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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 51:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 51:9

Hide thy face from my sins ,.... In whose sight they were committed, being now ashamed of them himself, and ashamed that any should see them, and especially his God; and being filthy and nauseous, he knew they must be abominable to him, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; and being breaches of his law, must be offensive to him, and provoke the eyes of his glory; and were such that he knew would not bear the examination of justice; and that if God was strict to mark them, he could... 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 51:8

Make me to hear joy - Let me have a full testimony of my reconciliation to thee; that the soul, which is so deeply distressed by a sense of thy displeasure, may be healed by a sense of thy pardoning mercy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 51:9

Hide thy face from my sins - The sentiment here is nearly the same as that in Psalm 51:3 ; : His sin was ever before his own face; and he knew that the eye of God was constantly upon him, and that his purity and justice must be highly incensed on the account. He therefore, with a just horror of his transgressions, begs God to turn away his face from them, and to blot them out, so that they may never more be seen. See the note on Psalm 51:1 ; (note). 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 51:1-8

Repentance and forgiveness. Some deny the Davidic origin of this psalm; but most refer it to the time when Nathan charged David with the sins of adultery and murder. In these verses we have set forth the nature of forgiveness , and the nature of repentance. I. PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS . 1 . Forgiveness is the inward and outward cleansing from sin. It is blotting out a record or a debt that is against us—that is, the outward cleansing. And it is a washing , or ... 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

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