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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:3

For I acknowledge my transgressions (comp. Psalms 32:5 , "I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin"). The first step in repentance is contrition; the second, confession; the third, amendment of life. And my sin is ever before me. I bear it in mind; I do not hide it from myself. I keep it continually before my mental vision. This, too, is characteristic of true penitence. Mock penitents confess their sins, and straightway forget... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:3

A portrait. Lord Macaulay tells us that the Earl of Breadalbane, who was the chief hand in the Massacre of Glencoe, never had rest afterwards. "He did his best to assume an air of unconcern. He made his appearance in the most fashionable coffee-house in Edinburgh, and talked loudly and self-complacently about the important service in which he had been engaged in the mountains. Some of his soldiers, however, who observed him closely, whispered that all this bravery was put on. He was not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned . Though no sins could be more directly against man than adultery and murder, yet David feels that that aspect of them shrinks away into insignificance, and is as if it were not, when they are viewed in their true and real character, as offences against the majesty of God. Every sin is mainly against God; and the better sort of men always feel this. "How can I do this great wickedness," says Joseph, when tempted by Potiphar's wife, " and sin against... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:3

For I acknowledge my transgressions - literally, I know, or make known. That is, he knew that he was a sinner, and he did not seek to cloak or conceal that fact. He came with the knowledge of it himself; he was willing to make acknowledgment of it before God. There was no attempt to conceal it; to excuse it. Compare the notes at Psalms 32:5. The word ““for”” does not imply that he referred to his willingness to confess his sins as an act of merit, but it indicates a state of mind which was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned - That is, the sin, considered as an offence against God, now appeared to him so enormous and so aggravated, that, for the moment, he lost sight of it considered in any other of its bearings. It “was” a sin, as all other sins are, primarily and mainly against God; it derived its chief enormity from that fact. We are not to suppose that David did not believe and notice that he had done wrong to people, or that he had offended against human laws, and against... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 51:3

Psalms 51:3. For I acknowledge my transgressions With grief, and shame, and abhorrence of myself and of my sins, which hitherto I have dissembled and covered. And, being thus truly penitent, I hope and beg that I may find mercy with thee. This David had formerly found to be the only way of obtaining forgiveness and peace of conscience, Psalms 32:4-5, and he now hoped to find the same blessings in the same way. And my sin is ever before me That sin, which I had cast behind my back, is now... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 51:4

Psalms 51:4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned Which is not to be understood absolutely, because he had sinned against Bath-sheba and Uriah, and many others; but comparatively. So the sense is, Though I have sinned against my own conscience, and against others, yet nothing is more grievous to me than that I have sinned against thee. And done this evil in thy sight With gross contempt of thee, whom I knew to be a spectator of my most secret actions. That thou mightest be justified ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

Psalms 51:0 David’s repentanceHaving committed adultery with Bathsheba, David then arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed, so that he could take Bathsheba as a royal wife (2 Samuel 11:1-27). The prophet Nathan found out David’s sin, condemned him to his face, then pronounced God’s judgment upon him (2 Samuel 12:1-15). This psalm displays David’s deep sorrow as he confesses his sin to God.David makes no excuses. He acknowledges his sin and realizes that he can do nothing to receive... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 51:3

acknowledge. Confession is ever the condition of forgiveness. See notes on Psalms 32:5 . read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 51:4

only = alone. This is primary, and contains the secondary. evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. That, &c. Quoted in Romans 3:4 . when Thou speakest: i.e. in Thy word. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "in Thy words" (plural) Compare Romans 3:4 . clear = pure; such moral purity as belongs not to man, only to God (Job 15:14 ; Job 25:4 .Proverbs 20:9; Proverbs 20:9 ). Hebrew. zakak. read more

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