(Ps 51) Devotional

Psalms   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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BKC:
  Few psalms have found as much use as this one among the saints of all ages, a fact which bears witness to the spiritual needs of God’s people. Psalm 51 stands as a paradigm of prayers for forgiveness of sins. Its superscription ascribes the occasion to David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 11), an incident in which David broke several of the Ten Commandments. Believers have been comforted by the fact that since David’s sins were forgiven theirs can be too.
Poetry often develops the intensity of a moment. Such a moment with David came when he, having been confronted with his sin, confessed it (2 Sam. 12:13a). Because this psalm deals only with confession and has no word of the forgiveness (which did follow immediately in the historical narrative, 2 Sam. 12:13b), this psalm must be understood as a full meditation on the importance of confession. After a believer sins, he must obtain forgiveness if he is to enjoy full participation in the service of the Lord.
The message of this psalm is that the vilest offender among God’s people can appeal to God for forgiveness, for moral restoration, and for the resumption of a joyful life of fellowship and service, if he comes with a broken spirit and bases his appeal on God’s compassion and grace.  
TTC: Big Idea God delights in the spiritual transaction of repentance that begins in the human heart.
Background:
ZIBBC: The sacrifices prescribed in Leviticus 1–7 addressed only sins committed “unintentionally” or by omission of duty (Lev. 4:2, 13, 22, 27; 5:1–4, 15; Num. 15:22–29). Sins committed in a premeditated or defiant manner were not removed by these sacrifices (Num. 15:30–36). The offending individual was left at the mercy of God, and only on the Day of Atonement were all sins, even “rebellion,” removed and God’s wrath appeased (Lev. 16:16, 21, 30, 34). On this day, God expected an attitude of humble contrition (16:29–31).
The sin of David spoken of in this psalm was premeditated (see title); therefore, no prescribed sacrifice addressed the psalmist’s plight and capital punishment would have been just. Only God’s gracious forgiveness offered to the contrite sinner and realized on the Day of Atonement was applicable for intentional sins. A Ugaritic ritual text prescribes sacrifices (Ugar. dbḥ = Heb. zebaḥ) for sins committed because of anger, impatience, or a vile attitude.  
Outline, Boice:
 1. The approach to God, a cry for forgiveness (vv. 1–2)
2. Confession of sin (vv. 3–6)
3. An appeal for cleansing (vv. 7–9)
4. Desire for inward renewal, creating of a pure heart (vv. 10–12)
5. A promise to teach others the lessons he has learned (vv. 13–17)
6. A concluding prayer for the prosperity of Zion (vv. 18–19)
Questions:
a) How does David acknowledge and repent of his sin?
 b) How does this Psalm demonstrate the Character of God towards his sin?
c) What role does sacrifices play in this Psalm?
d) How is this Psalm a model of confession and repentance for the Christian?
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