Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Psalm 51

Psa 51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Bible prayers (O.T.). Isa 37:15. (Gen 15:2; Hab 3:1-16.)

This Psalm must ever be, in its successive steps, the mould of the experience of a sinning saint who comes back to full communion and service. The steps are:

1. sin thoroughly judged before God (Psa 51:1-6);
2. forgiveness and cleansing through the blood (Psa 51:7, f.c.);
3. cleansing (Psa 51:7-10. Cf. Jhn 13:4-10; Eph 5:26; 1Jo 1:9);
4. Spirit-filled for joy and power (Psa 51:11, 12);
5. service (Psa 51:13);
6. worship (Psa 51:14-17);
7. the restored saint in fellowship with God, not about self, but about the blessing of Zion. Personally, it was David's pathway to restored communion after his sin with Bathsheba. Dispensationally, it will be the pathway of returning Israel (Scofield Deu 30:1-10, refs.).

Psa 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

mightest be justified

Rom 3:4.

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

I was shapen in iniquity

Psa 58:3; Job 14:4; Jhn 3:6; Rom 5:12; Eph 2:3.

in sin

Job 14:4.

conceive me

Heb. warm me.

Psa 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Purge me with hyssop

Lev 14:4, 6, 49; Num 19:18; Heb 9:19.

Hyssop was the little shrub (1Ki 4:33) with which the blood and water of purification were applied (Lev 14:1-7; Num 19:1-19).

Cleansing in Scripture is twofold:

1. Of a sinner from the guilt of sin; the blood ("hyssop") aspect;
2. of a saint from the defilement of sin-the water ("wash me") aspect.

Under grace the sinner is purged by blood when he believes (Mat 26:28; Heb 1:3; 9:12; 10:14). Both aspects of cleansing, by blood and by water, are brought out in Jhn 13:10, and Eph 5:25, 26: "He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet"; "Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it [redemption by blood, "hyssop," the "bath"] that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word": answering to the "wash me" of Psa 51:7.

whiter than snow

Isa 1:18.

Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

may rejoice

Mat 5:4.

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Create in me a clean heart

Act 15:9; Eph 2:10.

Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

take not thy holy spirit from me

No believer of this dispensation, aware of the promise of His abiding (Jhn 14:16), should pray, "take not Thy Holy Spirit from me" (Eph 4:30); but, while Christian position is not found here, Christian experience in essence is.

Holy Spirit. Psa 51:11, 12; Psa 139:7. (Gen 1:2; Mal 2:15.)

Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

free spirit

2Co 3:17.

Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

a broken and a contrite heart

Psa 34:18; Isa 57:15; 66:2.

Psa 51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

sacrifices of righteousness

Psa 4:5; Mal 3:3.