Psalm 51 is one of the best known psalms of the 150 collected in the Bible’s Book of Psalms. In modern days it is probably helped by Keith Green’s classic tune. The psalm speaks to many of us, confronted with the reality of our sins and moral failures as we walk through life.
Psalm 51 is David’s psalm written after his sinful affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to cover things up. It reflects David’s recognition of his great sin, and his need for greater mercy. David knew he could not fix things himself; he knew he needed God to forgive him. David needed reconciliation and transformation. We need this too. And we can only receive it through repentance and faith. Thankfully, God freely gives us his greater mercy that covers over even our great sins when we come in repentance and faith.
Psalm 51 begins with a focus on reconciliation between David and God. Firstly, David cries out for God to forgive him on the basis of his covenant love, and to blot out his transgressions “according to your abundant mercy” (v.1). David needed to be cleansed of his sins, which dirtied him in God’s sight (v.2).
David’s plea for forgiveness is followed by a confession of sin. David acknowledged and was fully aware of his sin; it was “ever before me” and plagued his conscience (v.3). He was particularly troubled that his sin was ultimately (not exclusively, this is hyperbole) against God, doing what God had declared evil in full view (v.4), like blatantly speeding in front of a traffic cop. He recognised that God was “justified in your words and blameless in your judgement” (v.4).
David also recognised that this sin was not just something that he had done, a lapse in judgement as it were, but part of his sinful nature. He was born “in sin” and not a morally neutral standpoint which he had temporarily deviated from (v.5). Sin was not just something he did, it was a part of who he was due to the Fall. God had revealed this to him in his inner being (v.6).
Having confessed his sin, David again turned to God seeking forgiveness, asking to be purged and washed to be “whiter than snow” (v.7) and to “hear joy and gladness” again rather than feel the pain of discipline (v.9). In words we can all understand, David asked God to “hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities” (v.9).
But David did not just need reconciliation, he also needed transformation. David needed to be renewed and changed to deal with his addiction to sin.
Rather than adopting the Adam and Eve approach of blaming others, David started with asking for himself to change. He asked God to create in him a clean heart “and renew a right spirit within me” (v.10). David was the problem, David needed to change. He sought God’s continued presence and the continued presence of God’s Holy Spirit to equip him for his office (unlike with Saul who lost that presence), but also for a renewed joy in God’s salvation and a “willing spirit” to do God’s will (vv.11-12).
From the transformation of self, David turned to the transformation of others. He desired to teach “transgressors” of God that they would return to God (v.13). If his blood guilt was forgiven, he would be able to sing of God’s righteousness to them and declare God’s praise (vv.14-15).
This instruction would have taken place in the Temple as sacrifices were carried on around him, yet David acknowledged that God does not want empty sacrifices that are not accompanied by a change of heart (vv.16-17, see Psalm 50).
Finally, the transformation of David and others would see the transformation of the entire community. Zion, the city of God’s presence, needs good from God done to it and divine protection (v.18). In the presence of a transformed community, God would see righteous living and heartfelt sacrifice to him, fueled by broken sinners recognising God’s greater mercy (v.19).
Yet if God does not delight in animal sacrifices, how could David be forgiven? And what about us? Can we be reconciled and transformed by God? Does God just write off the debt? How is that just and forgiving?
The answer is at the Cross. There, God made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us and take the punishment for our sins, so we can be forgiven. Jesus was sacrificed so we can be transformed.
Because God punished Jesus in our place, he is completely just in forgiving our sins and blotting out our transgressions when we come in repentance and faith. We live in response to this great mercy which we, and David, receive from God.
Like David, we seek our own daily transformation to please God. We bear witness to our forgiveness, so others receive it too. And we long for all to experience greater mercy for their great sins too.