psalm-51:2-4,psalm-19:13

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Psalms 51:4

This is a striking expression: David looks upon the sin as directly levelled against God. He had injured Uriah, injured Bathsheba, injured, in short, everyone that heard the story, in the example he had set; but the great sin was against God. Had be not lost reverence for God, he could not have injured men. David dwells therefore upon this: Against Thee, Thee only, (says he, repeating the words with painful recollection) have I sinned. Here was the sad, sad business. Reader, it is among the... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:2-3

Achimelech. Sixtus V, Septuagint, &c., read Abimelech. But the former is the true name. See 1 Kings xxii. 9, 20. (Calmet) --- The word understanding implies, that we ought to reflect on the misery of detraction, and bear our crosses with submission. (Berthier) --- Doeg was but half a Jew, and persecuted the faithful. (Worthington) --- Iniquity. Hebrew chesed, means also mercy, and some translate, "the mercy of God! or, the great mercy." Noble exploit! (Calmet) --- But our version seems... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:1-6

1-6 David, being convinced of his sin, poured out his soul to God in prayer for mercy and grace. Whither should backsliding children return, but to the Lord their God, who alone can heal them? he drew up, by Divine teaching, an account of the workings of his heart toward God. Those that truly repent of their sins, will not be ashamed to own their repentance. Also, he instructs others what to do, and what to say. David had not only done much, but suffered much in the cause of God; yet he flees... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Psalms 51:1-9

David's Penitential Prayer. To the chief musician, for public performance, as an open confession of David's sin before the whole congregation, showing that his repentance was of the right kind, a psalm of David, when Nathan, the prophet, came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 11, 12. For about one year after his terrible sin of adultery David had hardened his heart against repentance, although he had no rest in his conscience during this time, Psalms 32:3-Numbers :. It was... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Psalms 51:1-19

Psalms 51:0To the chief Musician, a Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba 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 thoroughly 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... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Psalms 51:1-2

Psalms DAVID’S CRY FOR PARDON Psa_51:1 - Psa_51:2 . A whole year had elapsed between David’s crime and David’s penitence. It had been a year of guilty satisfaction not worth the having; of sullen hardening of heart against God and all His appeals. The thirty-second Psalm tells us how happy David had been during that twelvemonth, of which he says, ‘My bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy on me.’ Then came Nathan with his apologue, and... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Psalms 51:1-10

the Prayer of the Contrite Heart Psalms 51:1-10 This psalm is a ladder which climbs from the horrible pit, with its miry clay, into the heights of sunny joy, where the song breaks from the forgiven penitent. Here is the cry of the lost sheep which has been torn by briers, harried by wild dogs, drenched in the morass, but which the shepherd has found and brought home rejoicing. This path has been worn by myriads of penitents. Psalms 51:17 was written on the wall of St. Augustine’s cell. There... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:1-19

This is the first of a number of psalms (eighteen) to which titles are prefaced which connect them with David, eight out of the number having historic references. There is a remarkable fitness in every case between the incident thus indicated and the psalm following; but whether the placing is accurate or not is open to question. This is indeed one of the great penitential psalms, being the fourth in the seven which are usually so described. It opens with a general cry for pardon that comes... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

A Penitent's Prayer Psalms 51:1-19 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We will set forth, by way of introduction, the story of David's sin and of how he was reproved by Nathan, the Prophet. We may also emphasize how David had groaned within himself for two miserable years. 1. The story of David's sin. David had become enamored with Bath-sheba, who was wife to Uriah. In this he sinned grievously. God had given him wives who should have been his full joy and satisfaction. Bath-sheba was the wife of another man... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:1-2

An Appeal For Forgiveness And Cleansing (Psalms 51:1-2 ). The Psalm commences with an appeal to God for forgiveness and cleansing. In these verses David throws himself on the mercy of God, in recognition that only in God’s supreme compassion is there any hope for him. He knew that he had committed the sins of adultery and murder, which in earlier times would have resulted in his execution. He knew that for these sins there was no pardon. And yet such is his intense faith that he is convinced... read more