Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
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.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
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.
Psalms 51 is a deeply personal and moving expression of repentance, born out of King David's profound fall from grace. The backdrop to this psalm is found in Second Samuel 11 and 12, a tragic narrative of adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. Instead of leading his troops on the battlefield, David was on his palace roof when he saw Bathsheba bathing. Consumed by lust, he brought her to the palace, and their affair led to her pregnancy. To cover his sin, David summoned Uriah, hoping he would sleep with Bathsheba. When Uriah's integrity prevented this, David orchestrated his death in battle.
After this, David brought Bathsheba into his household as a wife. However, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his egregious sin. Nathan's parable of a rich man stealing a poor man's lamb struck a chord in David, leading him to pronounce judgment on the hypothetical offender. Nathan then delivered the crushing blow: "You are the man!" (Second Samuel 12). He prophesied devastating consequences for David's family, including perpetual conflict, scandal, violence, and the death of the child conceived with Bathsheba. These predictions tragically came to pass, marking the rest of David's life with turmoil and familial strife, even culminating in a rebellion led by his own son, Absalom.
A Heart Laid Bare (Psalms 51:1-3)
In Psalms 51, David lays bare his soul before God, confessing his sins without reservation. He doesn't attempt to excuse his actions or shift blame. Instead, he throws himself upon God's mercy and unfailing love. David appeals to God for forgiving grace and spiritual cleansing based on God’s character and compassion. He pleads, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions" (Psalms 51:1). David wants God to blot out his sin from his memory. Of course, God can’t forget, but David wants his sin erased in the sense that God would not relate to him based on his rebellious actions. He longs for the Lord’s supernatural cleansing because he is unable to wash himself and escape the guilt of his wickedness (Psalms 51:2). He is tormented by the remembrance of what he had done (Psalms 51:3)—an indication of his heart’s sensitivity toward God. This opening plea reveals a spirit of absolute humility and anguish. Though aware of the earthly consequences he must face, David seeks divine forgiveness, trusting in God's willingness to cleanse him.
Against You, and You Alone (Psalms 51:4-6)
David then acknowledges the profound nature of his sin, recognizing that it is ultimately an offense against God Himself. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalms 51:4). Though David had clearly wronged Bathsheba and Uriah, he understands that, ultimately, he had sinned against God alone (Psalms 51:4). He recognizes that God is the perfect righteous standard by which our actions are judged; therefore, all sin violates his character. All evaluations of right and wrong must be consistent with the standards that he himself has revealed. He further confesses his inherent sinfulness, stating, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalms 51:5). This acknowledgement, however, could also suggest that he was the offspring of an illegitimate relationship—a theory supported by the fact that his father Jesse knowingly excluded him from consideration when Samuel asked him to call his sons before him (see 1 Samuel 16:1-11). In any case, David needed a radical transformation of his inner self so that he might learn wisdom and adopt God’s perspective on all things (Psalms 51:6). We need the same. This verse doesn't excuse his actions but highlights the deep-seated nature of sin within him.
Cleansing and Restoration (Psalms 51:7-12)
David yearns for complete cleansing and restoration. He pleads, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:7). David pleads for mercy and protection from the legitimate consequences of his sin—he’d earned the death penalty for committing both adultery and murder. Only God could purify him, so he requests cleansing with hyssop (Psalms 51:7). This plant had been dipped into the Passover lamb’s blood when it was applied to the Israelites’ doorframes (see Exodus 12:21-23). He longs for God to remove the weight of his guilt, which brought him both physical and spiritual grief, and to blot it out (Psalms 51:8-9). Hyssop, used in purification rituals, symbolizes his desire to be made pure and whole again. He asks God to restore the joy of his salvation and to grant him a willing spirit to sustain him (Psalms 51:12).
When David requests that God give him a clean heart and not take away the Holy Spirit from him (Psalms 51:10-11), the king was not concerned about losing salvation. He was not speaking of the indwelling of the Spirit because the Spirit did not indwell Old Testament believers as he does New Testament believers. At issue here is David’s desire to fulfill the royal calling God had placed on his life. When he was anointed as king, “the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). He did not want to lose God’s calling and empowerment like his predecessor Saul had (see 1 Samuel 16:14). He thus asks God to return to him the joy of [his] salvation so that he would be energized to turn other sinners to the Lord in repentance, faith, and obedience (Psalms 51:12-13).
A Transformed Life (Psalms 51:13-19)
David expresses his commitment to using his restored life to teach others about God's saving grace. "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you" (Psalms 51:13). He understands that true worship is not merely about outward sacrifices but about a broken and contrite heart. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalms 51:17). If God would deliver him from the guilt of his sin, David commits to give God abundant, public praise (Psalms 51:14). He knew that God doesn’t want mere external worship and sacrifice; he wants a humbled heart that is broken over personal sin (Psalms 51:16-17). A casual relationship with sin, in fact, means no authentic worship of God. True worship requires that we give ourselves wholly to God without reserve (see Romans 12:1). When God’s people come to him in true repentance, then he will show them favor and accept their worship (Psalms 51:18-19).
A Model for Repentance
Psalms 51 stands as a timeless model for how to approach God in repentance. It exemplifies humility, honesty, and a deep understanding of the gravity of sin. It reminds us that even when we fall, God's mercy and forgiveness are available to those who sincerely seek them. This psalm assures us that God is more concerned with a broken heart than with flawless performance. It's a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's grace and the possibility of renewal, even after the most grievous sins. As Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds us, we can confidently approach God's throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in our time of need.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
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.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
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.
Psalms 51 is a deeply personal and moving expression of repentance, born out of King David's profound fall from grace. The backdrop to this psalm is found in Second Samuel 11 and 12, a tragic narrative of adultery with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. Instead of leading his troops on the battlefield, David was on his palace roof when he saw Bathsheba bathing. Consumed by lust, he brought her to the palace, and their affair led to her pregnancy. To cover his sin, David summoned Uriah, hoping he would sleep with Bathsheba. When Uriah's integrity prevented this, David orchestrated his death in battle.
After this, David brought Bathsheba into his household as a wife. However, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his egregious sin. Nathan's parable of a rich man stealing a poor man's lamb struck a chord in David, leading him to pronounce judgment on the hypothetical offender. Nathan then delivered the crushing blow: "You are the man!" (Second Samuel 12). He prophesied devastating consequences for David's family, including perpetual conflict, scandal, violence, and the death of the child conceived with Bathsheba. These predictions tragically came to pass, marking the rest of David's life with turmoil and familial strife, even culminating in a rebellion led by his own son, Absalom.
A Heart Laid Bare (Psalms 51:1-3)
In Psalms 51, David lays bare his soul before God, confessing his sins without reservation. He doesn't attempt to excuse his actions or shift blame. Instead, he throws himself upon God's mercy and unfailing love. David appeals to God for forgiving grace and spiritual cleansing based on God’s character and compassion. He pleads, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions" (Psalms 51:1). David wants God to blot out his sin from his memory. Of course, God can’t forget, but David wants his sin erased in the sense that God would not relate to him based on his rebellious actions. He longs for the Lord’s supernatural cleansing because he is unable to wash himself and escape the guilt of his wickedness (Psalms 51:2). He is tormented by the remembrance of what he had done (Psalms 51:3)—an indication of his heart’s sensitivity toward God. This opening plea reveals a spirit of absolute humility and anguish. Though aware of the earthly consequences he must face, David seeks divine forgiveness, trusting in God's willingness to cleanse him.
Against You, and You Alone (Psalms 51:4-6)
David then acknowledges the profound nature of his sin, recognizing that it is ultimately an offense against God Himself. "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight" (Psalms 51:4). Though David had clearly wronged Bathsheba and Uriah, he understands that, ultimately, he had sinned against God alone (Psalms 51:4). He recognizes that God is the perfect righteous standard by which our actions are judged; therefore, all sin violates his character. All evaluations of right and wrong must be consistent with the standards that he himself has revealed. He further confesses his inherent sinfulness, stating, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalms 51:5). This acknowledgement, however, could also suggest that he was the offspring of an illegitimate relationship—a theory supported by the fact that his father Jesse knowingly excluded him from consideration when Samuel asked him to call his sons before him (see 1 Samuel 16:1-11). In any case, David needed a radical transformation of his inner self so that he might learn wisdom and adopt God’s perspective on all things (Psalms 51:6). We need the same. This verse doesn't excuse his actions but highlights the deep-seated nature of sin within him.
Cleansing and Restoration (Psalms 51:7-12)
David yearns for complete cleansing and restoration. He pleads, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow" (Psalms 51:7). David pleads for mercy and protection from the legitimate consequences of his sin—he’d earned the death penalty for committing both adultery and murder. Only God could purify him, so he requests cleansing with hyssop (Psalms 51:7). This plant had been dipped into the Passover lamb’s blood when it was applied to the Israelites’ doorframes (see Exodus 12:21-23). He longs for God to remove the weight of his guilt, which brought him both physical and spiritual grief, and to blot it out (Psalms 51:8-9). Hyssop, used in purification rituals, symbolizes his desire to be made pure and whole again. He asks God to restore the joy of his salvation and to grant him a willing spirit to sustain him (Psalms 51:12).
When David requests that God give him a clean heart and not take away the Holy Spirit from him (Psalms 51:10-11), the king was not concerned about losing salvation. He was not speaking of the indwelling of the Spirit because the Spirit did not indwell Old Testament believers as he does New Testament believers. At issue here is David’s desire to fulfill the royal calling God had placed on his life. When he was anointed as king, “the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully on David from that day forward” (1 Samuel 16:13). He did not want to lose God’s calling and empowerment like his predecessor Saul had (see 1 Samuel 16:14). He thus asks God to return to him the joy of [his] salvation so that he would be energized to turn other sinners to the Lord in repentance, faith, and obedience (Psalms 51:12-13).
A Transformed Life (Psalms 51:13-19)
David expresses his commitment to using his restored life to teach others about God's saving grace. "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you" (Psalms 51:13). He understands that true worship is not merely about outward sacrifices but about a broken and contrite heart. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalms 51:17). If God would deliver him from the guilt of his sin, David commits to give God abundant, public praise (Psalms 51:14). He knew that God doesn’t want mere external worship and sacrifice; he wants a humbled heart that is broken over personal sin (Psalms 51:16-17). A casual relationship with sin, in fact, means no authentic worship of God. True worship requires that we give ourselves wholly to God without reserve (see Romans 12:1). When God’s people come to him in true repentance, then he will show them favor and accept their worship (Psalms 51:18-19).
A Model for Repentance
Psalms 51 stands as a timeless model for how to approach God in repentance. It exemplifies humility, honesty, and a deep understanding of the gravity of sin. It reminds us that even when we fall, God's mercy and forgiveness are available to those who sincerely seek them. This psalm assures us that God is more concerned with a broken heart than with flawless performance. It's a powerful testament to the transformative power of God's grace and the possibility of renewal, even after the most grievous sins. As Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds us, we can confidently approach God's throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in our time of need.