Bible in one year 8/27/ 2022 Psalm 51-53 By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 8/27/ 2022  Psalm 51-53 

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                          Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

 Psalm 51 In this penitential psalm, David pleads for forgiveness and cleansing (vv.1-2), confesses his guilt(vv.3-6), prays for pardon and restoration(vv.7-12), resolves to praise God (vv.13-17), and prays for the continued prosperity of Jerusalem(vv.18-19).The psalm elaborates David’s confession of his sin with Bathsheba (2Sam.11-12 especially 12:13). In his unworthiness David pleads God’s unfailing love (love based on the covenant and compassion. Though David’s sin involved others, he recognized that it was primarily against God. (v.4). It is not that the acts of giving birth or conceiving are in themselves sinful, but that form the moment of conception a person possesses a sinful nature.(v.5). Hyssop (v.7), it was used in cleansing the house of a leper(Lev.14:49) and in purification form defilement by death (Num.19:18-19). Verse 11 In the O.T. economy, the Holy Spirit was particularly related to service, rather than salvation (Judg.3:10;Rom8:9). Here David is asking God not to take away his service as the anointed king of Israel (Sau, 1Sam.16:13-14). bloodguilt (v.14)., Lit., bloods, the sentence of death for the murder of Uriah.

Psalm 51:1-19 A psalm of David, after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (vv.1-5)

Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. (vv.6-9).

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (vv.10-12).

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. (vv.13-15).

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem. Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. (vv.16-19)

Psalm 52 Contrasting the wicked and the righteous, this didactic psalm may be outlined this way: the description of the wicked(vv.1-4), the doom of the wicked(v.5), the delight of the righteous(vv.6-9).Four striking figures describe the doom of the wicked (v.5). The righteous fear (stand in awe of) God and laugh (in derision) at the wicked.

 Psalm 52:1-9 A psalm of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him : “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.”

Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?  Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! (v.1-4).

Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you form your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.(v.5-6).

The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, “Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”(v.7).

 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing glove for ever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints. (vv.8-9).

Psalm 53 In this psalm (essentially identical with Psalm14), David laments the moral foolishness and corruption of the human race (vv.1-5) and longs for the establishing of the righteous kingdom of the Lord on earth (v.6) mahalath. A term meaning “sickness” (also in Psalm 88), possibly the first word of a well-known tune to which this psalm was sung. Verse 5 suggests a miraculous deliverance as the background for adapting Psalm 14 for the occasion.  

 Psalm 53:1-6 A maskil of David

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. (v.1).

God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek of God.(v.2).

 Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.(v.3).

 Will the evildoers never learn those who devour my people as men eat bread. There they were, overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread. God scattered the bones of those who attacked you; you put them to shame, for God despised them. (vv.4-5).

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! (v.6).

 

 

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.