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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 51:1-6

The title has reference to a very sad story, that of David's fall. But, though he fell, he was not utterly cast down, for God graciously upheld him and raised him up. 1. The sin which, in this psalm, he laments, was the folly and wickedness he committed with his neighbour's wife, a sin not to be spoken of, nor thought of, without detestation. His debauching of Bathsheba was the inlet to all the other sins that followed; it was as the letting forth of water. This sin of David's is recorded for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 51:7-13

I. See here what David prays for. Many excellent petitions he here puts up, to which if we do but add, ?for Christ's sake,? they are as evangelical as any other. 1. He prays that God would cleanse him from his sins and the defilement he had contracted by them (Ps. 51:7): ?Purge me with hyssop; that is, pardon my sins, and let me know that they are pardoned, that I may be restored to those privileges which by sin I have forfeited and lost.? The expression here alludes to a ceremonial... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:1

Have mercy upon me, O God ,.... David, under a sense of sin, does not run away from God, but applies unto him, and casts himself at his feet, and upon his mercy; which shows the view he had of his miserable condition, and that he saw there was mercy in God, which gave him hope; and upon his bended knees, and in the exercise of faith, he asks for it; according to thy lovingkindness ; not according to his merits, nor according to the general mercy of God, which carnal men rely upon; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:2

Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity ,.... Which supposes defilement by sin, and that very great, and such as none can remove but the Lord himself; who, when he takes it in hand, does it effectually and thoroughly; see Ezekiel 36:25 . David's sin had long lain upon him, the faith of it had as it were eaten into him, and spread itself over him, and therefore he needed much washing: "wash me much", all over, and thoroughly: and cleanse me from my sin : which only the blood of Christ can... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:3

For I acknowledge my transgressions ,.... Before God and man. Acknowledgment of sin is what the Lord requires, and promises forgiveness upon, and therefore is used here as a plea for it; and moreover the psalmist had done so before, and had succeeded in this way, which must encourage him to take the same course again; see Psalm 32:5 ; and my sin is ever before me ; staring him in the face; gnawing upon his conscience, and filling him with remorse and distress; so that his life was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:4

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned ,.... All sin, though committed against a fellow creature, being a transgression of the law, is against the lawgiver; and, indeed, begins at the neglect or contempt of his commandment, as David's sin did, 2 Samuel 12:9 ; and being committed against God, that had bestowed so many favours upon him, was a cutting consideration to him, which made his sorrow appear to be of a godly sort; wherefore he makes his humble and hearty confession to the Lord, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:5

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity ,.... This cannot be understood of any personal iniquity of his immediate parents; since this respects his wonderful formation in the womb, in which both he and they were wholly passive, as the word here used is of that form; and is the amazing work of God himself, so much admired by the psalmist, Psalm 139:13 ; and cannot design any sinfulness then infused into him by his Maker, seeing God cannot be the author of sin; but of original sin and corruption,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:6

Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts ,.... With delight and pleasure, as the word F4 חפצת "delectaris", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "delectatus es", Cocceius; so Ainsworth. signifies: meaning either Christ, the truth and the life, formed and dwelling in the hearts of his people; or the Gospel, the word of truth, which has a place there; and particularly that branch of it which proclaims pardon to sensible sinners, and is the ground of hope within them: or else a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:7

Purge me with hyssop ,.... Or "thou shalt purge me with hyssop" F6 תחטאני "purificabis me", Pagninus, Montanus; "exiabis me", Vatablus, Musculus, Cocceius, Gejerus. ; or "expiate me"; which was used in sprinkling the blood of the paschal lamb on the door posts of the Israelites in Egypt, that the destroying angel might pass over them, Exodus 12:22 ; and in the cleansing of the leper, Leviticus 14:4 ; and in the purification of one that was unclean by the touch of a dead body,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:8

Make me to hear joy and gladness ,.... Which he had not heard for some time; sin had sadly broke in upon and interrupted his spiritual peace and joy; for though the love and favour of God cannot be lost, yet his sensible presence, which puts joy and gladness into the heart, may; and though an interest in Christ ever continues, and union to him is always the same; yet a view of interest in him, which fills with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and communion with him, may not be had for a... read more

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