Psalm 51

This past Friday I had the priviledge of attending and preaching at the First Friday Sing at Tree Lake. It's basically an open mic gospel jam. To say I was the youngest one there would be an understatement. I had such a blast spending time with some of my (much)older brothers and sisters in Christ. I think we in the Church would do well to purpose ourselves to spend more time with other generations, younger and older. But that is a whole other message.

What is below is a slightly more fleshed out copy of the sermon notes for my message that night out of Psalm 51.

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My intention and purpose is to point towards God's praise worthy character, namely His Compassion and Living-Kindness. However, to get there, we need take a look at the sin and darkness in our own lives. We are going to contrast the Light and the Grace of God to the sin and the darkness in our hearts. Like a jeweler lays a diamond on a black velvet background, the darkness and sin in our hearts serve as a backdrop to make God's Grace and Mercy, his Compassion and Kindness, shine that much more clearly.

When we do not have a complete understanding of the awesome seriousness of sin, we cannot fully understand the greatness and magnificence of God's Grace.

We will be taking a look at Psalm 51, which was written following David's actions with Bathsheba which is recorded in 2 Samuel 11.

David is lazing about the palace while his army is at war, and he looks out over the city and sees Bathsheba. He sends for her, commits adultery with her, and she ends up pregnant as a result. He sends for her husband, Uriah, who is at war, hoping to pass the child off as legitimate. But Uriah is honorable and refuses to go home to his wife while his comrades are at war. So David sends Uriah on a suicide mission and marries Bathsheba once Uriah is dead.

In chapter 12, Nathan the prophet confronts David who is then repentant, and that sets the stage for what he is going through or has gone through as he writes Psalm 51.

There are several things we see at work in David's heart that apply to us as we wrestle with our own sin and need for grace.

Corrupt From Within

In verse 5 David acknowledges that the sinfulness in him, the same sinfulness that is in us, is his by nature of his birth. He was “brought forth in iniquity” and “conceived in sin”. This is not saying that he was illegitimate or that his mother had an affair. What David is saying is that the sinful nature that led him astray into the sinful deeds is something found within him, received from birth. It is an inherited trait which we all share.

In 1 Corinthians Paul reminds us that through one man, Adam, sin entered the world. We, like David, inherit from Adam a nature that is naturally broken, corrupt and fallen. Pride and selfishness are our instinctual reactions and motivations.

We come in to this world with a natural desire for selfish gain and selfish fulfillment. That plays itself out differently for each one of us and to varying degrees, but that selfish bent is there in everyone.

Sin is Against God

In verse 4 David proclaims that it is against ONLY God that He has sinned. By doing what is wrong in the sight of God. Yes, there was tragic damage done to Bathsheba, Uriah, and the nation of Israel. But the ultimate wrong was done against a Holy and Righteous God. When someone sins, the greater offense is committed against God.

If a man assaults you and robs you then, while escaping, runs a stop sign, which is the greater offense? Is it likely that anyone would even consider the traffic violation? Likely it would be chalked up to a bi-product of the assault and robbery. In that same way, we may cause offenses against other people in the process of our sin, but ultimately it is against God that we have sinned. The very definition of SIN is that it is an offense against God.

There are earthly effects, earthly damages, and earthly consequences, but the law we have violated and stand in judgment for is the Law of God.

God is Right to Punish Sinners

David continues in verse 4 to explain that God is right to punish sinners.

“You are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge.”

Because the sinful act is committed against God, sinners are criminals under His Law. They are His creation, standing in rebellion against a loving, Holy and Righteous Creator, and He is right and Just to punish sinners.

But that does not just apply to the “bad people”.

Be Aware of Your Own Sin

Remember, we are just like David, born into sin. And like David, we need to call on God for His mercy, but before we can do that, we have to also understand our sin. In verse 3 David proclaims, “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”

We do not need to set aside our sin and our transgressions. Make yourselves aware of the depth of your own depravity. Let your heart be broken for what breaks God's.

Because it is against THAT backdrop and awareness of the severity of your own sin that you look up and God's Grace and Mercy and Compassion shine all the brighter. His Love is that much clearer.

When we realize the fullness of our sin and fallenness, we realize that there is nothing we can do to be good enough to overcome it. And only God's Mercy and Grace can deliver us.

Deliverance is a Result of God's Grace,

It’s not our actions: v1, “Be gracious TO ME” v2 “Wash me”, “cleanse me”, v7 “Purify me”, “wash me”, v14 “deliver me”

By definition, Grace is unmerited favor. NONE of these are things that we can do to ourselves, ONLY GOD can do them to us. We simply receive them.

David is not saying that because He's sorry God should forgive him. He is admitting that he is a wretched, sinful man, INCAPABLE of earning forgiveness and so instead he throws himself on the mercy of God know that restoration comes only from God. And like David, we too plead with a humble heart for God's restoring Mercy.

Verses 10-12 , where David calls out to God, pleading for forgiveness that he knows only God can give, are some very well known verses. A fairly popular praise song is taken from these verses.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit.”

It is only by God, through Christ, that we receive a renewed spirit and new life. It is through His cleansing, His renewing, His spirit, His presence, His joy, His salvation, and His sustaining and willing spirit that we walk in new life. It's all about HIM.

His Grace.

His Glory.

Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by Grace that we have been saved through faith”

Who's grace? God's Grace. God's unearned, undeserved Grace. Not by any works we did (verse 9). But by His glorious, amazing, and all forgiving Grace.

But apart from the depths of our sinfulness, we would not fully comprehend the glory of His grace.

Take a look at Romans 5:19-21

“Through one man's disobedience many were made sinners” … that's Adam. Remember, we are all sinners by virtue of being Adam's descendents. We inherited a broken, corrupt nature. (thanks a lot!)

“Through the obedience to The One many will be made righteous.” … That's Jesus. We sinned through Adam but are made righteous thought Christ's death burial and resurrection. A gift of God received by repentance and faith.

“but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” ….. there it is. The Glory of God shown through in the awesome and amazing Grace shone to undeserving sinners.

Check out Romans 5:6-8.

God Showed His love by dying for unworthy sinners.

Back to Psalm 51

But God doesn't just receive Glory from those He has saved. The very act of His saving shows His love and His Grace.

Verse 13 … “I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will be converted to you.”

People look on and they see our sin and the measure of forgiveness we received and God is glorified. He uses the example of His kindness and Mercy shown to us to draw others to Himself.

And His Glory spreads.

In Verses 14-15, David proclaims that because of this love and grace that he will “joyfully sing of [God’s] righteousness” and “declare [God’s] praise”.

When we admit and take responsibility for our sin, we allow it to be the dark backdrop against which God’s Grace and Mercy and Love shines all the more brightly.