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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

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 51:3-6

David Freely And Openly Admits His Total Sinfulness And Guilt (Psalms 51:3-6 ). David tells God that he now knows the truth about himself. He no longer dismisses what he has done as unimportant because he is a king and chief judge, and therefore, as the one finally responsible for the law, above the law. For God has brought home to him the depths to which he has fallen. He now recognises his responsibility towards a greater King and Judge. As he said to Nathan when his sin was made clear to... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:1-19

LI. A Penitential Psalm. Psalms 51:1-2 Kings : . Prayer for pardon and inward renewal. Psalms 51:13-Esther : . A promise to proclaim God’ s mercy and bring sinners back to Him. Psalms 51:18 f. Prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem, which will make sacrifice possible and popular once more.The Ps. was not written by David, and still less by David after his double sin of murder and adultery. How could David have said, “ Against thee, thee only, have I sinned” ? Besides, the Ps. shows the... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 51:3

I acknowledge, with grief and shame, and abhorrency 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. My transgressions; for it was not a single, but a complicated wickedness, adultery, murder, injustice, perfidiousness; and frequent repetition of and long and stupid continuance in abominable filthiness, and that with public scandal. My sin is ever before me; that which I had cast behind my back... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only; which is not to be understood simply and absolutely, because he had unquestionably sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah and many others, who were either injured by it, or scandalized at it; but comparatively. So the sense is this, Though I have sinned against my own body and conscience, and against others; yet nothing is more grievous and terrible to me, than to consider that I have sinned against thee; partly upon a general account, because this is the chief malignity... read more

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