Psalm 51

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:16

For thou desirest not sacrifice - This is the same sentiment which he delivers in Psalm 40:6 ; (note), etc., where see the notes. There may be here, however, a farther meaning: Crimes, like mine, are not to be expiated by any sacrifices that the law requires; nor hast thou appointed in the law any sacrifices to atone for deliberate murder and adultery: if thou hadst, I would cheerfully have given them to thee. The matter is before thee as Judge. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit - As my crimes are such as admit of no legal atonement, so thou hast reserved them to be punished by exemplary acts of justice, or to be pardoned by a sovereign act of mercy: but in order to find this mercy, thou requirest that the heart and soul should deeply feel the transgression, and turn to thee with the fullest compunction and remorse. This thou hast enabled me to do. I have the broken spirit, נשברה רוח ruach nishbarah ; and the broken and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:18

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion - This and the following verse most evidently refer to the time of the captivity, when the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the temple service entirely discontinued; and, consequently, are long posterior to the times of David. Hence it has been concluded that the Psalm was not composed by David, nor in his time and that the title must be that of some other Psalm inadvertently affixed to this. The fourth verse has also been considered as decisive... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:1

Verse 1 1.Have mercy upon me. David begins, as I have already remarked, by praying for pardon; and his sin having been of an aggravated description, he prays with unwonted earnestness. He does not satisfy himself with one petition. Having mentioned the loving-kindness of the Lord, he adds the multitude of his compassions, to intimate that mercy of an ordinary kind would not suffice for so great a sinner. Had he prayed God to be favorable, simply according to his clemency or goodness, even that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:3

Verse 3 3.For If know my sins (259) He now discovers his reason for imploring pardon with so much vehemency, and this was the painful disquietude which his sins caused him, and which could only be relieved by his obtaining reconciliation with God. This proves that his prayer did not proceed from dissimulation, as many will be found commending the grace of God in high terms, although, in reality, they care little about it, having never felt the bitterness of being exposed to his displeasure.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:4

Verse 4 4.Against thee, thee only, have I sinned (260) It is the opinion of some that he here adverts to the circumstance of his sin, although it was committed against man, being concealed from every eye but that of God. None was aware of the double wrong which he had inflicted upon Uriah, nor of the wanton manner in which he had exposed his army to danger; and his crime being thus unknown to men, might be said to have been committed exclusively against God. According to others, David here... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:5

Verse 5 5Behold, I was born in iniquity, etc He now proceeds further than the mere acknowledgement of one or of many sins, confessing that he brought nothing but sin with him into the world, and that his nature was entirely depraved. He is thus led by the consideration of one offense of peculiar atrocity to the conclusion that he was born in iniquity, and was absolutely destitute of all spiritual good. Indeed, every sin should convince us of the general truth of the corruption of our nature.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:6

Verse 6 6.Behold, thou hast desired truth, etc. This verse confirms the remark which we already made, that David was far from seeking to invent an apology for his sin, when he traced it back to the period of his conception, and rather intended by this to acknowledge that from his very infancy he was an heir of eternal death. He thus represents his whole life to have been obnoxious to condemnation. So far is he from imitating those who arraign God as the author of sin, and impiously suggest that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:7

Verse 7 7.Thou shalt purge me with hyssop He still follows out the same strain of supplication; and the repetition of his requests for pardon proves how earnestly he desired it. He speaks of hyssop (266) , in allusion to the ceremonies of the law; and though he was far from putting his trust in the mere outward symbol of purification, he knew that, like every other legal rite, it was instituted for an important end. The sacrifices were seals of the grace of God. In them, therefore, he was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:10

Verse 10 10Create in me a clean heart, O God! In the previous part of the psalm David has been praying for pardon. He now requests that the grace of the Spirit, which he had forfeited, or deserved to have forfeited, might be restored to him. The two requests are quite distinct, though sometimes confounded together, even by men of learning. He passes from the subject of the gratuitous remission of sin to that of sanctification. And to this he was naturally led with earnest anxiety, by the... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:10

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