“Have Mercy Upon Me, O God!”

(Psalm 51)

Mike Johnson

In the Old Testament, there is a psalm in which the author expresses the depths of his heart by asking God for forgiveness.  He seems to have a childlike faith in God’s mercy and shows profoundness and tenderness.  Psalm 51 is often called a psalm of repentance, and most agree that David wrote this in connection with his sin with Bathsheba.  It shows David’s inward hope and struggle during a very difficult time.

In 2 Samuel 11 and 12, we have a record of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite.  If it were not for this historical record, understanding why David had such grief and pain would be more difficult.  Since David’s love for God was so real, his repentance was so sincere.  It has been said that a hypocrite could not have written this psalm.

This psalm can be divided into four sections.

1. Verses 1-4 – We have an earnest prayer for mercy and forgiveness.
2. Verses 5-12 – There is a request for restoration.
3. Verses 13-17 – David reveals the return he will make when restored.
4. Verses 18-19 -The psalmist prays for God’s blessing upon the people and promises a full return on their part.

David started asking, “Have mercy upon me, O God….” The Scriptures teach God is a God of mercy.  Deuteronomy 4:31 says the Lord our God is a merciful God.  Ephesians 2:4 reveals God is “rich in mercy.” The Greek word used in Ephesians 2:4 means “the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it.” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

David continued in verse 1 by saying, “According to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies.” It is because of God’s loving-kindness and tender mercies (NASB “compassion”) that our sins can be forgiven.

David committed an awful deed.  First, he committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of his soldiers, and they conceived a child.  David was unable to cover up his sin with her.  In an attempt to cover up his sin, he had her husband, Uriah, murdered by ordering his troops to withdraw from him in the heat of the battle.  These acts would have been a heinous series of deeds for anyone, but it was especially atrocious for David.  He was a divinely appointed king blessed abundantly by God.  He should have served as a better example for the people.

In spite of David’s sin, however, he could be forgiven because God is merciful.  David recognized this, and humility begged for His mercy, knowing only through mercy could he be forgiven.

When God forgives us of our sins, it is also because of His mercy.  If we have not received forgiveness, God’s mercy will allow this to happen.  God is willing to forgive us because He is a merciful God.

David also asked God, “blot out my transgressions.” The ESV translates this “wipe away.” David recognized that he bore a personal responsibility for his sins, i.e., “blot out MY transgressions.” There are many excuses David could have made in connection with his sin with Bathsheba.  He could have said,

• “Bathsheba should not have been bathing on the rooftop.”
• “Bathsheba could have said no.”
• “Someone should have kept it from happening.”
• “People die in war all of the time; Uriah might have died anyway.”

Instead of making excuses, David simply said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam.13).  Today, we bear a personal responsibility for our actions — only we can do something about our sins.

In verse two, David asked God to wash him thoroughly from his iniquity and cleanse him from his sins.  This point is the same one he made in verse one, but he repeats it for emphasis due to his intense emotions.  He asked for the complete removal of his iniquity; he did not want any part of it held against him.

In the first part of verse three, David said, “For I acknowledge my transgressions.” At first, David was not willing to acknowledge his sins.  However, after God sent Nathan to talk with him, David recognized and willingly acknowledged his sins.

Christians today must be willing to confess their sins.  1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

David said in verse three, “my sin is always before me.” He knew he had received forgiveness but did not forget his awful deeds.  David would always carry a picture in his mind of murder and adultery.  Sin leaves “scars.” However, we should never let them hinder our spiritual progress once forgiven.  We know God is willing to forgive, and we can trust Him to do so.  Nevertheless, sin has long-lasting effects, and we must learn from our past mistakes.

In verse four, David said, “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight.” As noted, David probably wrote this psalm after his sin with Bathsheba, and it shows a penitent heart.  But, he said he had sinned against God and God only.  What sins could be more against another person than murder and adultery?  Yet, David said he had sinned only against God.  David seems to be using the word only in the sense of “mainly” or “chiefly.” Although David did sin against individuals, the main one he sinned against was God.  Another example of this type of statement is in Acts 5:4.  Here, Ananias lied to Peter and the other apostles about what he had given to the Lord.  In rebuking Ananias, Peter told him (v. 4), “…You have not lied to men but to God.” Ananias had lied to men, but primarily, he had lied to God.  The verse is saying, “It is not so much you have lied to men, but you have especially lied to God.” Our sins are even worse when we understand if we sin, even against another person, we are primarily sinning against God.

Verse 5 starts a new section in the psalm.  David asked God for restoration and renewal.  “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.”

Some use this passage to teach babies are born in sin, i.e., infants have inherited Adam’s sin.  This Bible does not teach this doctrine.  Ezekiel 18:20 explains sin is not inherited: it clearly says the son does not bear the iniquity of the father.  The Bible tells us sin is something we commit, not inherit (I Jn. 3:4).

Verse 5 may be speaking of the sin of David’s mother.  For example, a wife might say, “In drunkenness my husband beat me,” or a child might say, “In anger, my father whipped me.” One would attribute the drunkenness to the husband and the anger to the father; they would not be attributed to the person speaking.  In like manner, David would not have attributed the sin to himself but to his mother.

Consider another possibility.  Even if the sin does not refer to the sin of David’s mother, contextually, the verse would still not fit the idea that David was born a sinner.  In verses 1-4, David has emphatically mourned his sins.  Continuing this thought, he would say he was conceived and brought forth into a world of sin.  This would undoubtedly be characteristic of what a penitent person would say.  For example, the same sentence structure exists in Acts 2:8, which says, “And now hear we every man in our own tongue wherein we were born.” This verse does not mean these people were born speaking a particular language but were born where all spoke this language.  In like manner, David stresses he was born into a world where sin is rampant, not that he was born already guilty of sin.

The first part of verse 6 says, “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts….” David acknowledges God requires more than just outward purity and righteousness.  The inner man is also significant.  In Jesus’ day, this was a problem with the Pharisees.  These people appeared to be righteous on the outside, but on the inside, they were corrupt.  In Matthew 23:27, He compared them to whitewashed tombs, which looked beautiful on the outside but were full of dead men’s bones.  Further, in John 4:24, Jesus pointed out, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Clearly, David understood the importance of truth.  Sadly, many today do not think truth is essential.  They say, “As long as we are sincere, it does not matter how we worship God.” This concept is not in the Bible.  As noted earlier, worship must be in truth (Jn. 4:24).  Jesus taught only truth (God’s revealed will) can make us free (Jn. 8:32).  In Proverbs 23:23, tells us to buy the truth and sell it not.  We must pursue and adhere to the truth.

In the later part of verse 6, David continued, “And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” David knew the value of wisdom.  He would not have committed his sin with Bathsheba if he had used wisdom.  Proverbs 1:5 says, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:7 reveals, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The most valuable wisdom is the kind that comes from God; we can obtain this wisdom through His Word.

In verse 7, David continued, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Previously, in verse one, David asked God to forgive him.  Engulfed with emotion, David asked again for forgiveness but in a different way.  David wanted to be purged with hyssop, a plant used to sprinkle the blood of animals in connection with the sacrifices under the Mosaic law.  White symbolizes purity.  To the faithful few in Revelation 3:4, Jesus pointed out they would “walk with him in white” for they were worthy.

David took his sins very seriously, and he wanted to do what was necessary to have them removed.  This approach is very important because sin will cause us to be eternally lost.  Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Isaiah 59:2 reveals, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

In verses 8 and 9, David wrote, “Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.  Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” David was overwhelmed with sorrow; he knew he had displeased God and stood condemned.  In a figurative sense, his bones had been broken; he was made to feel the painful reality of his sins when God, through Nathan the prophet, said, “Thou art the man” (2 Sam. 12:7).  He had also faced inevitable consequences due to his sins, and he asked for forgiveness.

It was good that David was sorrowful for his sins.  Many people commit sins and are not sorry at all.  This attitude is dangerous because there can be no repentance without sorrow.  Sorrow is an element involved in producing repentance.  2 Corinthians 7:10 says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. . . .” But, godly sorrow is not all that is involved in repentance.  Repentance requires a change of heart or mind, which results in a reformation of one’s life.  On one occasion, Jesus referred to the people of Nineveh as having repented at the preaching of Jonah (Mt. 12:41).  From the book of Jonah, however, we learn the people were not only sorrowful but also turned from their sin, and thus Jesus defines repentance as requiring both (Jonah 3:5-10).  In a children’s Bible class, a teacher once asked the class to explain repentance.  A young boy said repentance was being sorry about sins.  Immediately, a little girl spoke up and said, “No, repentance is being sorry enough to quit sinning.”

Verse 10 reads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Here, David focused more on the inner man.  He asked for a clean heart and a right spirit — a heart no longer contaminated by his sin and for a disposition to resist temptation.  Jesus taught this principle in Matthew 15:18-20: “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  These are the things which defile a man . . . .”

In verse 11, David pleaded, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Isaiah 59:1-2 informs us that sin separates us from God.  Being cast away from God’s presence would mean David would not be saved.  The Psalmist may have felt he deserved to be cast away from the presence of God, but he asked for the mercy of God.  On the Judgment Day, the disobedient must depart from the presence of the Lord.  Matthew 7:23 points out Jesus will say to many on that day, “. . . I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

David asked God that His Holy Spirit not be taken away from him.  In one sense, David had the Holy Spirit as an inspired man (2 Tim. 3:16-17, 2 Pet. 1:21).  Being guilty of sins, David could not retain the Holy Spirit.  Contextually, however, there might be a better application.  Jesus would speak later of the Holy Spirit, not only serving to inspire but also serving as a comforter (Jn. 15:26, 16:7).  Perhaps David, in the context of his sorrow and recognition of sins separating effect, fears losing the Holy Spirit’s continuing comfort.

David’s desire for restoration continues in verse 12, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” He wanted restoration to God’s full favor.  He is asking God to give him back the joy he had when he was walking upright.  While in a lost state, he felt darkness, despair, and pain.  He felt that way because of his sins.  Many who were once faithful servants of God feel this same despair, which can only be alleviated by their transgressions being blotted out, being washed thoroughly from their iniquity, and being cleansed from their sins.  In the New Testament, Paul asked the wayward Galatians (4:15), “What has happened to all your joy….” The word joy occurs over 60 times in the New Testament.  It is an emotion that should characterize the child of God, and the Bible lists it as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).  Paul also says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say, rejoice!” This verse is considered the theme of the entire book of Philippians.  Paul was able to write this despite being in prison, not knowing whether he would live or die because his joy was not dependent on external conditions but on his right relationship with God.

Christians have many reasons to be joyful as members of God’s family and being so blessed spiritually.  In Paul’s opening remarks to the Ephesians, he said (1:3), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” More specifically, 1:7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” In I Peter 2:9, Peter describes Christians as “…a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Like everyone else, Christians will face hardships in life (Note 1 Pet.  4:14-16, Mt. 5:10-12.).  But, the child of God has a deep and abiding joy and hope, which external circumstances cannot take away.  Christians have the promise of eternal life.  In 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Paul says we are not to sorrow like those without hope.  In John 16, just before His death, Jesus told his disciples he would soon be leaving them, and they would be sorrowful.  But, he pointed out their sorrow would be turned into joy (v. 20).  In verse 22, He said, “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” Christians have disappointments and heartaches, but their joy remains as long as they remain faithful to God.

Verse 13 begins the third section.  Here, David speaks of the return he will make if he is forgiven and restored.  He said, “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” While David rebelled against God, he could not teach others.  He would now like to be cleared of this guilt and use his life to serve God.

Today, when Christians are in rebellion against God, they are in no position to teach others.  According to Paul (Gal. 6:1), people who are “spiritual” are the ones who are qualified to restore the fallen.  He said, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus condemned “hypocritical” judging,  pointing out that one who has a beam in his eye is in no position to pull out the mote from another’s eye.  Paul told Timothy he was to teach those faithful, who would then be able to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2).

In verse 14a, David asked God, “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God.” David had committed the sins of adultery and murder.  His conscience weighed him down.  He was undoubtedly worthy of death but asked for mercy and deliverance.

Further, in verse 14b, David continued by referring to God as “The God of my salvation.” On other occasions in the Scriptures, God is referred to in this way (Micah 7:7, Hab. 3:18, Ps. 25:5).  David depended on God for salvation, and God was the only one who could provide it.

David then promised (14c), “my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.” This statement is similar to Psalm 35:28, which many feel was written by David during the time Saul was trying to kill him.  Once God had delivered him from his enemies, he would have even more evidence to speak about God’s righteousness.  The verse says, “And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.” In our text, once God forgave David, he could proclaim God’s righteousness loudly.

Then, in verse 15, David continued with the same line of thought, saying, “O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.” His guilt had kept his lips closed, but when forgiveness occurs, he could then open his lips in praise to God.

In verse 16, David seems to be speaking of animal sacrifices when he says, “You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.” God required animal sacrifices under the law of Moses, and David could offer plenty of sacrifices.  However, he recognized sacrifices were not enough as forgiveness would require more.  David explained in verses 16-17 when he said, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart —  These, O God, You will not despise.” David’s agony throughout this psalm testifies that he understood what God required.

God wants a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart (note also Is.  1:11-18).  Usually, a broken spirit is undesirable.  For example, a horse that has been beaten and abused is sometimes characterized as having a broken spirit.  Thus, the animal becomes fearful, timid, and unproductive.  But, in David’s case, a broken spirit would be a good feature.  David had sinned; he needed to feel guilt for what he had done; he needed a broken and contrite heart.  His heart, or mind, needed to be crushed, or broken, by the guilt of his sins.  This disposition would lead to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10) and ultimately to the forgiveness he longed for, and then he could again experience the joy of his salvation (vs. 12).

In the last section (vs. 18-19), David asked for God’s blessings upon Israel and promised a total return on their part.  He passed from praying for himself to praying for the people under his rule, which is common in the Psalms.  He said, “Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.  Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.”

The Bible describes David as a man after God’s own heart (I Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:22), but he committed sins that affected himself and others.  He was not even immediately motivated to repent.  Instead of being a righteous leader for Israel, he engaged in treachery and deceit.  God, through Nathan, helped him realize his sins.  David cried out to God in agony and pain.  He wanted back the joy of his salvation.  Because of God’s great mercy, David received forgiveness.  We can also receive God’s mercy and forgiveness when we sin today.