Psalms 51

David being fallen into great sins, and reproved for it by the Prophet Nathan; and roused, doth must fervently pray for mercy and forgiveness through the Messiah, with a confession not onely of these actuall sins, but also of his original corruption desiring moreover, that God would renew his holy spirit within him, that by the same he may be supported, and others instructed by him, promising God thankfulness with unfeigned repentance; and prayeth at last for the preservation of the whole Church.

1. A Psalm of David, for the chief Song-master. [See Psal.4.on ver.1. It is remarkable, that as it pleased God to cause David his fall to be described in the holy Scriptures, for a manifold instruction and warning to his people, so David himself likewise inspired by Gods holy Spirit caused this Psalm to be solemnly sung and plaid in the house of God, for the same end and purpose.]

2. When the Prophet Nathan was come to him, after that he was gone in [See Gen.6.on verse 4.] to Bathseba.

3. Be gracious to (Or, have mercy on) me, O God according to thy tenderness. Blot out [or wipe, put out, compare Isa.43.25. and 44.22. Col.2.14. and so below. V.10.] my transgression, according to the greatness [or multitude] of thy mercies.

4. Wash me well from my unrighteousness; and cleanse me from my sin. [Heb. Multiply, wash me. Or multiply, (or, do much) to wash me, or, wash me much, or, manifold, soundly, thoroughly, over and over. Thus David speaketh out of the consideration, and sensibleness of the greatness and multitude of his sins. The manner of speaking is indeed taken from the outward and ceremonial washing and cleansing; whereof see, Lev.11.25.32. and 14.8.9. Numb.19.19.20. and also Exod.19.10. but hath its many regard upon the thing signified, to wit the spiritual washing and cleansing from sin, through the blood of the Messiah. See Rev.7.v.14. 1. John 1:7. and 1. Cor.6.11. comp.below, v.9.]

5. For I know my transgressions, [Or, my transgressions are known to me,] and my sin is still before me.

6. Against thee alone have I sinned, [For as much as having endeavoured to hide my sins before men, I nevertheless found and felt thee in my own conscience, upon Nathans reproof, to be a true witness and judge thereof. Thou that likewise art onely able to punish and to forgive my sins] and done that which is evil in thine eyes: [or, displeasing to thee] that thou be righteous in thy speaking (and) pure in thy judging. [i.e. that thou maist befound, held, and judged righteous. By this confession, David giveth God the honour, that his words and judgements denounced unto him by Nathan, were just and blameless. Others, so that thou art righteous, etc.]

7. Behold, I am born [Thus the Hebrew word is used Job 15:7. Prov.8.24,25.] in unrighteousness: [understand the original sin, inbred corruption, the flesh and the inhabiting sin. See John 3:6. Rom.7.17.] and in sin my mother hath conceived me. [Heb. Warmed, chased, or, hath been warmed, heated, viz.in conceiving and bearing me. Compare about the Hebrew word, Gen.30. bearing me. Compare about the Hebrew word, Gen.30. 38,39,41.]

8. Behold, thou art delighted with Truth [Unfainedness, undeceitful uprightness in opposition to hypocrisy and dissembling, which David had made himself guilty of art this time.] in the inmost; [Or inmost, inward parts, or dispositions, to wit, of man; that is to say, the heart. Compare Rom.2.29. and 7.22. 2.Cor.4.16. 1.Pet.3.4. item Luke 11:39. derived from a root, which signifies to lay over, cover, superinduce (as men do walls with chalk, morter, lime, &c.) and is by some rendered the kidneys or reins (as being overlaid, or covered with fat) whereby are oft times understood the human affections; though others would have it pracordia, that is, the cover, or fence of the heart, or breastbone, covering the heart, wherein God hath placed wisdom, Job 38:36.] and in the hidden (part) [or in the inclosed shut or lockt up (part) to wit of the heart.] doest thou make wisdom known to me. [it seemeth, he means to say, that God that had taught him not onely to let his light to shine without, but also and especially to be holy and unblameable within in the secret of his heart. Some refer it to the wisdom of God in hiddenness, or mystery, 1. Cor.2.7. &c. Revealed in the Gospel, and through his Spirit.]

9. Expiate me, [Or un-sin me, according to tee Dutch word] with Hyssop. [viz. By sprinking me with the blood of the Messiah, typified by the ceremony used, whereof see Lev.14.4,5,6,7. Num.19.verse 6.9. See the Annot. There, and of Hyssop.1. King.4.on verse 33.] and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow.

10. Let me hear joy and gladness; [By assuring me of the pardon of my sins, inwardly by the holy Ghost, and outwardly, by the Ministry of thy Prophets] that the bones may rejoice (which) thou hast bruised. [i.e. that I may rejoice again, whom thou hast put to these pains, through the message of thy hot displeasure, as he cannot suffer greater, whose bones are broken or bruised, and crush in pieces; or, whose vigour, ability and delight is altogether decayed and molten away. See Job 25. And 30.17. and 33.19. Psal.35.10. and 38.4, etc.]

11. Hide thy face from my sins: [i.e. impute them not unto me. Compare Psalm 90.on verse 8. And 109.14.15.] and blot out (as above, verse 3.) all mine iniquities.

12. Create in me a clean heart, O God: [i.e. work effectually the cleansing of my heart, through thy Spirit. Thus the word Creating is elsewhere also used in this matter. See Isa.41.20. and 57.19. Eph.2.10. and 4.24. etc.] and renew a firm (or settled) spirit in the inmost of me. [i.e. renew by a stedfast faith, a firmed and settled resolution in my soul, for to obey thy commands, that I do not slide nor fall no more as I did. Compare Psa.57.8. and 112.7. compare moreover, of heart and Spirit Ezek.11.19. with Annotation there, and of mans inmost, Job 20.on v.14.]

13. Reject me not from thy face; [Which is the effect and consequence otherwise of Gods great wrath and indignation. See Gen.4.14.16. 2 King.24.20. Jerem.7.15. and 52.3.] and take thy holy Spirit not from me. [Heb. The spirit of thine holiness, that is thine holy Spirit; as hill of mine holiness, Psa.2.6. Palace or temple of his holiness, Psalms 11:4. etc. Thus the Lord Christ and his Apostles called the third Person of the sacred Trinity the holy Spirit, or the holy Ghost (which is all one) throughout.]

14. Give me again the joy of thy salvation: [That joy which I had and enjoyed before in the salvation, which thou hast prepared for, and shalt bestow upon me; whereof the sense and feeling now is much obscured and darkened within me] and the cheerfull spirit support me. [or underprop me, or sustain me (with) the freewilling, or freehearted voluntary, noble, or benevolous, beneficient, munificent spirit by whose means I may with cheerfulness call upon and with delight and readiness serve thee. Comp. This with the Spirit of adoption. Whereof see Rom.8.15.16. Others, the spirit of cheerfulness, freemindness.]

15. So shall I teach the transgressors thy ways, and the sinners shall convert them to thee: [By mine example shall I instruct and chear up the same, and by that means (they seeing that there is grace and favour with thee for poor penitent sinners) shall they be converted, or convert themselves, of the LORDS ways see Gen.18.on v.19. and Psalms 25:4.10. Hos.14.10. etc.]

16. Deliver me from blood-guiltinesses, [Heb. Bloods: i.e. the guilt of blood and murder, which I have commited on Uria and others that were killed, because of, and together with him, whereby I have deserved my self sentence of death to pass and be executed upon me. See Gen.4.on v.10. and 9.v.5,6.] O God, thou God of my salvation: so shall my tongue cheerfully praise thy righteousness. [which thou dost manifest in the gracious keeping and performing of thy promises. Others read it a Prayer-wise, let my tongue, &c.]

17. LORD open my lips, [Lay into my mouth a new song. See Psalm 40.on v.4. He implyeth, that his mouth was shut in a manner through the grief for his sins, and the consideration of his unworthiness, and could not be opened again, but through Gods favour and the comfort of the holy Ghost] then shall my mouth publish thy praise.

18. For thou hast no pleasure in sacrifice, [viz. Without preceding and concomitant repentance. See the preceding Psalm, and below, v.21. Rom.12.1. item Hos.6.on v.6. Some understand it of the state of the new Testament, or the spiritual worship thereof: See Psalm 50.on v.8.] else I would give it; in burnt offerings thou hast no delight.

19. The sacrifices of God, [i.e. those which he principally commandeth and accepteth of as John 6:28 works of God] are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite [or bruised, crush] heart; thou O God wilt not despise. [He speaketh of such a heart, which through an upright and deep sence of, and sorrow for sin, doth heartily long and sigh for the pardon of the same. The similitude is taken from breaking, bruising, crushing, etc. Of hard or hardened things is plain. See Psalm 34.on v.19. To this is opposed a hard or hardened heart, whereof the Scripture speaketh elsewhere, others thus. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart; them thou wilt not despise.]

20. Do well by Zion, [The place where thou dwellest, where thy Church doth keep her solemn holy assemblies, serves and worships thee. See further, Psalm 2.on v.6. Thus David prayeth for the people of God, with grief of heart, least the scandal given to the same by him, should any way tend to the prejudice and trouble of the whole church] according to thy well pleasing [or good pleasure, or, through thy favourableness] build up the walls of Jerusalem.

21. Then shalt thou take pleasure in the Sacrifices of righteousness, [See Psalm 4.on v.6. and compare above on v.18.] in burnt-offering, and an offering that is wholly consumed: [understand a peculiar meat-offering of the high Priests, which was to be wholly consumed and burnt, see Levit.6.20,22,23. Though sometimes it was also practised thus with sacrifices as we see, 1 Sam.7.9.] then shall they offer bullocks upon tine Altar. [Thy people namely in Zion: or, they shall offer, i.e. men shall etc. Or there shall be offered, as elsewhere frequently.]