By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph.D.
Dean, Office for Global Engagement, University of Mobile
THE CONFESSION
Psalm 51:1–17
Our psalm this week offers an intimate view of a compromised man and his covenant God. The superscription provides a context for this confession. Specifically the psalm corresponds with the events of 2 Samuel 12, when the prophet Nathan confronted King David about his adultery with Bathsheba and his conspiracy with Joab to make sure Uriah died in battle.
For nearly a year, David had gotten away with murder. The king’s invitation to take in the mourning widow of a fallen general may have seemed like a magnanimous gesture to the community, but David and God knew the truth of all that had transpired.
In the fullness of time, after Bathsheba had born her first son with David, God informed Nathan and directed him to confront the king. Nathan utilized an indirect, storytelling method to capture David’s attention. Once he drew the shepherd-king into the story about sheep the prophet then confronted David directly with his guilt and God’s judgment upon David’s son. Within this context, we turn to this 3,000-year-old confession of sin.
Guilty as Charged (1–5)
As we read the initial words of the song, let us be mindful that David confessed his sin in light of God’s character. Here we must consider God’s self-revelation to Moses at Mount Sinai when He characterizes Himself as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and forgiving.
God also is just and He visits the sins of the fathers on their children (Ex. 34:6–7). Note how David calls for God to be who He revealed Himself to be. David knew the death of his son was God’s justice. God never acts unjustly.
As a man after God’s own heart, David knew the attributes of God and he appealed to them. David, however, did not presume upon the grace of God. He freely admitted his sin, called it evil, confessed God’s justice and His blamelessness. He knew the depravity of his own heart, that from the moment of conception he inherited a sin nature (v. 5).
Here we learn an important lesson. God is God and we owe Him our allegiance, our obedience and our complete surrender. In the midst of our sin, when a loving brother or sister confronts us to bring us to repentance and reconciliation, we must not forget that God never stops being holy, righteous, just, perfect and pure. When we do not measure up to God’s perfect standard, we are in the wrong — not God.
Plea for Cleansing (6–13)
The song continues with David’s confession of his own inability to cleanse himself of guilt and shame. He also confesses God’s unique ability to create (bara’) a clean heart for David. The king pled for God to teach him, to purify him, to wash him and to allow him to rejoice. He was fully aware of the shame he had brought to God — hearkening back to verse 4 — and it was right for God to turn away in shame over David’s sin.
We too must call upon the Lord for our cleansing. In Christ, we have the promise that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Deliverance through Brokenness (14–17)
God is impressed by neither the amount of our wealth nor the size of our sacrifice. In His presence He expects humility (v. 17) and integrity (v. 6) in our worship. He is Spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
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