DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 51 David repents of his sin with Bathsheba. The Psalm has two key parts. In the first section (verses 1-17), David prays for himself. In the second section (verses 18-19), David prays for the nation of Israel. Today's painting illustrates several aspects of David's repentance: isolation, thorough self-examination of himself in light of Scripture, and a written account of the resulting repentance.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 2 Samuel 11. 2 Samuel 12. Penitential Psalms: Psalm 6. Psalm 32. Psalm 38. Psalm 51. Psalm 102. Psalm 130. Psalm 143. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Group A. Psalm 51 - #1. Psalm 51 - #2. Psalm 51 - #3. Psalm 51 - #4. Psalm 51 - #5. Group B. Psalm 51 - #1. Psalm 51 - #2. Psalm 51 - #3. Psalm 51 - #4. Psalm 51 - #5. Psalm 51 - #6. Psalm 51 - #7. Psalm 51 - #8. Psalm 51 - #9. ]

     David asks God for mercy in accord with God's lovingkindness and his tender mercy so that his transgressions (his revolt) may be blotted out (1). He asks to be washed thoroughly from his iniquity and cleansed from his sin. A more literal translation would read: "thoroughly trample out my perversity from me" -- in the sense of trampling on clothes to wash them, or to trample on grapes to fully extract the juice (2). He acknowledges his transgressions (his revolt); and his sin (offense) is constantly before him (3). He sinned against God, and God only, when he did evil -- in the sense that every sin against others was a sin against the God who made them in his image; and God was just to speak against him (or to state his case against him), as he did when Nathan rebuked him with a message from God. Moreover, God was clearly correct when he pronounced his judgment against him (4). David then confesses his fundamental sinfulness. He was a sinner while he was shaped in his mothers's womb; and even at the moment of his conception he became a sinful man (5). God desires truth inwardly; but David will have it only when God teaches him wisdom within (6). So he asks to be purged and washed (trampled clean) so that he will be whiter than snow (7). He asks God to restore his joy and gladness that the bones which God "broke" (crushed) might rejoice (8). He pleads with God to hide his face from his sins, to blot out his iniquities, to create a clean heart within him, and to renew a right (or upright) spirit within him (9-10). He prays that God will not cast him away from his presence and that God will not take his Holy Spirit from him (11). He asks God to restore the joy of his salvation and to uphold him with his Free (or Noble) Spirit (12). He says that, when God does these things, he will be able to teach transgressors (like himself - v. 1) the ways of God; and sinners will be converted to the Lord (13). So, again, he asks for forgiveness, specifically from the guilt of shedding blood so that he might sing aloud of God's righteousness (14). And, to that end, he asks God to open his lips and his mouth to show forth his praise (15). He acknowledges that God does not desire sacrifices, otherwise he would give them (16). Rather, the sacrifices which God desires are a broken (literally, a burst) spirit and a broken (burst) and contrite (collapsed or prostrate) heart; these God will not despise (17). Then, turning his attention to the nation of Israel, whom he has also wronged and weakened as their representative and defender, David asks God to do good in his good pleasure to Zion and to build the walls of Jerusalem -- i.e., to keep her strong (18). Then, says David, God will be pleased with their sacrifices (19).

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
³ For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
⁵ Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
⁶ Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
⁸ Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
⁹ Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
¹² Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
¹⁶ For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

¹⁸ Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]