Psalm 51

Second Samuel David lusted after his neighbor’s wife. He committed adultery; she became pregnant. He made her husband drunk. He had him killed. He tried to cover the whole matter for at least a year.

1. This Psalm is very personal. 2. This Psalm pulls no punches. 3. This Psalm is very practical.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (NKJV). This is poetry, which often uses exaggeration to emphasize a point. This was the lowest point in David’s life. He feels the guilt of his sin in every fiber of his being. His entire life is corrupted and hopeless without God’s mercy and forgiveness.

“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (NKJV). This is poetry, which often uses exaggeration to emphasize a point. This was the lowest point in David’s life. He feels the guilt of his sin in every fiber of his being. His entire life is corrupted and hopeless without God’s mercy and forgiveness. "What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous? If God puts no trust in His saints, and the heavens are not pure in His sight, How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!” Job 15:14-16 “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.” Psalm 58:3

This passage does not defend the false doctrine of Calvinism. Sin is not the result of inherited depravity, but of personal choice (James 1:13-15). God holds us responsible for our own sins, not the sins of our parents (Ezek. 18:20).

“Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being…” (NASB) God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7), and David’s heart was full of sin and deceit. If we will wash the inside, the outside will also be made clean (Matt. 23:25-26).

1. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean 2. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow 3. Hide Your face from my sins 4. Blot out all my iniquities

“That the bones You have broken may rejoice” (NKJV). God chastens us (Ps. 38:1-4; Hosea 6:1-2). David lived with the physical consequences of his sin (2 Sam. 12:13-14, 10), but he enjoyed peace with God.

1. The depth to which sin can corrupt our lives. 2. Cleansing must start from the inside out. 3. God will not “let us go” without a fight. 4. We can be washed and made whiter than snow.