Psalm 51
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Second Samuel 11-12
David lusted after his neighbor’s wife.
He committed adultery; she became
pregnant.
He made her husband drunk.
He had him killed.
He tried to cover the whole matter for at
least a year.
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God was holding David responsible for the
death of Uriah (2 Sam. 12:9).
David’s sin called for the death penalty
(Gen. 4:10, 9:6).
“O God, the God of my salvation”
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When our sins are forgiven, we can return
to offering acceptable worship unto God.
“O Lord, open my lips”
With forgiveness comes a renewal of
fellowship, and we can approach God with
confidence (Heb. 10:19-22).
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This psalm is poetry – exaggeration for
effect.
The statement must be qualified:
God desires sacrifices given from
sincere and obedient hearts.
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This
poetry
exaggeration
"Forpsalm
I desireismercy
and– not
sacrifice, andfor
the
effect.
knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
Hosea 6:6
The statement must be qualified: God
desires
sacrifices
given
sincere
and
“So Samuel
said: ‘Has
the from
Lord as
great delight
obedient
hearts.and sacrifices, as in obeying
in burnt offerings
the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of
rams.’”
1 Samuel 15:22
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This psalm is poetry – exaggeration for
effect.
“‘To what purpose is the multitude of your
sacrifices to Me?’ says the Lord. ‘I have had
The statement must be qualified: God
enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of
desires
sacrifices
giveninfrom
sincere
and
fed cattle.
I do not delight
the blood
of bulls,
obedient
Or of lambshearts.
or goats…
…your hands are full of blood.’”
Isaiah 1:10-15
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The word “contrite” signifies repentance.
To feel “deep sorrow or remorse for having
sinned or done wrong.”
The word “contrite” is taken from an old
Latin word which referred to something that
was worn out or ground to pieces.
This word perfectly describes David’s
feelings in this Psalm.
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The
word “contrite” signifies repentance.
"The Lord is near to those who have a broken
To
feel
sorrow
or aremorse
for having
heart,
and“deep
saves such
as have
contrite spirit.”
Psalm 34:18
sinned or done wrong.”
“Forword
thus says
the High is
and
Lofty One
Who
The
“contrite”
taken
from
aninhabits
old
eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and
Latin
word which referred to something that
holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble
was
outtheorspirit
ground
pieces.
spirit,worn
to revive
of the to
humble,
and to revive
the heart of the contrite ones.’”
This word perfectly describes David’s
Isaiah 57:15
feelings in this Psalm.
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•
The
word “contrite” signifies repentance.
“‘For all those things My hand has made, and all
To
feel
“deep
sorrow
remorse
those
things
exist,’
says theor
Lord.
‘But on for
this having
one
will I look:
him who
is poor and of a contrite
sinned
orondone
wrong.”
spirit, and who trembles at My word.’”
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66:2
The word “contrite” is taken from Isaiah
an old
Latin word which referred to something that
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not
was
worn
out his
or eyes
ground
to pieces.
so much
as raise
to heaven,
but beat his
breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”
• This word perfectly describes David’s
Luke 18:13
feelings in this Psalm.
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There is no doubt David’s sin and guilt had
a negative impact upon the entire nation.
People suffer from the sins of those in
leadership positions:
• husbands, parents, elders, etc.
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Sin leaves a debilitating stain that man
cannot remove.
God will blot out, wash, cleanse, purge, and
deliver us from the guilt of our sins.
Forgiveness is available, but only if we seek
it on God’s terms.
Our proper response to receiving God’s
forgiveness is to Praise Him and convert
sinners.