Psalms 51

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.ReviewOur first six studies set the stage, so that we can draw near to GodPsalm 51 is the psalm that most epitomizes the theme of this series, Drawing Near to God. Theme: restoration to GodEvery psalm has a theme. In most of the lessons in this series, we're reading only excerpts, in order to illustrate broader themes.This time we will study a single psalm, and one of the most famous of all, ranking with 23 in general familiarity.Davidic?Associated with David, and fits perfectly the scenario of 2 Samuel 11-12.“Build up the walls” (v.18) – the psalm did not evolve to its present form till centuries after the time of David.Whether or not David is the author is immaterial. The psalm speaks to us all!Commentaryv.1 - Mercy, not justice. Blessed are the merciful. Am I merciful towards others (Matthew 5:7, 18:21-35; Eph 4:32)?v.2 - We are unclean – cannot be self-restored. We need God.v.3 - Sin doesn’t get cleansed by time. Time may afford a broader perspective, but it doesn’t automatically heal.v.4 - See Genesis 39:9. Judgment: Psalm 7:11 (daily judgment, the outworking of sin); 21:9 (final judgment, like 2 Thessalonians 1:8).v.5 - Not original sin (see 71:6, 22:9, 58:3). Projection of the present feeling of sinfulness back to the earliest possible point in the psalmist’s life.v.6 - We are born to be moral. We may have a proclivity towards selfishness – for biological and psychological reasons, yet God calls us to act beyond the level of mere self-interest .v.7 - Hyssop was used for cleansing in levitical ceremonies (Exod 12, Lev 14, Num 19 – a dozen places in all the Bible.) Hyssop contains thymol. Confessions / accepting forgiveness from God – 32, 38, 51 (7 penitential psalms also include 102, 6, 143, 130).v.8 - See Proverbs 17:22.vv.9 -10 Not just asking to be let off. Asking for transformation. A new spirit – a common longing in the prophetic literature, such as in Isaiah and Ezekiel. And not just a one-time revival, but consistency!v.11 - Holy Spirit rare in OT. The phrase appears only here and in Isaiah 63:10-11 and here . God is spirit; thus he is present in Spirit. John 7:39 – no indwelling before Jesus' ascension (Acts 2:30,33).v.12 - The joy of our salvation is more than a feeling. Willingness. God will not force us. In a sense, the psalmist is asking God for a holy spirit – to make him holy through and through. We too should pray for this spirit. Jesus says the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him Luke 11:13. See also Psalm 15 - holiness / integrity required if we are to enter God's presence and dwell there.v.13 - We cannot keep the good news to ourselves. It is hard to stay motivated in evangelism when all we seek are results, or recognition. It's easy to keep going when awareness of who we are (God’s children in Christ) and gratitude continually well up from our inmost being! Further, the good news isn’t a message of self-improvement.v.14 - Guilt is a reality. Psychologists and psychiatrists lacking a biblical orientation may miss this. But true healing (therapy) requires acknowledgement of guilt, ownership. Proverbs 30:20. "Guilt of bloodshed" is a phrase often occurring in the context of murder. Worship as the natural response to the experience of cleansing, when we have gratitude to God for his mercy and grace.vv.15-16 - Religion without heart is worthless. Psalm 51, Psalm 50, Psalm 15 (in the podcast I said "51" -- but meant 15). Also Malachi 1—it's all over the OT. Jesus preached the same Mark 7. This is not to say that we can dispense with formal faith. The last verse of the Psalm doesn’t dismiss the sacrificial system – which would be replaced only after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.v.17 - Heart focus. See 34:18.vv. 18 -19 - This shows that the Psalm is exilic, or postexilic – at least in its final form.