| Psalms 51 [Psalms 51:1] HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVINGKINDNESS: ACCORDING UNTO THE MULTITUDE OF THY TENDER MERCIES BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. David does not appeal to his own merits though these by our standards are exceedingly great, David asks God in His mercy to deliver him because of what He is not because of what David has become. [Psalms 51:2] WASH ME THROUGHLY FROM MINE INIQUITY, AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN. Shimson Raphael Hirsch points out that every sin leaves a stain on the soul. It causes an impairment of character, a perversion of personality. David asks for forgiveness. He is repentant. David also asks that the effect of his offence be removed from his being. [Psalms 51:3] FOR I ACKNOWLEDGE MY TRANSGRESSIONS: AND MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME. David owns up to what he has done. This is always the first step: "HE THAT COVERETH HIS SINS SHALL NOT PROSPER: BUT WHOSO CONFESSETH AND FORSAKETH THEM SHALL HAVE MERCY" [Proverbs 28:13]. [Psalms 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. <<AGAINST THEE, THEE ONLY, HAVE I SINNED>>: What does this mean? According to the simple initial import of the Scriptural account in 2-Samuel chapter 11 David slept with the wife of one of his warriors, got her pregnant, tried to delude the husband into thinking the child was his own and when that did not work ordered the engineering of his death in action. Is this not a sin against others as well as against the Almighty? Read HOWEVER the Brit-Am Commentary to the passages in question (2-Samuel chapters 11 and 12) where in line with some of the Sages and Classical Commentators it is suggested that things may not have been so simple. We may never really know. [Psalms 51:5] BEHOLD, I WAS SHAPEN IN INIQUITY; AND IN SIN DID MY MOTHER CONCEIVE ME. A person is conceived through sexual intercourse. This involves a natural drive and fulfillment of need. There is always an element of lust involved which indeed is necessary and a commandment. "SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD CREATED HE HIM; MALE AND FEMALE CREATED HE THEM [Genesis 1:27]. "AND GOD BLESSED THEM, AND GOD SAID UNTO THEM, BE FRUITFUL, AND MULTIPLY [Genesis 1:28]. The urge to have sex is part of human nature. That is how we are created. There are also Midrashim and legends concerning the birth of David and how his father may not have had "pure" intentions when he came on his mother. Judah the ancestor of David thought he was coupling with a prostitute when he came on Tamar and begat Pharez and Zarah the ancestors of David. Tamar indeed had disguised herself as a lady of fortune and acted like one (Genesis chapter 38). I was born that way. What does God want from me? The answer is given in the next verse. [Psalms 51:6] BEHOLD, THOU DESIREST TRUTH IN THE INWARD PARTS: AND IN THE HIDDEN PART THOU SHALT MAKE ME TO KNOW WISDOM. God wants us to acknowledge and obey HIM. If we strive to do so He will let us know His ways. [Psalms 51:7] PURGE ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN: WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW. [Psalms 51:8] MAKE ME TO HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS; THAT THE BONES WHICH THOU HAST BROKEN MAY REJOICE. [Psalms 51:9] HIDE THY FACE FROM MY SINS, AND BLOT OUT ALL MINE INIQUITIES. [Psalms 51:10] CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME. [Psalms 51:11] CAST ME NOT AWAY FROM THY PRESENCE; AND TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME. [Psalms 51:12] RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION; AND UPHOLD ME WITH THY FREE SPIRIT. [Psalms 51:13] THEN WILL I TEACH TRANSGRESSORS THY WAYS; AND SINNERS SHALL BE CONVERTED UNTO THEE. By bringing others back to the right path and helping them we may atone for our own sins. By helping others you help yourself. [Psalms 51:14] DELIVER ME FROM BLOODGUILTINESS, O GOD, THOU GOD OF MY SALVATION: AND MY TONGUE SHALL SING ALOUD OF THY RIGHTEOUSNESS. <<DELIVER ME FROM BLOODGUILTINESS>>: When we do something wrong a dynamism is set in motion that in the course of time can come round and take revenge on us. We are guilty. David repents and asks the Almighty to take away the threatening process that has been set in motion. [Psalms 51:15] O LORD, OPEN THOU MY LIPS; AND MY MOUTH SHALL SHEW FORTH THY PRAISE. We are prepared to worship the Almighty but we often need the Almighty to give us the strength, will, and understanding to do so. [Psalms 51:16] FOR THOU DESIREST NOT SACRIFICE; ELSE WOULD I GIVE IT: THOU DELIGHTEST NOT IN BURNT OFFERING. [Psalms 51:17] THE SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE A BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, O GOD, THOU WILT NOT DESPISE. God will be with us. [Psalms 51:18] DO GOOD IN THY GOOD PLEASURE UNTO ZION: BUILD THOU THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM. Purify me of my sins. Accept my repentance. At the least let not my sin harm others. Let my contrition be accepted as a sacrifice that will lead to good, to the strengthening of Zion and Jerusalem which is for the ultimate good of all mankind. [Psalms 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. David does not say that sacrifice and offerings are not wanted. They are wanted and they are what is required. Nevertheless sacrifice must be accompanied by feeling and repentance for sin. This is what is needed and what God requires. This is even more important than sacrifice and where sacrifice is not possible this may take its place. We need to rebuild the Temple in order to bring sacrifice and demonstrate our felt need to be one with the Almighty. |