genesis for the creation of the heavens and earth. In other words, he was asking God to create something brand-new out of nothing! He couldn’t have made a bolder request.
*Never cast David away. This verse has stirred up a lot of controversy among those who dispute “eternal security.” But what David seems to be saying is not a matter of “losing” salvation but that he needed God’s help to live in holiness.
*Restore the joy of salvation. Sin took away his joy. Momentary pleasures brought long-term grief. Now, with repentance and cleansing, he wants to enjoy again his sweet fellowship with God.
PROOF OF A CHANGED HEART
(13-17)
Today, people who commit a crime are often “sentenced” to
a community service that seeks to compensate a wrong or convince others not to
follow the same negative paths. For example, a teen arrested for drunken
driving might speak to student groups about what he or she learned from
breaking the law. As Psalm 51 ends, David promises to warn others not to make
his mistake. “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn
back to you” (v. 13). An obedient life is far better than a cycle of sinning
and sacrifices.
CHANGED PEOPLE=CHANGED NATION
(18-19)
Proverbs 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but
sin is a disgrace to any people.” We don’t know if David influenced the writing
of that proverb, but we do that the ending of Psalm 51 is a similar appeal to
his nation to turn from sin and serve the living God. With such an ending, Psalm 51 leads us to look in the
mirror ourselves and ask: Am I the weak link of national health? Am I open to
the counsel or rebuke of a godly, caring person? Have I thoroughly faced my sin
and sought forgiveness? And am I praying
for loved ones who haven’t yet made that decision?Next blog: Psalm 56
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