Finding Forgiveness in Psalm 51

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” - Psalm 51:1

Repentance and a contrite heart are the basis of how we draw near to God, and by emptying ourselves of our sin before him, we allow room to be filled with His joy and peace. This Psalm was written by David in a very distressing time in his life. It comes from a place of deep sorrow, as David is begging God’s forgiveness and mercy for a great sin. If you have a Bible with chapter ‘headings’, it may explain that this was a song written after David was confronted by the prophet Nathan about committing adultery with Bathsheba, and willfully setting up her husband’s death (2 Samuel 11).

This is not to be taken lightly! David had sent his men to war while he stayed home. He spotted a soldier’s wife and instructed his servants to go and get her so that he could have her for himself. He then placed her husband on the front lines where he was sure to perish. Not kingly or Godly behavior, and Nathan calls him out for it.

This first verse contains unchanging truths about us and about God: his love is unfailing, his compassion is great, and our transgressions are many. Yet he is able to ‘blot out’ our transgressions, no matter how horrible they may be. The key is to repent of sin and ask in faith, believing that God is capable.

 Acknowledging God as Righteous Judge

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge” - Psalm 51:4

The Bible tells us in several places that God is perfect, and that through his power alone, he can create perfection within us as well (Matthew 5:48, Leviticus 19:12). When we confess our sin before the Lord, and understand his power to forgive and cleanse us of sin, we acknowledge that he alone is capable of making righteous judgement. God sees all of our sin, judges righteously, and yet is capable to forgive us of all of it when we ask in repentance.

To think that there is sin that God cannot forgive is to think that Christ’s sacrifice did not cover all sin. Yet this prayer occurs before the crucifixion. We often hear that God is somehow different in the Old Testament and the New; that the Old Testament God is vengeful and the New Testament god is loving and compassionate. This reminds us that God’s character is consistent throughout Scripture, and that his mercy is eternal, extending into the past, present, and future.

This Psalm also asserts that we only sin ‘against God’. Our sin directly interferes with our connections to and relationship with God, but this does not nullify the idea that our sin does just the same with others. When we live in opposition to God’s authority, it impacts the lives of all around us, and especially those closest to us.

Thanking God for His Cleansing

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow”. - Psalm 51:7

We may often feel that our sin is unforgivable. That we are irreparably dirty and tainted, unable to live up to God’s righteous judgement. Yet he is capable of cleansing us in and out with his righteousness. Here, David asks to be cleansed with hyssop, which is significant in the Bible as being used to cleanse disease, and was used in connection with the Passover. It is an assurance that God can clean away every sin, every bit of evil that contaminates us and makes us ineffective in the Kingdom. Left to our own attempts to be clean and righteous, we fall short (Isaiah 64:6). Yet his cleansing washes us ‘whiter than snow’ and creates in us ’a clean heart’ and ‘a steadfast spirit’.

Repentance and Forgiveness Leads to Worship

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise” -Psalm 51:7

As believers, verses like John 10:28 give us assurance of our salvation, and that we cannot do anything to be taken from the hand of God. Yet our sin can hinder us, making us ineffective, filled with shame instead of joy, and keeping us from worship. Verses 13 and 14 describe just how God’s praise will be declared, in teaching the ways of God, so that sinners will turn to him, and singing of his righteousness.

When we give our sin to God, we experience his total cleansing, and this will lead us to worship him through declarations of praise. We often associate worship with singing, and singing is certainly a beautiful way to express worship. But here we see worship as a declaration, which can be seen in how we speak of God’s work in us, how we express that truth to others, and through the way that we live a life of joy and power that brings glory and honor to him.

Asking God’s Favor on the Places we Live

“May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem” - Psalm 51:18

David closes this Psalm by asking God to prosper the city of Jerusalem, and this prayer could have a multi-layered meaning for us. As believers, we ask God to continue to protect the actual city of Jerusalem, knowing that this city contains so much history of his workings on earth. But it also gives us reason to pray for the city where we live. May God bless our nation, our neighborhoods, and our homes as we seek to serve him there and be a blessing to those around us.

Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer, revealing the greatness of God as a righteous judge who nonetheless offers us mercy we could never deserve or gain on our own. Thanks be to God for his steadfast love and great compassion toward us!

Photo credit: Unsplash/rachelstrong10

Jason Soroski is a homeschool dad and member of the worship team at matthias lot church in St. Charles, MO. He spends his free time hanging out with his family, exploring new places, and writing about the experiences. Connect on Facebook or at JasonSoroski.net.