Psalm 51:10

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 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God ,.... Which was now defiled with sin, and of which being convinced, he was led more and more to see the impurity of his heart and nature, from which all his evil actions flowed; and being sensible that he could not make his heart clean himself, and that this was the work of God, and a work which required creating power, he entreats it of him: for as the first work of conversion is no other than a creation, or a production of something new, which was not... 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

The psalm consists of an opening strophe, extending to four verses, which is an earnest prayer for mercy and forgiveness ( Psalms 51:1-4 ); a second strophe, of eight verses, which is an entreaty for restoration and renewal ( Psalms 51:5-12 ); a third strophe, of five verses, setting forth the return which the psalmist will make, if he is forgiven and restored ( Psalms 51:13-17 ); and a conclusion, in two verses, praying for God's blessing on the people, and promising an ample return... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:1-19

This might be called The minister's psalm. We may imagine the servant of the Lord engaged in devout meditation. He looks before and after. He communes with himself as to his life and work. The deepest thoughts of his heart are revealed. I. EVER - GROWING SENSE OF THE EVIL OF SIN . Sin is thought of in the abstract, and its badness is seen. It is looked at in the world, in society, in the Church, and more and more its evils are discerned. But worst of all, it is felt... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:5-12

The prayer now makes a stride in advance. It has been hitherto for the first step in justification—the wiping out of past transgressions. It is now for restoration, for a renewal of spiritual life, for a return to God's favour, and to the spiritual joy involved in it. First, however, an additional confession is made ( Psalms 51:5 , Psalms 51:6 ). Not only have I committed acts of sin ( Psalms 51:1-4 ), but sin is thoroughly ingrained into my nature. I was conceived in it; I was brought... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:9-12

Renewal and elevation. True repentance is not satisfied with the knowledge of forgiveness, but goes on to seek the renewal and elevation of the nature that has sinned and fallen into disorder. I. HE SEEKS A NEW REVELATION OF THE FORCE OR FAVOUR OF GOD . ( Psalms 51:9 .) "Do not look upon me in anger for my sins, so as to bring me into judgment, but lift upon me the glory of thy face, or presence." And to this end— II. " CREATE IN ME A PURE HEART , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God ; i.e. do more than purify me—do more than cleanse me ( Psalms 51:7 ); by an act of creative power ( בּרא ) make in me a new clean heart. Compare the Christian doctrine of the "new birth" and "new life." And renew a right spirit within me. "Heart" and "spirit" are used interchangeably for the inward essence of man; but, as Professor Cheyne observes, "Heart emphasizes the individual side of a man's life; spirit, its Divine, or at least... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 51:10

Prayer for a pure heart. "Create in me," etc. Human life belongs to two different worlds, distinct, yet inseparably interwoven—the world of outward nature, and the world of inward experience. Since this psalm was written, amazing changes have passed on outward nature in relation to man's life; but the world of inward experience is substantially unchanged. Even within half a century or less, human labour, discovery, and invention have so modified our relations to the globe we inhabit, and... read more

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