Psalms 51:1-19
1 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.
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.
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceivea me.
6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a rightb spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness,c O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Contents: The penitential prayer of David.
Characters: God, David.
Conclusion: All the believer's wrong doing comes to a climax at the foot of the throne, being violation of God's law. While the penalty of sin has been blotted out by the blood, the defilement of all subsequent sin remains. Confession brings sin out of its hiding place and enables the sinner to take sides with God against it. See 1 John 1:9.
Key Word: Confession, Psalms 51:3.
Strong Verses: Psalms 51:1; Psalms 51:7; Psalms 51:10; Psalms 51:17.
Striking Facts: Psalms 51:7. The sinner is purged by blood upon acceptance of Christ (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 10:14) which takes away the guilt of sin. The washing (Psalms 51:2) takes away the defilement of sin in the Christian, being accomplished by the application of the Word by the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:25-26.)