View Psalms 51 in the note window.
David prays for pardon, ver. 1, 2.
Confesses his sins, ver. 3 - 5.
Prays for renewing grace, ver. 6 - 14.
Promises unfeigned thankfulness, ver. 15 - 17.
Prays for the whole church, ver, 18, 19.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet
came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
4: Thee only - Which is not to be, understood absolutely, because
he had sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah, and many others; but
comparatively. So the sense is, though I have sinned against my
own conscience, and against others; yet nothing is more grievous
to me, than that I have sinned against thee. Thy sight - With gross
contempt of thee, whom I knew to be a spectator of my most secret
actions. Justified - This will be the fruit of my sin, that whatsoever
severities thou shalt use towards me, it will be no blemish to thy
righteousness, but thy justice will be glorified by all men.
Speakest - Heb. in thy words, in all thy threatenings denounced
against me. Judgest - When thou dost execute thy sentence upon me.
5: Behold - Nor is this the only sin which I have reason to bewail
before thee; for this filthy stream leads me to a corrupt fountain: and
upon a review of my heart, I find, that this heinous crime, was the
proper fruit of my vile nature, which, ever was, and still is ready to
commit ten thousand sins, as occasion offers.
6: Truth - Uprightness of heart; and this may be added; as an
aggravation of the sinfulness of original corruption, because it is
contrary to the holy nature and will of God, which requires rectitude
of heart: and, as an aggravation of his actual sin, that it was committed
against that knowledge, which God had wrote in his heart.
7: Hyssop - As lepers, are by thy appointment purified by the use of
hyssop and other things, so do thou cleanse me a leprous and polluted
creature, by thy grace, and by that blood of Christ, which is signified
by those ceremonial usages.
8: Joy - By thy spirit, seal the pardon of my sins on my conscience,
which will fill me with joy. Rejoice - That my heart which hath been
sorely wounded may be comforted.
10: Create - Work in me an holy frame of heart, whereby my inward
filth may be purged away. Right - Heb. firm or constant, that my
resolution may be fixed and unmoveable. Spirit - Temper or disposition
of soul.
12: The joy - The comfortable sense of thy saving grace, promised
and vouchsafed to me, both for my present and everlasting salvation.
Free - Or, ingenuous, or liberal, or princely. Which he seems
to oppose to his own base and illiberal and disingenuous and servile
spirit, which he had discovered in his wicked practices: a spirit,
which may free me from the bondage of sin, and enable me chearfully
to run the way of God's precepts.
14: Thy righteousness - Thy clemency and goodness.
15: My lips - Which are shut with shame and grief.
16: Not sacrifice - This is not to be understood absolutely,
with respect to David's crimes, which were not to be expiated by
any sacrifice.
17: A broken spirit - This is of more value than many sacrifices.
18: Good pleasure - Thy free and rich mercy. Build - Perfect the
walls and buildings of that city, and especially let the temple be
built, notwithstanding my sins.
