Chapter 51
Chapter Outline
The psalmist prays for mercy, humbly (1–6)
confessing and lamenting his sins.
He pleads for pardon, that he may promote (7–15)
the glory of God and the conversion of
sinners.
God is pleased with a contrite heart, A (16–19)
prayer for the prosperity of Zion.Verses 1–6
David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace.
Whither should backsliding children return, but to the Lord their God, who alone can heal them?
he drew up, by Divine teaching, an account of the workings of his heart toward God. Those that
truly repent of their sins, will not be ashamed to own their repentance. Also, he instructs others
what to do, and what to say. David had not only done much, but suffered much in the cause of God;
yet he flees to God's infinite mercy, and depends upon that alone for pardon and peace. He begs
the pardon of sin. The blood of Christ, sprinkled upon the conscience, blots out the transgression,
and, having reconciled us to God, reconciles us to ourselves. The believer longs to have the whole
debt of his sins blotted out, and every stain cleansed; he would be thoroughly washed from all his
sins; but the hypocrite always has some secret reserve, and would have some favorite lust spared.
David had such a deep sense of his sin, that he was continually thinking of it, with sorrow and
shame. His sin was committed against God, whose truth we deny by wilful sin; with him we deal
deceitfully. And the truly penitent will ever trace back the streams of actual sin to the fountain of
original depravity. He confesses his original corruption. This is that foolishness which is bound in
the heart of a child, that proneness to evil, and that backwardness to good, which is the burden of
the regenerate, and the ruin of the unregenerate. He is encouraged, in his repentance, to hope that
God would graciously accept him. Thou desirest truth in the inward part; to this God looks, in a
returning sinner. Where there is truth, God will give wisdom. Those who sincerely endeavour to
do their duty shall be taught their duty; but they will expect good only from Divine grace overcoming
their corrupt nature.
Verses 7–15
Purge me with hyssop, with the blood of Christ applied to my soul by a lively faith, as the water
of purification was sprinkled with a bunch of hyssop. The blood of Christ is called the blood of
sprinkling, Heb 12:24. If this blood of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, cleanse us from our sin,
then we shall be clean indeed, Heb 10:2. He asks not to be comforted, till he is first cleansed; if
sin, the bitter root of sorrow, be taken away, he can pray in faith, Let me have a well-grounded
peace, of thy creating, so that the bones broken by convictions may rejoice, may be comforted.