Psalm 51

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:6

Behold, thou desirest truth - I am the very reverse of what I should be. Those desirest truth in the heart, but in me there is nothing but sin and falsity. Thou shalt make one to know wisdom - Thou wilt teach me to restrain every inordinate propensity, and to act according to the dictates of sound wisdom, the rest of my life. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:7

Purge me with hyssop - תחטאני techatteeni , "thou shalt make a sin-offering for me;" probably alluding to the cleansing of the leper: Leviticus 14:1 , etc. The priest took two clean birds, cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop; one of the birds was killed; and the living bird, with the scarlet, cedar, and hyssop, dipped in the blood of the bird that had been killed, and then sprinkled over the person who had been infected. But it is worthy of remark that this ceremony was not performed till... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:8

Make me to hear joy - Let me have a full testimony of my reconciliation to thee; that the soul, which is so deeply distressed by a sense of thy displeasure, may be healed by a sense of thy pardoning mercy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:9

Hide thy face from my sins - The sentiment here is nearly the same as that in Psalm 51:3 ; : His sin was ever before his own face; and he knew that the eye of God was constantly upon him, and that his purity and justice must be highly incensed on the account. He therefore, with a just horror of his transgressions, begs God to turn away his face from them, and to blot them out, so that they may never more be seen. See the note on Psalm 51:1 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart - Mending will not avail; my heart is altogether corrupted; it must be new made, made as it was in the beginning. This is exactly the sentiment of St. Paul: Neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation; and the salvation given under the Gospel dispensation is called a being created anew in Christ Jesus. A right spirit within me - נכון רוח ruach nachon , a constant, steady, determined spirit; called Psalm 51:12 , נדיבה... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:11

Cast me not away from thy presence - Banish me not from thy house and ordinances. Take not thy Holy Spirit from me - I know I have sufficiently grieved it to justify its departure for ever, in consequence of which I should be consigned to the blackness of darkness, - either to utter despair, or to a hard heart and seared conscience; and so work iniquity with greediness, till I fell into the pit of perdition. While the Spirit stays, painfully convincing of sin, righteousness, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:12

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation - This is an awful prayer. And why? Because it shows he once Had the joy of God's salvation; and had Lost it by sin! Uphold me with thy free spirit - Prop me up; support me with a princely spirit, one that will not stoop to a mean or base act. See on Psalm 51:10 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:13

Then will I teach transgressors - I will show myself to be grateful; I will testify of thy loving-kindness; I will call on transgressors to consider the error of their ways; and shall set before them so forcibly thy justice and mercy, that sinners shall be converted unto thee. With a little change I can adopt the language of Dr. Delaney on this place: "Who can confide in his own strength, when he sees David fall? Who can despair of Divine mercy when he sees him forgiven? Sad triumph of sin... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:14

Deliver me from blood-guiltiness - This is one of the expressions that gives most color to the propriety of the title affixed to this Psalm. Here he may have in view the death of Uriah, and consider that his blood cries for vengeance against him; and nothing but the mere mercy of God can wipe this blood from his conscience. The prayer here is earnest and energetic: O God! thou God of my salvation! deliver me! The Chaldee reads, "Deliver me ( קטול מדין middin ketol ) from the judgment of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:15

O Lord, open thou my lips - My heart is believing unto righteousness; give me thy peace, that my tongue may make confession unto salvation. He could not praise God for pardon till he felt that God had pardoned him; then his lips would be opened, and his tongue would show forth the praise of his Redeemer. read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:15

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