ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Psalms 51

Psalm Ps. 51. This is probably the best known of the “Penitential Psalms” (Psalms 6; 25; 32; 38; 51; 130; 143). According to the title, David composed this psalm after being convicted of his sins, both in committing adultery with Bathsheba and in arranging the murder of Bathsheba’s husband (2 Sam. 12:1–14). At the same time, this is more than David’s personal prayer. It also encourages the worshiping congregation to confess their own sins (e.g., Ps. 51:16–19).

Ps. 51:1–2 The terms mercy and steadfast love, as well as transgressions, iniquity, and sin, focus on God’s grace and kindness, echoing Ex. 34:6–7. The terms wash (see Ex. 19:10) and cleanse (see Num. 19:19) come from the ceremonial system, where they refer to rites that allow a person to come safely into God’s presence.

Ps. 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned. Of course, in doing wrong he has hurt others, but God is the ultimate judge of all sin.

Ps. 51:5 in sin did my mother conceive me. Each worshiper can trace his sinful tendencies to the very beginning of his existence—not only from birth but even from before that, to conception.

Ps. 51:6–13 One who is repentant craves a fresh sense of God’s presence (vv. 8–9, 11), a deeper purification of the moral life (vv. 6, 10, 12), and a credible witness to the unfaithful (v. 13). The focus is on the inmost self, from which obedient actions flow: inward being, secret heart (v. 6); clean heart, right spirit (v. 10). The goal of this confession is not humiliation but a renewal of joy and gladness (v. 8) in God’s presence.

Ps. 51:9 Usually when God is said to hide his face from someone, it means that he will no longer look upon that person with favor (see 13:1; 22:24; 27:9; Deut. 31:17; 32:20; Isa. 59:2). Here the singer asks God no longer to look upon his sins. To blot out (see Ps. 51:1) is to remove completely from the record book; see Ex. 32:32.

Ps. 51:11 take not your Holy Spirit from me. Some scholars argue that here David asks God not to remove the divine anointing for kingship (compare note on 1 Sam. 16:14). But the whole tone of this psalm is that all persons are sinners and need God’s mercy. The psalm intends to keep the entire congregation from ever presuming on God’s grace. It does not teach that believers may in fact lose the Holy Spirit.

Ps. 51:14–17 Terms in this section such as sing aloud, declare, and sacrifice point to activities of public worship. The person who has used this psalm to confess sins and to receive God’s assurance of pardon is the one who can genuinely worship the gracious God of the covenant.

Ps. 51:14 bloodguiltiness. Probably a reference to the slaying of Uriah (see 2 Sam. 12:9). The faithful may not have committed this particular sin, but they should be encouraged by God’s forgiveness of it. If God can forgive David, he can certainly forgive anyone else!

Ps. 51:16–17 sacrifice, burnt offering. These verses do not deny that the Israelites should offer sacrifices (see v. 19). Instead, they emphasize the proper attitude when offering sacrifices (a broken and contrite heart).