Psalm 51
1. The Desperate Plea for Mercy
1.1 The Cry for Grace (v 1)
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”
1.2 The Request for Cleansing (v 2)
“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!”
2. The Honest Confession of Sin
2.1 The Acknowledgment of Sin’s Reality (v 3)
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”
2.2 The Recognition of Sin’s True Nature (v 4)
“Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment.”
2.3 The Admission of Inherent Sinfulness- also in a Believer (v 5)
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
2.4 The Desire for Internal Truth (v 6)
“Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
“True repentance begins with the sight of sin.
It’s the eye that must be open before the heart can be broken.”- Stephen Charnock
3. The Passionate Plea for Cleansing
3.1 The Request for Purification (v 7)
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
3.2 The Desire for Joy and Gladness (v 8)
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice.”
3.3 The Appeal for Forgiveness (v 9)
“Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”
3.4 The Request for Spiritual Renewal (v 10)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
3.5 The Prayer for God’s Continued Presence (v 11)
“Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.”
3.6 The Plea for Restoration of Joy (v 12)
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
4. The Resulting Commitment to Service
4.1 The Promise to Teach Others (v 13)
“Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You.”
4.2 The Prayer for Deliverance (v 14)
“Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of Your righteousness.”
4.3 The Offering of a Broken Heart (vv. 15-16)
“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering.”
4.4 The True Sacrifice God Desires (v 17)
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
4.5 The Prayer for Corporate Blessing (vv. 18-19)
“Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will You delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on Your altar.“
Conclusion
Psalm 51 beautifully illustrates the truths John presents in 1 John 1.
David demonstrates what it means to walk in the light, honestly acknowledging sin rather than denying it. He models true confession, agreeing with God about our sinfulness and casting ourselves on His mercy.
He experiences the reality of forgiveness and cleansing that John promises to those who confess. And he shows the proper result of repentance – a transformed life that honors God and serves others.
I plead for grace, O God of steadfast love;
by Your great mercy, all my sin remove.
Deeply ashamed for spurning You alone,
I stand condemned before Your holy throne.
Though You want truth and purity within,
I am unclean, conceived with inborn sin.
Purge me with blood and wash me white as snow.
Hide my transgressions; heal my broken soul.
Create in me a spotless heart, I pray.
Take not Your Spirit! Cast me not away!
Restore to me salvation’s joy anew,
then I will teach the lost to turn to You.
Save me, O God—with blood my hands are stained!
Open my lips to praise Your righteous Name.
Though You reject a thoughtless sacrifice,
my broken, contrite heart You’ll not despise.
Lord, in Your goodness, build up Zion’s walls.
Let not my sin tear down Your glorious cause.
May You delight in ev’ry sacrifice
offered by sinners You have purified.
God can be just, and sinners justify,
for Jesus bled God’s wrath to satisfy.
My sins the spikes that nailed Christ to the tree—
God’s love and justice there for all to see.
Words: JOE TYRPAK © 2013 ChurchWorksMedia.com
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