“A SAINT WHO RECEIVED GOD’S CLEMENCY AND FULL FORGIVENESS” PSALM 51:1-19

The superscription of this penitential psalm reads, “To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” The superscription relates to the occasion when David committed his gross sin of adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife (II Samuel 11). The psalmist, David, begins this psalm in his petition to God, appealing to God on the foundation of God’s loyal love and compassion for people – “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions (v. 1).

It is a tremendous comfort to know that believers who have sinned may appeal to God, asking for forgiveness and be fully restored to proper fellowship with God. When we sin as believers, we need to confess our sin, for I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In verse 2, David is earnestly asking the Lord to thoroughly cleanse him of his sin. In sinning against God in his sin with Bathsheba, David was guilty of breaking two of the Ten Commandments: murder, the sixth commandments; and adultery, the seventh commandment.

In verses 3-4, we find David earnestly and sincerely confessing his sin, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (v. 3); however, he does so only about a year later when the prophet Nathan confronted him about this issue (II Samuel 12:13-18). In a state of acknowledging his guilt, David remarks that he was born with a sin nature and that God desires rightful living (vv. 5-6).

Pleading with the Lord to thoroughly cleanse him, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (v. 7). David also appeals to God, asking for inward renewal (vv. 10-12). David is requesting God for spiritual renewal because he wanted to experience the joy of his salvation – “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (v. 10). When David sinned, he did not lose his salvation; however, he lost the joy of his salvation. Likewise, believers in fellowship with the Lord will experience the joy of being saved. As believers, we can never lose our salvation because salvation is a gift from God, and God does not withdraw His salvation when we sin. Salvation is given to the one who accepts God’s gift, Jesus Christ by faith (St. John 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:37; 10:28-29; 14:6).

On the basis of God’s forgiveness, David vows that he would testify fully in his service to God (vv. 13-17). If forgiven, David vows that he would teach sinners the ways of God (v. 13). Also, David declares that he would sing and praise God (vv. 14- 15). Lastly, David declares that he would sacrifice to God (vv. 16-17). This psalm closes with a petition that the Lord would fortify the city of Jerusalem in view of the vile sin of its leader, David (vv. 18-19).

May God Bless!