Psalms 51
DOYLYVer. 2. Wash me thoroughly &c.] The soul, that is sensible of her pollution, fears she can never be sufficiently purified from it; and therefore prays yet again and again, continually, for more abundant grace, to make and to keep her holy. Bp. Horne.
Psalms 51:4
- Against thee, thee only, have I sinned.] For none else knew it, till Thou madest it known, 2 Sam. xii. 12. Bp. Wilson. — that thou mightest be justified &c.] Rather, so that Thou art righteous in thy sentence, and just in thy judgment. Edwards.
Psalms 51:5
- — I was shapen in iniquity; &c.] I derive from my parents an original corruption, and a natural proneness to evil. Travell. This corruption is here only alleged as the cause of transgressions, not as their excuse; seeing that, the greater our danger of falling, the greater should be our care to stand. Bp. Horne.
Psalms 51:6
- Behold, thou desirest truth &c.] The force of “behold” is, “It is too plain; I feel it but too sensibly; the punishment I suffer is evidence sufficient, that Thou art not contented with a superficial appearance of goodness: Thou lovest truth and sincerity in the bottom of the heart.” God was now teaching him this, by the correction He made him suffer. The punishment inflicted tended to give him a right understanding of things, and to work it deep into him. Mudge.
Psalms 51:7
- Purge me with hyssop, &c.] As the priest is wont to denote unclean persons to be cleansed, by sprinkling them with water mixed with the ashes of an heifer, E
Psalms 51:21
- These things hast thou done, &c.] All this wickedness hast thou committed, and I have forborne to punish thee; but my forbearance, instead of leading thee to amendment, has made thee consider me, either as ignorant of thy wickedness, or inclined to evil like thyself: but I will now rebuke thee sharply for it, and set all thy evil deeds in order before thine eyes. Bp. Patrick.
Psalms 51:23
- Whoso offereth praise] This verse sums up the two principal points of charge. “I look upon him only as the man who truly honours me, that offers before me a grateful heart; and none but the man that sets himself to order his life aright shall ever find protection and blessing from God.” Mudge. The duty of praise is the end of our being, and the very rule and law of our nature. It is the most excellent part of our religious worship, enduring to eternity after the rest shall be done away. It recommends itself to us by several peculiar properties and advantages; as it carries more pleasure in it than all other kinds of devotion; as it enlarges and exalts the several powers of the mind; as it breeds in us an exquisite sense of God’s honour, and a willingness to promote it in the world; as it teaches us to be humble and lowly ourselves, and yet preserves us from base and sordid flattery, from bestowing mean and undue praises upon others. Bp. Atterbury. Psalm LI. No one can read this Psalm of David, but must see all the characters of true repentance in the person who wrote it, and the marks of the deepest sorrow and humiliation for the sins of which he had been guilty. How earnestly does he plead for mercy, and acknowledge his unworthiness! How ingenuous Vol. II. came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. H AVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.