Psalm 51

There are several psalms that are very well-known. The best-known is the 23rd, but the 51st must also be on that list. While there is nothing I could say that hasn’t been already stated, hopefully some of these devotional thoughts will help you as they have me. For historical background to this psalm (the sin of David with Bathsheba and his consequent confrontation with the prophet Nathan) see Second Samuel 11 and 12.

1. While God is always gracious, we should still plead with Him for grace, especially when our spirits are low due to sin. We know He is gracious, but it shows our respect for, and dependence upon, Him when we seek His graciousness (verse 1).

2. The rest of verse 1 gives a great trait of God: His compassion. The NASB puts it this way: “According to the greatness of your compassion blot out my transgressions.” God’s compassion far surpasses that shown by mere men. David also recognizes in these words (and in verse 2)that it is God alone Who can truly forgive sins.

3. Verse 3 shows us something of David’s heart, as does this entire psalm. While he has sinned (in fact, he has committed multiple sins), his heart is still broken by those sins. He knows that he has done wrong, and his “sin is ever before” him. In other words, he is truly bothered by what he has done. But he goes further, asking for God’s forgiveness. Knowing what we have done is wrong is one thing, but we must seek God’s help.

4. Verse 4 is probably the most famous of the psalm: “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight.” David had sinned against many people (Bathsheba, Uriah, his people, his armies and their leaders, etc.), but, ultimately, the sin was against God. While he still needed to make things right with the others, he needed his relationship with God to be right first.

5. Verse 5 does NOT teach original sin, as so many believe. David is not saying that he has been sinful since conception (or birth). If that is what David is saying, it would contradict other passages in the Bible, such as Ezekiel 18. We do not pass along sins through the birth process.

6. Verse 6 is one that our children need to be taught. David writes that God wants us to be true and honest all the way to our core. We don’t need to wear the “mask” of being a follower of God, we need to be one from the inside, out. In fact, David says, it is in our inward parts where we know true wisdom–the wisdom that comes from God.

7. Verses 7-9 are the beginning of a prayer for forgiveness, written in beautiful language for two reasons. One is simply the wording. It is poetic and deep in meaning. But the other reason, and the most important, is that David is sincere in what he is saying. He is truly seeking God’s forgiveness, and not trying to “figure a way out” of his problems. He has already tried that, and it failed miserably. Now he knows he needs God to forgive. And when God forgives, it is true and total forgiveness!

8. Verse 10 again shows us that we need to be cleansed from the inside out. David doesn’t just ask for a good life, he asks for a “clean heart” and a “steadfast spirit.” These are inward parts, where either good or evil flow from.

9. While I can’t explain it, I think it is significant that we have a reference to the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament (verse 11). The Holy Spirit is rarely mentioned in the Old Testament, but David, through inspiration, knew something of His presence.

10. Verse 12 teaches us from Whom salvation comes. We sometimes say that a person is seeking “his/her salvation.” We need to make sure we say that someone is seeking “God’s salvation.” It is His to give! While that may be splitting hairs, David used the phrase, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” because He knew it was God’s to give.

11. What would be the result? Besides forgiveness, joy and a clean heart, David would “teach transgressors” the ways of God (verse 13). Isn’t that the same thing we should be doing today? When we receive the joy of God’s salvation, we should want to teach everyone we know about His grace, forgiveness and mercy.

12. In verse 15, David seems to already be closer to God due to this forgiveness. He is already asking God to “open [his] lips.” He has asked for forgiveness, and trusts that God will forgive. Now David is ready to tell others about God, so he makes a request of his Father.

13. Verses 16 and 17 are classic texts on worship. David is not saying that one should not sacrifice (under the Old Testament law). What he is saying is that the attitude of respect for God must accompany the sacrifice. We must come before God and realize who we are and Who He is.