Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:1
1-4. A plea for mercy is a confession of guilt. blot out—as from a register. transgressions—literally, "rebellions" (Psalms 19:13; Psalms 32:1). read more
Psalm-51:1-3,-psalm-51:6-17-niv
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:2
2. Wash me—Purity as well as pardon is desired by true penitents. read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:3
3. For . . . before me—Conviction precedes forgiveness; and, as a gift of God, is a plea for it (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:9). read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:1
David appealed to God (Elohim) to cleanse him because of His loyal love and compassion. This is the first of David’s psalms in which he addressed the Lord as Elohim, possibly reflecting the distance he felt from God as Yahweh. [Note: Merrill, "Psalms," p. 433.] He knew he did not deserve the Lord’s forgiveness nor could he earn it. Divine pardon comes to sinners by His grace alone. He asked God to blot out the record of his transgressions, namely, sins that go beyond the limits that God has... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:1-2
1. Prayer for gracious cleansing 51:1-2 read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:1-19
Psalms 51In this penitential individual lament psalm (cf. Psalms 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, , 143) David confessed the sins he committed against Bathsheba and Uriah. It is a model of confession that has become popular with God’s people. Since we all sin so often and need to confess frequently, this psalm is a help and comfort to us all.Psalms 32 proposed the need to confess sin, and Psalms 51:5 of that poem is a brief statement of confession. But Psalms 51 moves closer to "the center of the crisis of... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:2
The biblical writers often compared a person’s deeds to the clothing he wears because that is what other people see when they look at us. David asked God to wash away his iniquity (moral evil) like dirt that was on his garment (behavior). Cleansing is a term that comes from the tabernacle ritual. Those who came into God’s presence to worship and serve Him had to be clean. David correctly viewed his sin (falling short of what God requires) as making the worship and service of a holy God... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:3
About a year had passed between David’s sin of adultery and the time when he acknowledged his guilt. We know this because Bathsheba had given birth to the child she had conceived illegitimately when David confessed his sin (cf. 2 Samuel 12:13-18). David’s sin had been on his mind for many months. Evidently he had hardened his heart and refused to admit that what he had done was sinful. Perhaps he had tried to rationalize it somehow. read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 51:3-6
2. Confession of gross sin 51:3-6 read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Psalms 51:3
Psalms 51:3. For I acknowledge my transgressions— אדע adang; I know, I am conscious of my transgression. When David saw himself in the parable, and had pronounced his own condemnation, he then saw his sins in their proper aggravations, and his iniquity was ever before him. His own conscience condemned him, and he was in perpetual fear of the effects of the divine displeasure. Dr. Chandler; who, differing in sentiment from Dr. Delaney, thinks that David was greatly insensible of his guilt, and... read more