This is David, the Believer whom God nicknames in Acts 13:22 “the man after Mine Own Heart.”

We might term him this way, “born-again” David, “child of God” David, “saved” David, yet still having sinned in his life and needing renewed fellowship with his great God!

The Psalm covers nineteen verses in total. And it presents to us a beautiful array of truth about the Bible doctrine of forgiveness, even to a near saint of God!

Here is our Text for the next few lessons. Let’s familiarize ourselves with it, Psalm 51:1-19.

 “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. ⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. ⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. ⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. ⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. ¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. ¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. ¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. ¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. ¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. ¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.”

 If David can be forgiven for his litany of sins, so can we. First John 1:9 is such a comforting promise! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 Thank You, Lord.

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 2, A WORD STUDY ON SIN:

The Psalm we’re considering is a “confession.” David has sinned, really going a long while without repenting too. Somewhere around a year, the experts say.

But after hearing a stirring sermon from one of God’s men, Nathan the Prophet by name, David is ready to make things “right” with God.

In the first four verses of this great poem the author, David himself by historical and Biblical evidence, uses four different words for his wrongdoing!

Talk about being “sensitive” to God, to one’s conscience, to the Holy Spirit!

I will underline those four terms. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” Psalm 51:1-4

This lesson will review these major “sin” words. They provide a pretty comprehensive Old Testament view of “failing to please God.”

The noun “transgressions” is “pasha” and means “rebellion!” Stark longings to overthrow God Almighty and what he represents!

The word “iniquity” translates a verbal root spelled “avah,” meaning “to twist, to bend, to distort” something out of its intended shape. So now, sin is perversion! Reversing God’s original plan for life on earth!

Then the normal word for “sin” is used, “chattaah.” It means “to miss the goal.” To miss the mark, to go wrong. Not being what God desires us to be, failing to enjoy the many blessings He has reserved for us.

Then last is the word “evil,” in Hebrew “ra.” This little term means “wickedness that spreads!” It impacts and influences and ruins others! It’s malignant!

David here feels that he has erred in all these categories. He has rebelled. He has perverted God’s laws. He has robbed himself of God’s potential blessings. And he has also dabbed in sin that’s so powerful it’s downright deadly! Terminal sin, active and spreading and damning!

Yet God still forgives!

Praise the Name of our dear Lord.

                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, FORGIVENESS:

The verbs David uses in the first few verses of Psalm 51, “pleas” for forgiveness, are astounding. They sound like “New Testament” terminology.

Let me show you. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”

The expression “have mercy” is a Hebrew verb spelled “chanan” which means “to be gracious, to show favour or pity.” Sounds to me like the “God be merciful to me a sinner” prayer of Luke 18:13, words from the mouth of a publican.

And asking God to “blot out” one’s sins is amazing as well. “Machah” means “to wipe away!” Even “to exterminate” according to some textbooks! To destroy, to abolish too!

Then Lord, prayed David, “wash me” as well! “Kabas” carries the idea of “cleaning with water, but specifically by treading on the soiled garment with one’s feet.” It’s what the Old Testament “cleaners” or “fullers” did to rid the Jews’ clothing of stains and spots! Then comes the verb “cleanse,” spelled “taher” in the Hebrew Bible. It means “to be pure,” not only outside but inside now as well.

Like I’ve said, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, Adam too, is a God of forgiveness!

Every bit as much in the olden days of the Prophets … as well as the more modern days of Paul and Silas!

It is indeed marvelous Grace!

Amazing Grace!

Or as Peter called it, Manifold Grace, “poikilos” in Greek. That’s “many colored” Grace!

Variegated Grace!

And God did forgive David, just like the King asked!

                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, SIN HURTS GOD:

David is confessing his sins. This is after a Prophet of God named Nathan preached a “tailor-made” Sermon for David. “Thou art the (guilty) man,” shouted Nathan!

David counters, agreeing, but addressing God: “Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.” Psalm 51:4

The Lord had through His Prophet, again that’s Nathan, told David that “judgment” was coming. David would be “chastened” for his sins.

So the King wants to “agree” with God in the way the Lord was planning to discipline His follower.

God, you are “justified,” that means “right,” in whatever you do to me.

And you are “guiltless” when you judge me, “clear” being the word our King James Bible uses.

But maybe the most surprising thing David says here in his confession is: “Against Thee Lord, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.”

Do we realize this?

When we sin we “hurt” God most of all!

Yes, David did harm to Bathsheba.

And he killed Uriah her husband.

He also destroyed Joab’s faith and brought needless bloodshed to his own extended family for many years to come.

But more than all this, He “sinned” against God!

When we do wrong, God suffers.

His Cause is often diminished!

His Name is often blasphemed because of our wicked deeds.

And the first step to repentance just may be acknowledging such harm to the Holy One.

Let’s keep this in mind when we even think about erring from God’s Will for our lives.

“Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight.”

“Oh Lord, give us a greater zeal to honor Thy Name.”

Amen.

                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 5, VERSE 4:

Normally I might not even write about this verse. I started to “skip” it entirely, Psalm 51 having 19 verses in all. There’s plenty to preach and teach otherwise.

But the two verbs just “screamed” for attention. Let me underline them. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This is Psalm 51:4.

We most often use this text to prove the wickedness of mankind. We are “born” sinners.

But the verb “was shapen” in the verse translates “chul” in Hebrew. It’s a word that means “to twist, whirl, dance or writhe.” It can represent either unpleasant or ecstatic experiences, either. Here probably the intent is the sheer “thrill” of God’s method of human reproduction.

Yes, babies are born into a world of sin, but the Mom and Dad to the little child in question functioned in a spirit of love and unity. The child was produced in a God sanctioned atmosphere of beauty and harmony.

Next appears the verb “conceive,” a synonym of course to “was shapen.” And “yacham” means “to be hot.” If I can say it in a non-offensive way, “to be in heat.” And that’s not my definition, but a quote from Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary.

See the passion here?

God “invented” the husband-wife relationship. God initiated the first family on earth.

God knows about words like “shapen” and “conceived” and “hot” and “whirling.”

Read the Song of Solomon with a pure mind and heart and you will see the thrill, the delight, of physical love between one man and one woman.

Yes, sin is a fact.

Iniquity has entered the world.

A long time ago.

In the Garden of Eden.

Hence we all were born into sin.

But God has provided a remedy! Jesus’ Shed Blood, on the Cross of Calvary, cleanses and saves us from all wickedness.

David is right.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”

But isn’t it interesting that this verse, one-of-a-kind as it appears to be, is set in a context of “confession” because of a sexual sin.

Adultery.

David and Bathsehba.

God’s idea of sex is powerful. It holds the world together in many ways.

But it can be dangerous too.

Let’s follow God’s rules.

                      --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, VERSE 6:

The “price” of unconfessed sin, that’s what today’s verse discusses. David is writing, repenting really, in Psalm 51:6. He’s talking to the Lord, of course. “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

David, early in his life one of the most godly young men who had ever lived, now lacks two essential qualities for living a successful Christian life.

Again our Text lists them, truth and wisdom!

God “desires” that we possess truth, His Truth. The verb here is “chaphetzs,” meaning “delights in, takes great pleasure in,” greatly favours!

And “truth” is “emeth,” which means something like “firmness, faithfulness, assurance, stability.”

Sin weakens our resolve to “emeth!”

Only getting right with god can restore such “Truth.”

A wayward life has also cost David some knowledge. He again needs to “know,” spelled “yada” in Hebrew, something. The word means “to experience thoroughly.”

But what has David forgotten?

What is he asking God to make him to know?

“Wisdom” is the word, “chokmah.” It means “skill” at some godly enterprise. One preacher says “skilled in godly living!” Another has it “seeing life from God’s point of view.”

Wow!

If sin deprives me of “truth” and “wisdom,” it is indeed my enemy!

“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

But apparently such nuggets of faith can be restored!

May God be praised!

Truth, we need it.

Wisdom, an essential.

“God, grant them to us we pray.”

Amen.

                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 8:

David believes sin has damaged his spiritual life, maybe irrevocably. Yet he prays for forgiveness. Here’s one of his requests to the Lord: “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” Psalm 51:8

His sin has stripped him of “joy” and “gladness.”

The first of these nouns is “sason” in Hebrew, meaning “mirth.” Its basic idea of that of “showing joy, acting with excitement and happiness!”

And “gladness” translates “simchah,” meaning “bright with glee,” that very emotion showing on one’s face, in his or her body language!

David must have always been a happy man. And he misses that mindset, that temperament.

Then the Psalmist uses a metaphor about the cost of sin, expressly about “broken bones!”

Sin, its weight, is heavy. So much so that David’s skeleton, so to speak, can’t support the load! His bones are crushed under the massive tonnage.

Still he asks for spiritual healing. “That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”

The verb “rejoice” here is different than before. It’s now “giyl,” actually suggesting “shaking, jumping, twirling from sheer ecstasy!”

This man wants his “delight” in worship once again!

And he’s determined to get it.

Jesus spoke of this a thousand years after David. “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

So did Paul. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

And based on other Scripture, it appears that God answered David’s prayer. And restored his joy!

He can ours too!

                            --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 8, VERSE 9:

It’s one of my favorite verses in the Psalm, the 51st Psalm. David, in the greatest confession of sin on record, writes to the Lord: “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” Psalm 51:9

This is a great thought! 

God “hiding” His Face from my sins!

“Sathar” is the word, the verb here. And it means “to conceal, to make absent, to keep a secret!”

And the word “sin” is “chata,” which is virtually “missing” out on God’s Plan for my life! Being robbed of God’s Best for myself!

And the verb “blot out” is just as good. “Machah” means “to destroy, to abolish, to wipe away.”

Then “iniquities” is “avon” again, my “perversities” and “distortions” against God’s Ways! The word at its root means “to twist.”

“O God, hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

If God can do this, and He can, He is an Almighty Heavenly Father!

By the way, God not only can forgive sin, He will do so!

Yours.

And mine.

Indeed.

              --- Dr. Mike Bagwell