Psalm 51

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation . Give me back that "joy" which was mine when I was conscious of thy favour, and felt that thou wert my Strength and my Salvation ( Psalms 18:1 ; Psalms 62:2 , etc.). And uphold me with thy free spirit. There is no "thy" in the original; and it is his own spirit, not God's Spirit, of which the psalmist here speaks. "Uphold me," he says, "preserve me from falling, by giving me a 'free,' or 'generous,' or 'noble' spirit—the opposite of that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

The joy of God's salvation. " Restore ," etc. Two opposite kinds of experience are wonderfully blended in this psalm—the experience of a conscience-stricken transgressor, and the experience of a believer rejoicing in Divine mercy. Nothing can be more mournful than David's profound self-abasement and piercing cry for pardon. Nothing can be more calm, hopeful, restful, than his trust in God's forgiving and restoring grace. He is like one emerging from a gloomy cavern, where no ray of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

The joy of salvation. "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a joyful [willing] spirit." I. THAT THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SALVATION IS ACCOMPANIED WITH A GREATER OR LESS DEGREE OF " JOY ." Salvation is a deliverance from the greatest danger the soul can apprehend, and is, therefore, a cause of the most rapturous joy the soul can feel. It is preceded, in the majority of cases, by terror of the Divine anger; by the despair awakened by guilt;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways . The truly grateful heart cannot be satisfied without making some return to God for his goodness. The most satisfactory return is by deeds, not words. David's determination is to do his best to promote the glory of God by bringing others to salvation, turning them from their own evil ways to the "ways" that God would have them walk in . And sinners shall be converted unto thee. The result, he hopes, will be the conversion to God of many "sinners"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13-17

The psalmist now turns from prayer to promise. If God will grant his petitions, restore him to favour, and renew his spiritual life, then he will make such return as is possible to him. First, he will teach transgressors God's ways ( Psalms 51:13 ). Next, he will extol his righteousness, and show forth his praise( Psalms 51:14 , Psalms 51:15 ). Finally, he will offer him, not bloody sacrifice, but the sacrifice in which he delights—"the sacrifice of a broken spirit, a broken and contrite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13-19

Working for God. With a conscience set free from guilt, with a heart renewed by the Spirit of God, and full of thankfulness for God's great mercy, he cannot keep silent, but will seek to turn other sinners to God. The thirty-second psalm shows how this resolution was kept. I. HE WHO BY HIS EXAMPLE HAD TAUGHT OTHERS TO SIN WILL NOW SEEK TO CONVERT THEM TO THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE . ( Psalms 51:13 .) To the ways of God's commandment. We cannot undo... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:14

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God . In David's mouth this prayer is readily intelligible. In that of Babylonian exiles, the victims of oppression and wrong, it would be most extraordinary. Thou God of my salvation (comp. Psalms 18:46 ; Psalms 25:5 ; Psalms 27:9 : Psalms 88:1 , etc.). And my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. In further acknowledgment of God's goodness, and as, in some sort, a return for it, David will employ himself in singing the praises of God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:15

O Lord (not Jehovah , but Adonai ), open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. A sense of his guilt has long kept the psalmist's lips closed. Let his sins be forgiven, and his conscience relieved, then praise and thanksgiving will flow from his mouth freely and copiously. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:16

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. If there had been any sacrifices which God desired or required for such offences as adultery and murder, David would have willingly offered them. But there were none. As Hammond observes, "The Mosaical Law allows no reconciliation, no sacrifice, for such sins." Thou delightest not in burnt offering. In the mere act of sacrifice—the untimely slaying of his own creatures—God could at no time have had any pleasure. His satisfaction... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God; i.e. the sacrifices which God really values and desires. Are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. "The contrite heart," says Hengstenberg, "denotes deep but soft and mild distress." It sets up no wild shriekings, no howls, like those of Oriental fanatics. But it nourishes a sorrow that is deep and persistent. The joy on account of forgiveness and restoration to favour does not exclude continued pain on account of past... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:13-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:17

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