Ps 42:1-11, Emotions and Intellect are both created by God for our good

• Some Hebrew manuscripts group Ps 42 and 43 together. They both share the same refrain (42:5, 11, and 43:5)
• The Psalm is attributed to the sons of Korah, who were musicians. Their patriarch died in a rebellion in the desert (Num 26:10-11). David later appointed them as musicians (1 Chron 6:31-48 -- specifically 31 and 37). For the latter reason, some think David wrote it and the sons of Korah put it to music (but scripture doesn't say and we won't go beyond scripture)
• Psalms are scripture. But they differ slightly and this affects our rules of interpretation (hermeneutics). What are those differences?
• True: accurate picture of the heart and emotions of the psalmist
• Poetry, so they are heavy in imagery
• => Consequently, the raw honest emotion and the imagery can create some very strong pictures. Psalms are great when you are suffering, because they can relate to your pain


Psalm 42:1–4 (ESV) —
1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.


• We haven't read the rest of the psalm or the sister psalm 43, but what appears to be the situation?
• Exhausted
• Most likely physical enemies (probably not Saul, unless it is a flashback)
• Could be one of the times David was cast out by one of his sons and chased down. Although he wasn't necessarily physically exhausted then, more like emotionally exhausted
• What is the imagery?
• Deer being chased down, running and running, and now thirsty
• Is the exhaustion, physical or emotional and what is the evidence? Emotional
• Tears
• Questioning God's presence
• Remembering the good old days
• The tabernacle rested at Shiloh for many years, and even though David did not build a temple, David relocated the tabernacle to Jerusalem
• Words seem to suggest that the Psalmist is cast out of Jerusalem
• APPLICATION: This is very real and very normal response to suffering. It is not evidence of the lack of faith. In fact, it is the evidence of faith


Psalm 42:5–6a (ESV) —
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation 6 and my God.


• Also, this is the exact same as verse 11
• What does it appear is happening here in the mind of the Psalmist?
• He is questioning his questioning
• He is honest with his pain -- he is in turmoil
• He is reminding himself of truth
• He is reminding himself of his proper response
• What is the proper response? (4 Elements)
1. Hope in God
2. I shall again praise him
3. He is my salvation (probably in the physical sense)
4. He is my God
• Why is this important? And what is really happening here?
• The psalmist is responding to his heart (emotion) with his mind (intellect)
• Both responses are correct and both responses are necessary
• APPLICATION: The stoic response to crisis is not necessarily spiritual. But wallowing in your pain and hurt is not spiritual either. We do need to verbalize and recognize our pain, and then we do need to answer it with truth


Psalm 42:6b–7 (ESV) —
6 … My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.


• After the refrain, The psalmists returns to his suffering. What is his focus?
• Two truths and the reality of the pain
• One) he was hurting down deep
• Two) he needed to remember God (and not just his pain)
• Three) the waves have swamped him
• The psalmist calls them "your waters, … your breakers, … your waves"
• He is acknowledging God's sovereignty
• Not that God caused them
• But God has allowed them
• He is acknowledging that God is still in charge
• (and for the NT believer) God will bring good out of pain
• APPLICATION: Admit the pain, admit the hurt, acknowledge his control, believe that he can bring good


Psalm 42:8–10 (ESV) —
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”


• The psalmist shares his prayer
• It is honest and open with God
• He asks the "why" questions
• He asks the feeling questions -- I feel forgotten
• He asks the fairness questions -- I am mourning because of my enemy
• He asks the bitter questions -- my enemies wounds hurt, and he taunts me, and he taunts my God
• This leads then to the refrain -- the response of emotion and intellect in harmony
• APPLICATION: As Christians we want to go to one extreme or the other. God wants us to be honest in our relationship with him

Ps 141:1-10, David's Model Prayer

Psalm 141:1–2 (ESV) —
1 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!


• As background, there was an evening offering (approx 3pm or the 9th hour). I'm not completely sure about the incense as it relates to timing since it was continually burning in the Most Holy Place
• In Revelation, it is describe in two ways, one as the prayers of the saints and the other as "with" the prayers of the saints
• Revelation 5:8 (ESV) — 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
• Revelation 8:3–4 (ESV) — 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
• It occurs 11 time as fragrant incense in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers
• A pleasing aroma is usually in reference to a burnt offering (food)
• David wants his prayer to be counted as incense to God, and his lifting up of his hands to be counted as the evening sacrifice, why?
• There were pleasing and aromatic -- God desires it
• Both went upwards -- it was not about himself but about God
• David also desire two other things regarding his prayer
• Heard
• Answered quickly
• I think we can all relate to the desire for a quick response to our prayer. But what does the word really mean?
• (LOOK UP WORD) The Hebrew word used here for hasten only occurs three times in scripture. It is also used: to enjoy, be delighted, to be painful, to take notice
• So how might we define what David is saying?
• "I want to please you so much with my request that you will quickly answer it--I want it to be what you desire"
• Sounds a little like Jesus' example of prayer, "thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" -- how could God not want that
• In which case, his prayer might not been as self-seeking as it sounds at first
• In looking to God for answers, we must remember that he sees more than we do …
• 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
• And our earthly home is not the ultimate goal. These verses immediately follow the verses just read …
• 2 Corinthians 5:1–9 (ESV) — 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. // 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
• APPLICATION: God desires a deep relationship with us. Prayer is like incense, even more so when we begin to get his vision for the world upon our soul


Psalm 141:3–4 (ESV) —
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!


• David prays for three things here. What are they and how do you know if it is a problem in your life?
• I think we probably all struggle with these things to some degree
• First, our speech. Do we cuss? Do we tear people down or build them up? Do we gossip or edify others (you can gossip about your struggles and what the Lord is teaching you)?
• Second, our thought life. Thoughts usually lead to action. Also, what we dream upon is a good indicator of our thought life as well. Would you want someone close to you to be able to read your mind?
• Third, what company do I keep? There are a lot of things that look good and tasty, but are wrong or build a spirit of covetousness
• These are the types of prayers that do please God, why?
• Because they are focused on our holiness
• These are very much aligned with God's will. He want us to be more like the savior
• APPLICATION: What are the things I pray for myself?


Psalm 141:5–7 (ESV) —
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.


• Verse 5 is tough for any sane person to pray. None of us like rebuke. Nowadays, people won't even let you rebuke or even verbally discipline their children. What is David's prayer about rebuke?
• That he would see it as a good thing
• That he would not refuse it
• APPLICATION: Can any of us say that? Why? Because we seldom think that we are wrong
• APPLICATION: The other day I was challenged to rebuke a good friend of mine. I knew the person was right but I had avoided the idea. So, it is hard both to rebuke and to receive rebuke (although receiving is harder)
• Funny thing about rebuke -- the only person we ever feel comfortable rebuking are the people we feel closest to, like our spouse or children. Why is that?
• One, we really want the best for our family
• Two, we don't believe a confrontation will ruin a lifetime of love (although that is not always true)
• How does the discussion of judges fit within the context?
• There is this constant allusion to evil men in the background. David switches back and forth between the groups as if they are both present at the same time
• Some people's jobs are essentially rebuking behavior. A judge is expected to rebuke evil
• Judges are a special class of leadership. In the church, the elders will find themselves in the role of judges
• In secular society, judge don't make the laws -- at least they are not supposed to -- their job is to ensure that the laws are obeyed
• What is David saying about judges?
• Apparently, an attacking Army would throw the judges of the enemy over the cliff to destroy them (it is a way to eliminate the leadership of the country)
• At some point, they will be judged. Once again, David takes an eternal view rather than a temporal view to life, arguing that once dead, the judges would realize the truth of David's words
• And as one turns a field over to plow, so they will turn and see things differently, but it will be too late
• APPLICATION: We live in a culture that is increasingly neurotic. Arguments are based on emotion or ad hominem attacks (as if a person's lifestyle is more important than the logic of the argument). We need to take David's eternal view


Psalm 141:8–10 (ESV) —
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.


• The last part of David's prayer is also like Jesus' prayer example. How is it similar?
• Lead us not into temptation
• Deliver us from evil
• We need to recognize that we do have an enemy
• 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) — 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• 2 Timothy 4:17 (ESV) — 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
• James 4:7 (ESV) — 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) — 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
• Ephesians 4:27 (ESV) — 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
• I've said this before, the devil is not omnipresent, and so probably none of us will face him any more likely than we will shake hands and have a conversation with the president. But the enemy leads a very strong force that is attacking us through a world view opposed to a creator or the idea of God's existence. People want to ruin our witness so that they can feel good that our faith offers no answers to life. Paul told Timothy to be sober. We need to be alert
• APPLICATION: There are traps set out there. David felt it necessary to pray. This is part of a spiritual battle. We need to follows David's example

Ps 32:1-11, The tears of sin or the joyful tears of following God

Psalm 32:1–2 (ESV) —
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.


• This psalm seems to have some familiarity to some other psalms we have studied, what are they?
• Psalm 1: use of the word "Blessed" to start the psalm. What was the point of Ps 1? The closer we get to "sinners:" standing, walking, and sitting, the less likely we will enjoy blessing
• Psalm 51: as we get further in, this psalm deals with sin, shame, guilt, and forgiveness which might suggest the Bathsheba incident. But David actually had other struggles, what are they? The struggles with his children. His feigning allegiance with the Philistines. His census of Israel's strength. His anger at Abigail's husband, Nabal. The death of Uriah
• There is no evidence that this psalm was related to the Bathsheba-Uriah incident, although it could have been written after Ps 51
• Verse 1 is an example of synonymous parallelism, meaning?
• To have your transgression forgiven is the same as having your sin covered
Hebrews 9:11–14 (ESV) — 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
• Verse 2 is an example of synthetic parallelism, synthetic meaning? And verse 2 meaning?
• Synthetic means the completion or expansion of an idea; also advancing a thought. Technically, that is really parallelism, since there is an additional idea or thought added
• Blessed is a person whom / whose
• The Lord does not count iniquity (this is the idea of forgiven)
• Spirit is no deceit (this is the idea of no guilt)
• APPLICATION: Some of the problems in this world are psychological with a spiritual foundation. We need forgiveness. We need to remove our guilt
• The world's approach is to deny sin or mores
• God's approach is to respond to repentance


Psalm 32:3–4 (ESV) —
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah


• How does verses 2-3 relate to verses 3-4. The seem to be organized in strophes (pronounced stro-phe, both vowels long)
• The first strophe about blessedness or happiness
• The second strophe is the opposite effect
• Verse 3 is another synthetic parallelism. Put it in your own words -
• Silence (held my sin in) results in bones wasting away (imagery: weakness) and in groaning (imagery: internal pain)
• Many people harden themselves to the effect, but it does not take it away, it only suppresses it
• Hardening takes a toll upon our souls (our spiritual and psychological self)
• Verse 4 uses emblematic parallelism
• Emblematic compares two lines that are reliant on each other using symbols (it can be a contrast or an enhancement)
• What are the symbols? And what is the understood meaning of the imagery?
• God's hand is heavy
• Burden is pressing down
• Opposite of lightness. Carrying an extra load
• Strength dried up as in the heat of summer
• We don't recognize this as much because we live in San Antonio. But if you live in the North and then come down here in the summer, the heat literally zaps you of your strength
• This picture is of a spiritual / emotional struggle that affects a person physically
• APPLICATION: Some physical issues are the result of spiritual issues


Psalm 32:5 (ESV) —
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah


• David apparently knew the effect of unconfessed sin, and this would suggest that it is related to Bathsheba and Uriah because it is the only sin he waited so long to confess. The Philistine issue which was more of a compromise also took some time and there the result was discipline on David and his men
• The first step to spiritual healing (which may also start physical healing (if related)) is what?
• Confession
• What does confession mean?
• Verbal acknowledgment of sin to God
• Repentance (often used as well) means to turn away from the sin
1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
• APPLICATION: Repentance ought to be a regular part of our prayer life. We should immediately repent, but sometimes we have closed our heart to God's truth. I like to pray the following verse:
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV) —
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!


Psalm 32:6–7 (ESV) —
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah


• What might it mean "while you may be found" or "at a time when you may be found"?
• The simple thought is "the sooner, the better" because the danger is that the longer we wait, there is a chance that we harden our heart or that we become more entwined in the sin
• The antithetic parallelism here (in verse 6) suggests that the time is before "the greater waters reach him"
• God promises to discipline his children
Deuteronomy 8:5 (ESV) — 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.
• Verse 7 uses emblematic parallelism. I think that is why I love the song "You Are My Hiding Place"
• You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
• Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you
• I will trust in you, Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord
• I think the reason the song (about this verse) is so powerful is because it truly reflects the need and desire in our heart (and in David's)
• We are weak
• We need to trust in God (but it is hard)
• And we fail him so often, it doesn't seem like we should expect him to do anything for us


Psalm 32:8–9 (ESV) —
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.


• How do these verses fit with this other verses or strophes?
• God wants to teach us
• God wants to help us defeat sin and live the way he intended for us to live
• There are two ways to go about it -- David knew them both. What are they?
• You can listen to God 's instruction
• Requires regular time in the word of God
• Requires regular prayer time
• You can learn the hard way
• The hard way is painful (the bit)
• The hard way may force you to go to places you do not want to go
• APPLICATION: Meeting with God regularly does not just happen. It needs to be planned


Psalm 32:10–11 (ESV) —
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!


• Sometimes we incorrectly think that those who do know God seem to have life so easy. And the psalmists do complain about that in a number of psalms. The reality of life is that everyone struggles, but oftentimes we can't see the struggles that others are going through
• Walking with God will not eliminate struggles, but what can we be sure of and what does that mean to us
• God's steadfast love surrounds us
• God will never desert us
• God will bring good out of painful situations (Rom 8:28 promise to believers)
• We have a reason to shout for joy -- WE HAVE HOPE!
• APPLICATION: Thank God that he is always there and he gives us joy and hope for any situation

Ps 51, Effects of sin

• Background (9 month period of time)
• 2 Samuel 11:1 (ESV) — 1 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
• He wasn't doing what he was supposed to be doing
• He wasn't working -- God created man for work -- it is good for our soul
• Leads to an adultery opportunity
• 2 Samuel 11:4–6 (ESV) — 4 So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and she sent and told David, “I am pregnant.” // 6 So David sent word to Joab, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David.
• He tries to cover up his sins
• He abuses his authority
• Leads to murder (believing that somehow it is alright) -- sin affects our thinking (what is wrong becomes right)
• 2 Samuel 12:1–7a (ESV) — 1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” // 7a Nathan said to David, “You are the man!
• Nathan rebukes David for his sin
• At this point, David has a few choices
• Ignore
• Repent
• Cut off Nathan's head
• David was a soldier, a man of great passion, an oriental monarch with despotic power -- no king at the time would have felt any compunction to do as he does
• That doesn't diminish his sin


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


• It is easy to be very critical of David.  I doubt any of us have committed adultery or murder, but I am pretty sure most of us have lied
• Proverbs 6:16–19 (ESV) —
16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
• Notice the things that the Lord hates -- murder is one of the seven detestable  sins
• But on the same level is what else? Pride, lying, scheming, running to evil, sowing discord
• The opening statement or thesis is often times the most important.  What is David looking for?
• David needs God's mercy.  David can count on God's mercy because of God's love (some say loving kindness)
• David needs his sins taken away.  David needs God's mercy to take away his sin
• Spurgeon says the Hebrew word, chanan, translated for mercy signifies "without cause or desert" and "without paying any price" based on other uses in the OT (LOOK UP). What do you notice?
• Very first word of the Psalm (after instructions)
• David is forgiven (by asking forgiveness), but he wants more, why?
• Sin makes us feel dirty.  Some have so seared their conscience that it is covered with hardness, but it is still there
• Technically or at least as I understand it, God forgave sin, and the sacrifices covered it ceremonially, but only Jesus' death later could completely remove the stench from our bodies.  Which is probably why, all went to Hades in the OT, some to Abraham's bosom and some to the other side, and after Jesus' death, it say that Jesus led captives in his train ascending to Heaven
• He doesn't just asked to be washed, but also cleansed.  Why and what are the consequences?
• Sometimes, the things God has to do to cleanse us are very painful
• But a person who truly wants to please God will want to be cleansed
• APPLICATION:  David's sin was horrendous, but each of us don't realize how terrible our sin is as well.  Isaiah said, "woe is me, for I am of unclean lips, …, and I stand before God"


Psalm 51:3–6 (ESV) —
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.


• David's first step is asking God for mercy, and in his mercy ask for forgiveness, washing, and cleansing.  What is David's next step?
• Admitting our sin
• Admitting who our sin is against
• Sin is primarily opposition to God.  Why?
• It is saying to God that "I will have my way"
• Also "I don't want to live as you command"
• Also " I don't believe your way is best, fulfilling, or satisfying"
• Recognizing that God sees my sin.  I may try to hide my sin from people, but I always commit my sin openly before God
• Admitting God's truth is right
• Admitting his judgment is correct (God has every right to discipline me for my sin).  Of course, my forgiveness cleans my slate with God but it does not take away the consequences of my actions
• Recognizing I have a sin problem, in fact, a sin nature (not sure how some people say that Jews do not believe in original sin)
• But David realizes that the problem is not external, i.e., his actions, but …
• David's problem starts from the inside
• We need truth in our inmost soul
• How do we get truth in our inmost soul?
• It is not by just hearing the word
• James 1:22–25 (ESV) — 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
• We must apply the word to get it into our inmost place
• APPLICATION: Importance of application.


Psalm 51:7–12 (ESV) —
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.


• For the Jews, hyssop was used as part of a ceremonial custom.  It is used for leprosy, but only after the leprosy is gone.  Also, used in the altar sacrifices (and I remember in the holy of Holies). Given that, what is David saying?
• If you say I am clean, I am clean
• If you say I am washed, I am whiter than snow
• => it seems to be an expression of David's faith, i.e., just say the word
• Why did he want to hear joy and gladness?
• God had condemned him
• The law had condemned him
• His conscience had condemned him
• => the feeling was that of an overwhelming weight wanting to crush you, and that is the feeling of unconfessed sin
• Why did David not want the Lord to see his sins?
• He was ashamed
• He repeats the blotting out request but now expands it to all his sins
• It is interesting that David asks for a new heart, a new creation … in the new covenant, we are a new creation
• To create is to make something that did not exist before
• The Hebrew word for renew, chadash, means to be new
• David fears the effect of his sin, why?
• Clearly the OT does have a works-oriented blessing structure (not here in the passage)
• But faith is still credited outside of works (seen in Abraham)
• And here is where the Psalms represents the very heart of the worshipper and not necessarily doctrine.  We are not completely sure what David meant by the Holy Spirit, although in the OT, we do see the spirit of God working through the prophets.  Plus, the spirit did come and go.  Saul had it and then it left him.  So possibly David fears that he has made the same grave error as Saul
• Saul did not wait on God.  David committed adultery and murder.  But there was a difference between the two?
• One recognized his sin
• Saul also asks for forgiveness, but his heart was never right. His heart was always on what he wanted now
• When David prays to be restored to the joy of salvation, what is the implication?
• He lost the joy of salvation
• It doesn't say he lost his salvation, but rather the joy was gone
• I think this can happen to believers who are struggling in sin.  They feel at times as if they have no salvation
• And David recognizes his frailty -- he needs a willing spirit and he needs the Lord's help
• APPLICATION: I still find difficulty with this and verses like it -- finding the balance between my effort and God's power working through me.  I know I need God.  I know I need to lean on him and trust him, but I don't know, completely, what that looks like in practice


Psalm 51:13–19 (ESV) —
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


• David is forgiven, what is the next step in David eyes?
• To be a teacher
• To tell others
• To turn others back to God
• APPLICATION: theology doesn't save people.  A sinner's story saves people.  Apologetics doesn't save.  Hearing how the gospel impacted a life saves.  Each of us has a story of salvation, our testimony.  It is the most effective tool we have for evangelism.  Sadly, too few of us share our story
• Why the phrase "Save me from bloodguilt?"
• Clearly, it is referencing Uriah
• Not sure why it comes up at this point
• He continues to emphasize  a response of his that is important, what is it?
• Sing of your righteousness
• Open lips
• Mouth declare praise
• APPLICATION:  This is different.  The first part is about a witness.  Now David wants to worship with his mouth
• He continues from witnessing to worship.  Worship does involve our lips, but it also involves what?
• A broken spirit
• A broken and contrite heart
• APPLICATION:  Worship should affect us emotionally as well.  If we never break down in worship, I would say it is because we don't see our sin the way God sees our sin
• We have testimony, worship, and the last part of the healing process, … is?
• Concern for others
• Concern for the kingdom of God
• APPLICATION:  David has his priorities right now.  He can now lead his people.  Sin, unconfessed, can mess up our priorities