_A.M. 2970. B.C. 1034._ Though David composed this Psalm upon a very particular occasion, yet it is of as general use as any of his Psalms. It is the most eminent of the penitential Psalms, and most expressive of the cares and desires of a repenting sinner. It is a pity, indeed, that in our devout... [ Continue Reading ]
_Have mercy upon me, O God_ O thou, who art the supreme Lawgiver, Governor, and Judge of the world, whom I have most highly offended many ways, and, therefore, may most justly be condemned to suffer the effects of thy severest displeasure; I cast myself down before thee, and humbly supplicate for me... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity_, &c. “I have made myself exceeding loathsome by my repeated and heinous acts of wickedness, which, like a stain that hath long stuck to a garment, is not easily purged away; but do not, therefore, I beseech thee, abhor me, but rather magnify thy mercy in purif... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I acknowledge my transgressions_ With grief, and shame, and abhorrence of myself and of my sins, which hitherto I have dissembled and covered. And, being thus truly penitent, I hope and beg that I may find mercy with thee. This David had formerly found to be the only way of obtaining forgivenes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against thee, thee only, have I sinned_ Which is not to be understood absolutely, because he had sinned against Bath-sheba and Uriah, and many others; but comparatively. So the sense is, Though I have sinned against my own conscience, and against others, yet nothing is more grievous to me than that... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, I was shapen in iniquity_ Hebrew, חוללתי, _cholaleti, I was born_, or _brought forth:_ for it does not appear that the word ever signifies, _I was shapen;_ and then the ensuing words will contain the reason of it; the sense being, _because in sin did my mother conceive me, therefore I was b... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, thou desirest_ Hebrew, חפצת, _chaphatzta, delightest in, willest_, or _requirest, truth in the inward parts_ Uprightness of heart, which seems to be here opposed to that iniquity mentioned in the last verse, in which all men are conceived and born; and it may be here added as a proof, or ag... [ Continue Reading ]
_Purge me with hyssop_ Or, _as with hyssop;_ the note of similitude being frequently understood. As lepers, and other unclean persons, are by thy appointment purified by the use of hyssop and other things, Leviticus 14:6; Numbers 19:6; so do thou cleanse me, a most leprous and polluted creature, by... [ Continue Reading ]
_Make me to hear joy and gladness_ Send me glad tidings of thy reconciliation to me; and by thy Spirit seal the pardon of my sins on my conscience, which will fill me with joy. _That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice_ That my heart, which hath been sorely wounded, and terrified by thy dre... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hide thy face from my sins_ Do not look upon them with an eye of indignation and wrath, but forgive and forget them. _Create in me a clean heart_ Seeing I have not only defiled myself by these actual sins, but also have a most unclean heart, corrupt even from my birth, which nothing but thy almight... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cast me not away from thy presence_ That is, from thy favour and care. _Take not thy Holy Spirit from me_ Thy sanctifying Spirit, by which alone I can have acquaintance and fellowship with thee. _Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation_ The comfortable sense of thy saving grace, promised and vouch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then will I teach transgressors thy way_ Thy will and their duty, and the way to eternal happiness; or, rather, the manner of thy dealing with sinners, whom thou dost so severely chastise for their sins, and yet so graciously receive to mercy upon their repentance. Both which I will show them in my... [ Continue Reading ]
_Deliver me from blood-guiltiness_ Hebrew, מדמים, _middamim_, from _bloods_, because he had been the cause of the death, not only of Uriah, but of others of the Lord's people with him, 2 Samuel 11:17. My tongue shall sing of thy righteousness, of thy faithfulness in making good thy promises; or, rat... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thou desirest not sacrifice_ Which is not to be understood absolutely and universally, as appears from Psalms 51:19, but comparatively, (see on Psalms 40:6,) and with particular respect to David's crimes of murder and adultery, which were not to be expiated by any sacrifice, but, according to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion_ Hebrew, ברצונךְ, _birtzonecha, for_, or _according to, thy grace, favour_, or _pleasure_ That is, thy free and rich mercy, and thy gracious purpose and promise, made to and concerning thy church and people, here termed _Zion. Build the walls of Jerusalem_ Per... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ When thou hast granted my humble requests, expressed in the former verses; when thou hast renewed, and pardoned, and comforted me, and restored thy favour unto thy people and this city; _shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness_ Which I and my people, being justified and rec... [ Continue Reading ]