Here’s a broader look at Psalm 51. I intend to concentrate on vv. 7-14 where we will find a holy perspective for reading this particular psalm. Please take a minute to check this out. Recall this is Davids prayer for repentance after he chose to sin with Bathsheba. The entire psalm is a written response to God’s discipline. For more background you might want to read 2 Samuel 11.
Look out for the “me” in this particular part of Psalm 51. We’ll start in verse 7.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
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Here’s some very brief thoughts that you might want to develop on your own.
V. 7, “Purge me,” is kind of a spiritual flush where sin is removed. This takes a work of God, it isn’t something we can do on our own. We need the HS. He will guide you over what stays and what must go. It is imperative that you listen and do what He asks.
V. 7, “Wash me,” is the way I stay clean. He makes people clean on the inside. He lets the outside be your decision.
V. 8, “Make me,” puts me back together again. We’re profoundly broken and He has the last tube of “super-glue.” We need to be repaired. It’s make me, not break me.
V. 10, “Create in me,” bring life inside me. God’s Spirit resurrects our spirits so we walk in His freedom. We are His most excellent work.
V. 11, “Do not cast me,” Don’t discard me, or leave me on the garbage pile. Don’t regard me as trash.
V. 12, “Restore to me,” bring me back to what I’ve lost. He specializes in major restoration.
V. 12, “Uphold me,” Keep me from falling. Hang onto me. Lift me up out of the darkness that’s all around me.
V. 14, “Deliver me,” Keep me free from the darkness. Don’t let the ‘dark one’ overpower me. Rescue me, please!
These are very brief notes that I probably should have developed more completely than I have done. I hope this will spark your creative side and lead you into greater understanding. I think this could develop into a good sermon or Bible study. Who knows? I turn over all creative rights over anything you might do with this.
Thanks for reading, I hope it strengthens your heart.
Bryan