This is a psalm of repentance and heartfelt prayer for forgiveness. The historical background was the time when David committed adultery with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11-12.
In this psalm, David pours his heart out to God and openly confesses his sins to God and pleads that God will forgive him. We read that his prayer was rewarded because of his humble spirit, 1 Samuel 13:14 / Acts 13:22.
Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why it was written.
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
The heading tells us that this is a psalm of David, for the director of music. Some commentators believe that the ‘director of music’ is God Himself and others believe that it is a song leader who led choirs or musicians, 1 Chronicles 6:33 / 1 Chronicles 16:17 / 1 Chronicles 25:6.
The historical setting was when he was confronted by Nathan the prophet concerning his sin with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11-12.
David begins by asking God to have mercy on him, Psalm 51:1. This is understandable considering, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, tried to cover his actions up by more or less ordering the killing of Uriah, her husband and then thinking he got away with it all until he was confronted by Nathan the prophet, 2 Samuel 12.
After being confronted by Nathan, David didn’t try to justify his actions or come up with any other kind of excuse, he simply admitted he had sinned against the Lord, 2 Samuel 12:13. Even in this psalm, we must take note of how personal this is. Notice throughout this psalm David uses the words, ‘me’, ‘my’, ‘I’ over and over again.
He asks for mercy according to God’s unfailing love, Psalm 51:1 / Psalm 36:7, and he asks God to have mercy on him according to His great compassion, Psalm 51:1 / 1 Timothy 1:16, to blot out his transgressions, Psalm 51:1 / Jeremiah 18:23.
It’s not surprising that he asks God to blot out his transgressions, Psalm 51:1, that is, to wipe away all records of them, Exodus 32:32-33 / Numbers 5:23 / Isaiah 43:25 / Isaiah 44:22 / Colossians 2:14.
David knew that his many sins were really condemning him, not only from God’s point of view but also in his own conscience. He asks God to wash away his iniquity and cleanse him from his sin, Psalm 51:2 / Isaiah 1:16.
David knew he had acted perversely with Bathsheba and totally missed the mark in having Uriah murdered. He wants God to wash him of his sin completely, in order that he becomes completely pure.
We don’t know exactly how long it was from the time he committed adultery, had Uriah killed, to the time he was confronted by Nathan, possibly a few months but it appears that since he knew his transgressions, and sin was always before him.
This implies that his transgressions and sin were always on his mind, no matter what he did to try and ignore them or even deny them, they were constantly on his mind, Psalm 32:5.
Notice the three words, which David uses to speak of his offence against God.
1. Transgressions, Psalm 51:1 / Psalm 51:4, have the idea of crossing a boundary.
2. Iniquity, Psalm 51:2, has the idea of twistedness or perversion.
3. Sin, Psalm 51:2 / Psalm 51:3, has the idea of falling short or missing the mark,.
Notice how he asks God not just to remove one transgression but many transgressions, Psalm 51:1 / Psalm 51:3. David openly confesses that he has crossed the boundary on more than one occasion.
Others had suffered from the consequences of David’s sin. Uriah was dead and Bathsheba was a grieving widow. But David realised that the sin was against God, for God only could grant forgiveness. He is well aware that he had done evil in the sight of God, Psalm 51:4.
David knew that God was right in His verdict about him and justified in His judgment about him, Psalm 51:4. By acknowledging this, David is saying that God’s judgments are good and just, Romans 3:4.
There are times when we think God doesn’t see what we do in our lives, but He sees it all, Genesis 16:13 / Hebrews 4:13. He was very much there when David was in bed with Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11:4, He was very much there when he gave the command to kill Uriah, 2 Samuel 11:14-15.
This is one of those passages which has been totally misunderstood by many, Psalm 51:5. There are those in the religious world who sincerely believe that all humans are born sinners and are inheritably evil.
They believe that when a child is born, that child is already lost in sin because they have inherited the sin of Adam and Eve, indirectly through their parents. This is the reason why many people have their children ‘christened’ a few days after birth. Some call this teaching ‘inherited sin’ and others call it ‘original sin.’
Now I don’t believe that the Scriptures teach anywhere that we inherit sin from anyone, we all suffer the consequences of Adam’s sin, whether we ever actually sin ourselves or not. In other words, we all suffer physical death as well as other things listed in Genesis 3 / 1 Corinthians 15:22, but I do believe that children may inherit the ‘consequences’ of their parent’s sinfulness.
For example, if a child’s parents robbed a bank, and were caught and sentenced to life in prison, that child will be taken into care and would have to deal with all the consequences of being raised without any parents for the rest of their life. The child has done nothing wrong, they haven’t sinned, but they will have to pay the consequences of their parent’s sin.
Another example would be if a pregnant mother has been drinking alcohol whilst driving and crashes her car, she may damage her unborn child, again, the child isn’t guilty of drunkenness or any other sin. Those who believe in the doctrine of ‘original sin’ believe that Jesus was born of Mary, therefore, Jesus didn’t inherit sin because Mary was sinless.
I don’t know how they can claim Mary was sinless because the Bible clearly tells us that she made a sin offering according to the Law, Leviticus 5:7-13 / Luke 2:22-24. Despite there being no Scriptural evidence, they believe that Mary was born without sin because she herself was ‘immaculately conceived’.
When it comes to Scripture, we must always be careful how we understand them and more importantly, we must be extra careful not to read too much into them and make them mean something it was never meant to mean. Psalm 51, is a Psalm written by David after his sinful behaviour with Bathsheba but notice it deals with the sin of an adult and shows the repentance of an adult, Psalm 51:10-13.
If you take the time to read the whole Psalm, you’ll see that he isn’t saying he was born a sinner. He’s saying that his mother, conceived him in sin, his mother was sinful, Psalm 51:5, the KJV makes this clearer. What David is saying is that he was born into a sinful world, sin was everywhere and all around him from birth. Even Jewish historians teach that David was saying that he was born in a sinful environment.
David also says, ‘The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies,’ Psalm 58:3. The first thing to notice with this verse is simply this, if these people were ‘born astray’ then they couldn’t ‘go astray from birth’. David again is saying that babies are born into a sinful world with their eyes and ears wide open.
We all know that babies are so inquisitive, they begin to learn immediately through taste, touch, sound, sight, and smell. They are watching, and they see evil all around them, constantly from birth. Yes, they don’t know or understand what evil is when they are born, but evil is present, it’s all around them and they’re influenced by it.
David is simply saying that the ones going astray ‘speak lies’, so going astray has to be accomplished, at the very least, only after the person has learned to speak.
Paul writes, ‘Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.’ Ephesians 2:3.
Ask yourself this question, what was it that made these people ‘children of wrath’? Was it something they inherited or something they had done? If we read this verse in its proper context, you’ll see that Ephesians 2:1-2 gives us the answer.
Paul says they were ‘by nature’ what they were, the word ‘nature’ used in Ephesians 2:3, doesn’t refer to an inherited character but rather to habit. In other words, sin became natural, or as some say, ‘second nature’ to them by their long and industrious practice of it.
Read carefully what Jesus actually said, in Matthew 18:1-3, He said ‘we must change and become like little children’. Common sense tells us that He wouldn’t tell us to become like little children if we were born sinners and inheritably evil.
If babies are born inheritably evil, this would mean that there’s nothing in them that isn’t evil and therefore, we shouldn’t become like children in any sense. But Jesus didn’t mean that, He means there was something in children that we need to take as our example, their humility. This passage clearly shows us that children aren’t born inheritably evil, Psalm 106:36-39.
The Hebrew writer refers to God as the ‘Father of spirits’, Hebrews 12:9. While we inherit our physical attributes from our physical parents, our inner person, our spirit, we get from God, Ecclesiastes 12:7, our spirit is created ‘in His image’, Genesis 1:27.
Common sense again tells us, that if we’re born inheritably evil, then we’re evil in body and spirit and if that’s the case, then we inherit our sinful, evil spirits from God! But we know that’s not true because in God there is no evil, Psalm 5:4, and therefore there is no evil to pass on to us.
Paul also says, ‘If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself,’ 2 Timothy 3:13. Think about this verse! If we were born inheritably evil, then we couldn’t get any worse.
Jesus, Himself also says, ‘But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.’ Luke 8:15. Think about this verse! If we were born inheritably evil, then this would mean, there’s no such thing as ‘noble and good’ hearts.
Before we get into dealing with the above doctrine, let’s look at what sin is, because this will help us understand why no child is born a sinner. Please note that sin isn’t described as something we’re born with, it’s described as something we do or don’t do. When we break God’s law, we sin. Note the following Scriptures.
Paul says in Romans 3:23, that sin is missing the mark, falling short of God’s expectations. John tells us in 1 John 3:4, that sin is transgression of God’s law. He also tells us in The 1 John 5:17, that sin is not doing right and James tells us in James 4:17, that sin is failing to do what we know to be right.
Now remember a child, a new-born child, doesn’t have the capability of exercising choice. All of the passages noted above indicate a choice, sin is something that we do either in thought or action. A child can hardly be held accountable for sin if they aren’t aware of what sin is, Romans 7:7-25.
We need to ask ourselves a simple question, who is responsible for our sins? Are we going to blame Adam and Eve? Are we going to blame our parents? Take a moment to read through Ezekiel 18, where we find the children of Israel in Jerusalem being conquered by their enemies, the Babylonians, and they are seeking to blame their fathers for their sins.
Note the following. If Ezekiel teaches us anything in Ezekiel 18:4, and Ezekiel 18:20, he teaches us that God holds each of us accountable for our own sins, not someone else.
It’s very easy to blame God and say, ‘I was born that way!’ It’s very easy to blame our parents and say, ‘I inherited my sin from them!’ Those who believe that babies are born sinners and inheritably evil, need to start taking some responsibility for their own actions, Romans 2:6.
Instead of blaming God or others for our sins, we should acknowledge our sins before Him, repent and turn from them and be baptised into Christ so that we might have our sins forgiven, Acts 2:38. After we have done this, we need to continue to confess and repent of our sins so we might be forgiven, 1 John 1:1-2:2.
David says with God, there is faithfulness but with him, there is sin and falsehood, and he knows that God taught him wisdom, which would help him live right all of his life, Psalm 51:6. In other words, David says that he is the total opposite of what God desired of him, God’s desire was that David be totally transformed deep within.
Notice David’s words of faith in God, cleanse and he will be clean, wash and he will be whiter than snow, Psalm 51:7. He asks God to cleanse him with hyssop, Psalm 51:7 / Exodus 12:22 / John 19:29 / Hebrews 9:19.
Hyssop is a plant or herb which was used to sprinkle blood on a leper by the priest to signify his cleansing, Leviticus 14:4 / Leviticus 14:6 / 1 Kings 4:33 / Hebrews 9:13-14 / 1 John 1:7. David wants God to cleanse him both spiritually and morally.
He asks God to wash him so that he will be whiter than snow, Psalm 51:7 / Isaiah 1:18, that is, he wants God to remove any defilement from him, Isaiah 1:16. The word ‘wash’ in Hebrew is the word, ‘kabac’ and it is the word that was used by those who beat clothes on a solid surface in order to dislodge grime.
It’s clear that the weight of David’s sins, felt like his bones were being crushed, but he was confident that all the pain he was enduring because of his sin, would lead to joy and gladness, Psalm 51:8 / Psalm 32:1-2. Crushed bones speak of total submission to allow God to completely humble David because of his sin.
Like many of us today, we often wait until we’re feeling crushed before we confess our sins to Him, Psalm 6:2 / Psalm 22:14 / Psalm 32:3 / Psalm 31:10 / Psalm 38:3. David once again, as he does throughout this psalm just pours out his heart to God and asks Him for forgiveness and restoration, Psalm 51:9 / Psalm 13:1.
A pure heart and a steadfast spirit were going to be the results of David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness, Psalm 5:10 / Ezekiel 36:26. He didn’t just want a clean heart, he wants a pure heart, he didn’t just want his spirit renewed, he wanted a renewed steadfast spirit within him so that he could live the way God wanted him to. Psalm 5:10.
David doesn’t want God to abandon him and leave him in his sin and sorrow, Psalm 5:11 / Psalm 16:11 / Psalm 31:20 / Psalm 140:13. He doesn’t want God to remove the Holy Spirit from him, Psalm 5:11.
In other words, he didn’t want God’s presence to leave him. Remember in the Old Testament there was no ‘indwelling of the Spirit’ as Christians have today. The ‘indwelling of the Spirit’ is received at baptism, Acts 2:38 / Romans 8:9 / 1 Corinthians 6:19.
After dealing with the consequences of sin deep within him, David asks the Lord to restore the joy of His salvation, Psalm 51:12. He wanted to feel that joy which comes about a person has been being forgiven of their sins, 1 John 2:29 / 1 John 3:7 / 1 John 3:10.
He wants God to give him a willing spirit to sustain him, Psalm 51:12 / 1 Chronicles 28:21 / Exodus 35:5. In other words, he wants God to help him to be able to obey His will.
David knows how much mercy he needed from God and as a result, he said he would teach others about God’s mercy, so that they would turn to Him, Psalm 51:13 / Luke 22:32 / 2 Corinthians 4:15.
David now asks God, his Saviour to deliver him from the guilt of commanding the murder of Uriah, Psalm 51:14 / 2 Samuel 11:14-17. As a result of God’s forgiveness, David would once again sing praises about God’s righteousness, Psalm 51:14-15 / Psalm 35:28.
David knows that God didn’t delight in sacrifice and burnt offerings, Psalm 51:16 / 2 Samuel 6:13 / 2 Samuel 6:17-18 / Psalm 40:6-8 / Psalm 50:7-15 / Isaiah 1:11, otherwise, he would have done that. He understands that what God really wants, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, Psalm 51:17 / Psalm 44:19. In other words, He wants the very heart of man, Isaiah 57:15 / Isaiah 66:2.
David knows that his sin did more than affect him as a king, his sin affected more than Bathsheba and her husband, his sin also affected his kingdom, Psalm 51:18. Hence why, he asks God to make Zion prosper and built up the walls of Jerusalem, Psalm 51:18.
After repenting and confessing his sins to the Lord, David, along with all the righteous, that is, those who are right with God, will be able to offer their sacrifice to the Lord with a clear conscience, Psalm 51:19 / Deuteronomy 33:10 / Leviticus 6:9 / Leviticus 1:3-17.
David mentioned within his psalm that he didn’t want God to take away the Holy Spirit, Psalm 51:11. Notice the words, ‘Holy Spirit’, the N.I.V. and other translations use a capital ‘H’, for ‘holy’, when it should be a small case ‘h’. We find the phrase, ‘holy Spirit’ in the Old Testament in three places.
But you will notice in the original text, the word ‘holy’ doesn’t begin with a capital letter. Nor can you find the term, ‘THE Holy Spirit’. The word, ‘holy’, begins with a small ‘h’, because the word is used in an adjectival sense and not as a title, or designation. The first person who is said to have used the term was David where he pleads with God, ‘take not your holy Spirit from me’, Psalm 51:11.
David knew what happened to King Saul, he knew that Saul had been disowned by God and he was afraid that God might also abandon him because of his terrible sin. The Scriptures tell us that ‘the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul’, 1 Samuel 16:14, and the prophet Samuel never again went to see him.
Remember at this time David was the King, the Lord’s Anointed One. He was the man on whose young head had been poured the anointing oil which had been the symbol in its gentle flow and sweet perfume, of his setting apart for high office in the service of God.
And now, he is very much afraid that this special privilege and symbol of God’s presence had been forfeited, might be taken back, lost! ‘Take not your holy Spirit from me’. The other two occasions when the expression ‘holy Spirit’ is used are found in the book of the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah 63:10-11. ‘Yet they rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit.’ ‘Where is he who set his holy Spirit among them.’
This is a very significant statement because it reveals an important truth, namely that in Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit took hold of men to use them for specific tasks. He didn’t indwell them, He didn’t come to ‘live in’ them as in the New Testament times with Christians.
And what is truly remarkable, is that the Spirit of God took hold of men for special purposes, without reference to their character. Sometimes they were good men. Sometimes they were not so good! But He took them and used them to accomplish His purposes.
This is one of the amazing differences between the people of God of Old Testament times and the people of God today, that is, the church, 1 Corinthians 3:16 / 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. In Old Testament times the Spirit of God is never said to ‘fill’, or ‘dwell’ in the nation, the people of God, but only used particular people, at particular times, for particular purposes.