This is a portion of Scripture, which can never be read too often. If any among us have never found mercy, let them use this Psalm as their own personal prayer; while those who have found mercy can read between the lines, and read the sweetness of pardon into the bitterness of sorrow for sin. This P... [ Continue Reading ]
Although we may have been preserved by divine grace from any gross and open sin, yet let us read this Psalm in the spirit of penitence. I always feel afraid of myself if I cannot read this Psalm from my heart. Surely some pride must have entrusted my spirit, and taken away its humility and its tende... [ Continue Reading ]
A Psalm of David, after Nathan had rebuked him, and he had been convinced of his great guilt in having sinned with Bathsheba. The music to which this Psalm can be sung must be composed of sighs, and groans, and sobs, and cries. I believe that many of us here present have prayed this prayer of David... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 51:1. _Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee... [ Continue Reading ]
A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, and rebuked him, in the name of God, for his great sin with Bathsheba. Psalms 51:1. _Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindess: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions._ This is not a Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
May God graciously grant to all of us the grace which shall enable us to enter into the penitential spirit which is so remarkable in this Psalm! Psalms 51:1. _Have mercy upon me, O God,_ He breaks the silence at last, and he does so by crying to God for mercy. Ere he says anything else, he appeals... [ Continue Reading ]
It is a Psalm, and therefore it is to be sung. It is dedicated to the chief Musician, and there is music in it, but it needs a trained ear to catch the harmony. The sinner with a broken heart will understand the language and also perceive the sweetness of it; but as for the proud and the self-righte... [ Continue Reading ]
Let us read two Psalms of penitence. Repentance, and faith go hand in hand all the way to heaven. Repenting and believing make up a large measure of the Christian life. First, let us read the 51 st Psalm, penned by David after his great sin with Bathsheba, when, by the instrumentality of Nathan, he... [ Continue Reading ]
There are many sweet notes in Christian music, but to my own heart there is none so softly, tenderly, sweet as the note of repentance. Full assurance rings out her clarion trumpet strain, and we ought to be able to send it forth, but sometimes we are unable. Conquest over sin gives us Miriam's timbr... [ Continue Reading ]
Psalms 51:1. _Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions._ There may be some people who think themselves so holy that they cannot join in this Psalm. I can, for one, and I believe that there are many of yo... [ Continue Reading ]
This Psalm is dedicated to the chief musician, so that it was intended to be sung. Yet it is not by any means a joyous piece of music. It seems more fit to be sung or sighed as a solo for the solitary penitence of a broken heart than for the united songs of believers. Yet, in God's ear, it is clear... [ Continue Reading ]
We will first read Psalms 51:1 : If we need any music to this Psalm, we must have the liquid melody of tears, sighs, cries, entreaties. It is above all the others, the penitential Psalm. It is the Psalm of David when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed his great sin with Bathsheba.... [ Continue Reading ]
There are seven penitential Psalms, but this seems to be the chief one of the seven. The language of David is as suitable to us today as it was to him, and though much was lost to the cause of righteousness by David's sin, yet the Church is enriched for all ages by the possession of such a Psalm as... [ Continue Reading ]