Sunday, February 1, 2009 pm
PSALM 51
a.
God’s mercy
is our only hope.
Considering how terrible sin is, we need the mercy and compassion of God to be
forgiven.
That is why David begins with pleadings for God’s mercy & an appeal to His
loving-kindness, etc.
When we are guilty of sin, do we humbly acknowledge what are asking God to do
for us?
If we desire forgiveness we need to be like the tax collector of Luke 18:13 who
simply prayed, “God be merciful to me a sinner!”
Even the grace of God is tempered with His mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5).
b.
We need Him
to blot out our sins, wash and cleanse us.
There are at least 7 petitions made by David to God in this psalm.
4 of them are found in these first 2 verses.
Over and over David begs forgiveness.
Understand that there is vain repetition and there is repetition.
They are not the same thing.
David’s repetitions demonstrate the depth of sorrow he has for what he has done.
The idea of blotting out his transgressions is pleading with God to totally
forget about them (CF. Hebrews 8:12).
It is interesting that all three expressions remind me of the removal of sins
when one first obeys the gospel in the act of baptism– Acts 3:19, Acts 22:16, 2
Peter 1:9.
a.
Acknowledgment – this is what
repentance is about! David knows
that he has committed MANY sins and he lays them open.
He is no longer hiding what he had done (unlike prior to Nathan
confronting him). There are many
times when we as part of our repentance need to lay open our sins to those
involved (cf. James 5:16). Proverbs
28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and
forsakes them will have mercy.”
How often do we not specifically admit what we are guilty of because we don’t
really want to let all be known?
There are times when a general confession is sufficient, but at other times we
need to be specific so that there is no doubt of our intent to change.
b.
My sin is
ever before me – a serious sin
will always be remembered. You
cannot undo the damage and have to live with it.
This does not mean it is something to dwell on.
Instead we need to move on forgetting the things behind (Phil. 3:13), but
we have learned and are better because of it!
c.
Against You
have I sinned – every sin, even
those against men, are also against God.
Understand this: When you sin, no matter how small and who ever else is
involved, you have a problem with God FIRST.
You need to work it out with all involved in your sins.
That is a part of your repentance.
But peace with God is the ultimate need.
And understand that with him there is NO deceit or twisting of words.
He knows your heart and words.
d.
That you
may be found just when you speak –
DON’T ever blame God for YOUR sins!
Furthermore, ACCEPT the consequences of what you have done.
a.
David acknowledges
sin in his life. This cannot be denied by this verse.
But it is misapplied by many. It is
not helped by versions such as the NIV which says, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived
me.”
b.
Is this teaching –
Total Hereditary Depravity? No! This Calvinistic doctrine which says that we
inherit the sins of Adam is contrary to a number of passages – Ezekiel 18:19-20,
2 Cor. 5:10, Matt. 18:3, Mark 10:14 (become as little children) and it is
contrary to the nature of God. God
does not hold us accountable for what our parents did.
So what is meant by this text? IT could mean a number of different things
1) His parents were sinful beings (as Paul said in Rom. 3:23 – all have sinned).
2) Some contend David was illegitimate – such is unproven
3)
Others refer back to the illegitimacy of David’s line through Tamar (who
conceived with Judah).
4)
He could simply be saying that he is a sinful being and has sinned throughout
his life (from early on).
c. You cannot hide from God (6). God demands deep seated acknowledgment.
a.
David
desperately wants to be clean.
He asks God to purge him with hyssop.
Hyssop was used in ceremonial cleansing from leprosy (Lev. 14:52) and
when one touched a dead body (Num. 19:19). It is also mentioned in Hebrews 9:19
referring back to Moses cleansing the people.
David is impure and needs God to cleanse him.
God’s cleansing would make him “whiter than snow” – totally pure (cf. Eph.
5:26-27)
b.
He wants to
hear joy again – often it is
difficult to forgive yourself of serious ills in your own life.
But you have to do it to move on.
David asks for help, even in this.
c.
Hide your
face and blot out – In this I see
David seeking assurance. More
pleadings for forgiveness.
Brethren, do we pray for comfort from God even in such things?
a.
He wants a
clean heart (one that will not sin
so easily). If we truly repent we
want to truly change. That requires
a transformation in our lives. That
is what David is asking God’s help for here.
This is emphasized throughout the New Testament – Col. 3:2-3, 5-17 where
he contrasts the old man and the new man.
I tell you, a clean heart has to be there if you are to move on from a life of
sin!
b.
A renewed
steadfast spirit – similar to the
clean heart, but this deals with our determination to do right.
Romans 12:1-2, Col 3:10 put on the new man who is being renewed day by
day.
IT is to be a spirit that will steadfastly do right – 1 Cor. 15:58
c.
The Holy
Spirit of God dwelling within him
– where God is, sin is not there (1
Cor. 6: 19, Romans 8:9-10). David
was one in whom the Spirit of God dwelt.
He was a friend of God – he feared that comfort not being there.
Let us reach a point in our lives where we cannot live without God!
d.
Restored
joy of salvation David wants to
feel saved. Note: It is possible to
feel saved and be deceived, but usually when you feel lost there is a reason for
it. David wanted that feeling
removed. If we cannot say with
assurance that we are saved – chances are there is something not right in our
lives. Do something about and turn
to God for help in overcoming such things.
e.
Upheld
(blessed) by the Spirit of God –
“grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” (NASU)
I see David intent of changing his life so that such behaviors as he is guilty
of will NEVER happen again!
a.
Vs. 13-15 is
David’s promise to not keep this to himself.
Being forgiven, he intends to tell others. How much do you appreciate
your forgiveness? Enough to tell
others? It would do us all well to
often consider how much we have been forgiven of by God.
And when we have really misbehaved, and been restored.
Use it not just for yourself, but FURTHER the cause of His kingdom.
b.
What God desires
is more than outward expressions of worship (16).
He desires a broken spirit and a contrite heart.
This is the attitude that will lead to true repentance.
Again I think of the praying tax collector in Luke 18.
I also consider the prodigal returning to his father (Luke 15) who
declares himself unworthy to be his father’s son, but wants to be a mere
servant.
Friends, when it comes to sin, ALL the apologies in the world are meaningless
without TRUE repentance. Consider 2
Cor. 7:11 which says, “In all things you
proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
a.
As David concludes
he says what I perceive to be, “May Your will prevail.”
Do that which is best for Him.
I wonder, when we are trying to repair our lives after sin, do we really
want what is best for God? Or are we
looking for the soft landing from a hard fall?
Let God’s will prevail and make that you ultimate desire.
Even if you are pained as a result, thinking about God will go a long
way.
b.
Furthermore: IN
your life, God’s will prevailing is only possible IF you are what you ought to
be and have taken care of the sinful skeletons.
c.
THEN You shall be
pleased with sacrifices… One final
point to see in this psalm: BEFORE
we can worship God, if there is sin in our lives we NEED to make it right.
The sacrifices of the heart MUST come first, but they do NOT replace acts
of obedience that He commands (cf. Matt. 23:23).
It is just the attitude that needs to be there FIRST!