Deliver Me From Bloodguiltiness, O God
David's confession and prayer in Psalm 51 teach us the importance of honest confession, the heinousness of sin, and the power of prayer to God.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of honest confession before God, as exemplified by David's acknowledgment of his sin of bloodguiltiness. David's contrition reflects a deep understanding of the gravity of his actions, urging believers to recognize and name their sins truthfully rather than downplay them. Spurgeon highlights that true forgiveness comes from a heartfelt recognition of sin's heinousness and a sincere plea to the God of salvation. He encourages the faithful to rejoice in God's mercy and to respond with songs of praise for His righteousness, especially after experiencing His forgiving love. The sermon calls for a broken spirit and a commitment to glorify God through worship.
Text
In this SOLEMN CONFESSION, it is pleasing to observe that David plainly names his sin. He does not call it manslaughter, nor speak of it as an imprudence by which an unfortunate accident occurred to a worthy man, but he calls it by its true name, bloodguiltiness. He did not actually kill the husband of Bathsheba; but still it was planned in David's heart that Uriah should be slain, and he was before the Lord his murderer. Learn in confession to be honest with God. Do not give fair names to foul sins; call them what you will, they will smell no sweeter. What God sees them to be, that do you labour to feel them to be; and with all openness of heart acknowledge their real character. Observe, that David was evidently oppressed with the heinousness of his sin. It is easy to use words, but it is difficult to feel their meaning. The fifty-first Psalm is the photograph of a contrite spirit. Let us seek after the like brokenness of heart; for however excellent our words may be, if our heart is not conscious of the hell-deservingness of sin, we cannot expect to find forgiveness.
Our text has in it AN EARNEST PRAYER--it is addressed to the God of salvation. It is His prerogative to forgive; it is His very name and office to save those who seek His face. Better still, the text calls Him the God of my salvation. Yes, blessed be His name, while I am yet going to Him through Jesus' blood, I can rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The psalmist ends with A COMMENDABLE VOW: if God will deliver him he will sing--nay, more, he will "sing aloud." Who can sing in any other style of such a mercy as this! But note the subject of the song--"THY RIGHTEOUSNESS." We must sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour; and he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Honest Confession
- The Heinousness of Sin
- The Power of Prayer to God
- The Joy of Singing of God's Righteousness
- Sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour
- Those who know most of forgiving love will sing the loudest
- Acknowledge the real character of your sin
Key Quotes
“Do not give fair names to foul sins; call them what you will, they will smell no sweeter.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“The fifty-first Psalm is the photograph of a contrite spirit.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Those who know most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We must learn to name our sin honestly and acknowledge its true character.
- We should seek after a contrite spirit and be oppressed with the heinousness of our sin.
- We can express our gratitude and joy for the finished work of a precious Saviour by singing of God's righteousness.