A Silent Psalmist

In II Samuel 11 we have the story of David committing adultery with Bathsheba. She of course conceives a child because of the relationship and in order to coverup his sin David has her husband Uriah killed – basically murder for hire. Chapter 12 goes on to tell of the prophet Nathan coming to David and confronting him about his sin. David repents of his sin, and then writes the 51st Psalm.

Psalms 51:1-17 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: When the foe lay vanquished in the power of the conqueror, to cry, “Mercy!” meant “Ransom!”— “Spare my life and take a ransom! What a meaning it may have to us if, when we cry, “Mercy!” we feel that we are asking God to take a ransom! “The soul that sinneth it shall die;” but He in His pity allows me to plead those precious merits, and so obtain pardon and peace. according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Sin remains as a witness against us, and only God can blot it out. (Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. A boy ran in to his mother one day after he had read that promise, “I will blot out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions.” And he said: “Mother, what does God mean when He says He will blot out my sins? What is He going to do with them? I can’t see how God can really blot them out and put them away. What does it mean—blot out?” The mother, who is always the best theologian for a child, said to the boy, “Didn’t I see, you yesterday writing on your slate?” “Yes,” he said. “Well, show it to me. He brought his slate to his mother, who, holding it out in front of him, said, “Where is what you wrote? Oh,” he said, “I rubbed it out.” “Well, where is it?” “Why, mother, I don’t know.” “But how could you put it away if it was really there?” “Oh, mother, I don’t know. I know it was there, and it is gone.” “Well,” she said, “that is what God meant when He said, ‘I will blot out thy transgressions.) 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 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. 5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

In verse 8 we really begin to catch a glimpse into the heart of David. What he feels, what he thinks, what it’s like to be David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, as he has dealt with his backslidden condition since sin took hold of his life.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

14 and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips;

As we read verses 14 and 15 in particular we get the impression that since the sin with Bathsheba David has been not the “sweet psalmist of Israel” but instead the “Silent Psalmist Of Israel.” His sin has closed his lips, his tongue can no longer sing of the righteousness of God, there is no joy even in salvation! He feels as though God is ready to forever cast him out of His presence and that never again will he feel the tender breeze of the Holy Spirit of God speaking to his soul! He knows no joy, he doesn’t remember what it is to be glad! It’s so bad that it seems as though the very bones of his body have been broken!

Now With all of this going on inside what does David do?

I. Asks For Mercy V. 1 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

II. Confesses His Sin V. 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness V. 4a Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:

III. Asks To Be Made Clean.) 2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

IV. Desires The Restoration Of His Joy V 12a Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;

A. For Service V. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

B. For Praise Vs. 14, 15 14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise

V. Gives Himself Wholly to God 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

The feeling that there must be something surrendered to God, and that our best, is true; but men have mixed up with it the false thought that this sacrifice pleases God because of the loss or pain which it inflicts. Hence, the heathen idea of appeasement, to buy off his wrath. These notions were mixed with Judaism. But men like David felt that what lay beneath all sacrifice as its ground and meaning was surrender to God’s will: that a man’s best is himself; and to sacrifice this is the true sacrifice.Learn, then, God does not wish pain, but goodness; not suffering, but you—yourself—your heart.