For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David’s affair with Bathsheba. 

 

David wrote this song after he confessed his sin of murder and adultery with Uriah and Bathsheba. This confession came one year later after the incident. God sent Nathan the prophet to accuse David of his sin.

 

51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! 

 

David asked God to show him mercy for his rebellious acts. His rebellious acts were committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband in order to cover up his sin, David asked God to show His loyal love towards David. He asked God to show him compassion.

 

51:2 Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! 

 

David asked Jehovah to cleanse him of his sin. A believer cleanses his sin by confessions of sins (1 John 1:9). Once a believer confesses his sin, then he is placed back in fellowship with God so that he can perform service for God. God will not use a dirty vessel or an unclean ambassador. He will simply choose someone else to perform the task.

 

51:3 For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin. 

 

David was aware of his sins. Many kings committed adultery and murder every day, but their sin did not bother them. David was different. His soul was filled with Bible doctrine. He wanted to serve God. His conscience was not seared.  Sin pricked his conscience and caused him to seek God.

 

51:4 Against you—you above all—I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me. 

 

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah, then he not only sinned against these two people and their families, but he also sinned against God.

 

51:5 Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me. 

 

All men are born totally depraved and evil.

 

51:6 Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom. 

 

Jehovah desires integrity in the inner man. Integrity and wisdom comes through the daily study and application of Bible doctrine. 

 

51:7 Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. 

 

David asked Jehovah to cleanse him of his sin.

 

51:8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice! 

 

The unconfessed sin of David weighed heavily on his conscience and crushed his bones. He asked Jehovah to give him the joy of being forgiven.

 

51:9 Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! 

 

David asked Jehovah to forget his sins and wipe all of the guilt away from David’s conscience.

 

51:10 Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! 

 

David wanted a clean mind where he could freshly serve God once again.

 

51:11 Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! 

 

David asked Jehovah not to reject him. David still wanted to serve God. The Holy Spirit during the Old Testament dispensation filled God’ servants for a short time to perform a task. David asked that the Holy Spirit not be taken away from him. 

 

In the New Testament dispensation, every believer is baptized into the Spirit at the time of his conversion. The Holy Spirit is always with the believer, but He can be grieved. The Holy Spirit becomes sad when a believer sins. However, the Holy Spirit will never depart from the New Testament believer.

 

51:12 Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! 

 

David had sinned before, confessed his sin, and he was cleansed. He desired this same experience again. David wanted Jehovah to give him the desire to obey him. All believers need to pray like David.

 

51:13 Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you. 

 

Rebels were those who fought against the Word of God. David desired to teach these rebels the Word of God so that they could understand their sin and God’s mercy. Teaching others the Word of God is the only way to turn a sinner to Jehovah.

 

51:14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. 

 

David murdered Uriah, but his conscience would not allow him to get away with this sin. David asked God to deliver him from this guilt so that he could be joyful once again. Those who walk around with unconfessed sin will feel boredom and depression in life. They may act happy on the outside, but they are depressed and broken on the inside.

 

51:15 O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you. 

 

David asked for the correct words to praise Jehovah.

 

51:16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. 

 

Jehovah does not desire sacrifice. He desires obedience to His Word.

 

51:17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject. 

 

A humble spirit is one who recognizes that the study and application of Bible doctrine is the most important priority in life. God will not reject this type of person. God will help this person fulfill his divine mission on earth.

 

51:18 Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem! 

 

Zion is the city of Jerusalem. God chose this city to become the governmental seat of David’s current government. Jerusalem will also become the future headquarters of the Millennial Kingdom theocracy. David asked Jehovah to strengthen the walls of Jerusalem.

 

51:19 Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar. 

 

John the Baptist introduced The Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” All of these sacrifices pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ.