PENITENTIAL PSALMS (Ps. 50-52)

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!” -Psalm 51:1-2

CHAPTER OF THE WEEK: Psalm 51 You can read it every day or just once, pray it, meditate on it, talk about it, or find other resources about it.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 51:1-2 You can memorize it, read it every day or just once, pray it, meditate on it, talk about it, or find other resources about it.

ON THE LOOKOUT: Over the next few months, we’ll be taking a look at the different categories of the Psalms. There are all sorts of categories and themes in Psalms. Keep looking for attributes of God, but add to your list looking for the theme of the week.

RESOURCE OF THE WEEK: “Psalm 51 Sermon” preached by Raudel Hernandez YouTube link

SONG OF THE WEEK: “Psalm 51” by Res Pres Music YouTube link, Spotify link.

PLAYLIST FOR THE WEEK: Here is a playlist with songs from Psalm 50-52 YouTube link, Spotify link.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK: As you read Scripture this week, see if you can categorize or find themes in the passages. Especially look for verses about repentance.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “How can he [David] say that [he has only sinned against God] when he has killed someone? It is because sin is like treason. If you try to overthrow your own country you may harm or kill individuals in the process, but you will be tried for treason because you have betrayed the entire country that nurtured you. So every sin is cosmic treason – it is overthrowing the rule of the One to whom you owe everything.” – from The Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller

THOUGHTS On Ps. 50-52

God’s timing really is perfect. Life has been so busy that I’ve been able to keep doing the monthly reading of Psalms but the weekly blog posts have been few and far between. Part of it was because the Zion Psalms were so difficult and I definitely dragged my feet on writing that post, but now I know part of the delay is because writing a post about the Penitential Psalms now would have much deeper meaning. There are traditionally 7 Penitential Psalms: Ps. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143. The word “penitential” has to do with confession of sins and seeking repentance.

Recently, my church’s head pastor of 15 plus years resigned due to committing adultery for the past 3 years. It was shocking. None of the other pastors or anyone on the elder board knew this had been going on. The disappointment and sorrow experienced in church on that Sunday at this announcement felt tangible. Sin cut deep. The elder board wisely changed our typical service and the message examined all the possible feelings we could be going through and what the Bible says about those feelings. The book of Psalms was quoted a lot. We ended the service with communion. I think being so brutally reminded that no one is above sin brought a greater realization of how tragic and terrible our own sin is. How great the sacrifice of Christ! How deep the love of our Savior! To take the place of such wretched sinners is unfathomable, yet it is Jesus’ reality.

I had already spent lots of time reviewing Psalm 51, but reading it over and over now, it was still hard to find the words to write for this post. Psalm 51 is the quintessential penitential psalm. It was David’s prayer of repentance after he had an affair with Bathsheba and murdered her husband Uriah. This wasn’t the day after Uriah was killed either. No, this was months later when Nathan confronted David. He probably thought he had gotten away with it. But you can’t escape the judgment of God.

In this Psalm, David admits his sin (vs. 3-4) and pleads with God for forgiveness (vs. 1-2). He gives no excuses on his part. He appeals to God’s love and mercy. He knows there is nothing he can do to earn back God’s favor. In the Old Testament law, there are no sacrifices that can be given to appease the sins of adultery and murder: “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering” (vs. 16). The only option was execution. David deserved death for his sins. 

But there is hope in the next verse: “The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” I can’t help but think of this verse in light of the chapter before 51. In Psalm 50, God speaks. God gathers His people and judges them. God makes it clear that He has no need for sacrifices of bulls and goats. Unlike the pagans surrounding the Israelites, God does not need food to eat; He is not like us either. But, God says to “offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High” (50:14) and “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (50:23). James Montgomery Boice in his commentary on the Psalms points out that in this passage there is no emphasis on faith connected with a person’s sacrifice, but thankfulness because it emphasizes God’s work not our own. If we repent in humility, recognizing the only way to be forgiven is through God’s work, we can respond with thankfulness to His salvation.

If we humble ourselves and repent, God is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). We are all given equal opportunity to be forgiven no matter the sin. But that does not mean we will escape the consequences of sin. David had a pretty miserable life after his sins concerning Bathsheba and Uriah. The child dies. A son rapes his half sister, a daughter of David. The daughter’s brother kills the rapist. David’s kingdom is overthrown by his son and he has to flee the city as he is cursed. His concubines are raped by his son. His son is killed. There is another rebellion and then war with the Philistines. He sins by taking a census and 70,000 people died because of him. And even on his death bed the kingdom is in turmoil as the wrong son tries to become king and some of David’s most trusted men betray him and support the wrong king. Our former pastor will not escape the consequences of his sin. You and I will not escape the consequences of our sin.

David accepts the consequences in Psalm 51. The only thing he desires is restoration with God. Take a look at his requests in this chapter:

• Have mercy on me (vs. 1)
• Blot out my transgressions (vs. 1)
• Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity (vs. 2)
• Cleanse me from my sin (vs. 2)
• Purge me with hyssop (vs. 7)
• Wash me (vs. 7)
• Let me hear joy and gladness (vs. 8)
• Let the bones that you have broken rejoice (vs. 8)
• Hide your face from my sins (vs. 9)
• Blot out all my iniquities (vs. 9)
• Create in me a clean heart (vs. 10)
• Renew a right spirit within me (vs. 10)
• Cast me not away from your presence (vs. 11)
• Take not your Holy Spirit from me (vs. 11)
• Restore to me the joy of your salvation (vs. 12)
• Uphold me with a willing spirit (vs. 12)
• Deliver me from bloodguiltiness (vs. 14)
• Open my lips (vs. 15)
• Do good to Zion (vs. 18)
• Build up the walls of Jerusalem (vs. 18)

The majority of these requests are pleas to restore his relationship with God. And then he ends with requesting good for the others he has let down. It’s one thing to be a farmer and sin. It’s another thing to be a prominent leader and sin. Though the sin is equal, the consequences are far further reaching.

Some final reflections. We cannot be perfect this side of heaven, but are there things we can be doing to avoid falling into these far reaching sins or help others? Always.

We should make a habit of confession. I’m not talking about going to a priest to gain favor with God, but each day we should spend some time examining our lives in light of Scripture and pray to God in repentance. We should know the Word of God. Not sure if an area in your life is sin? The Bible has an answer for that. We should have some accountability. You should find at least one person you are comfortable sharing and growing with. Someone who will be able to tell you hard truths from the Bible and you’ll actually listen. We should pray for our leaders. They are not above temptations and are under immense spiritual attack. It should be our joy to pray for them daily. Not sure where to start? Consider reading and praying one penitential Psalm a day for a week. There are 7 of them so it should be easy to do one a day. Check out more resources below.

CONFESSION – what is confession and why even Christians need it.

HOUSE CLEANING – making a habit of confessing

FOOTPRINTS IN THE MIND – establishing good mental habits to avoid bitterness towards others or being to absorbed by our own guilt.

TRUE REPENTANCE – A look between Saul and David at the different responses to sin and confession

RESPECTABLE SINS – Book Review of Jerry Bridges’ book , Respectable Sins