Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. Psalm 51:14 NASB Bloodguiltiness – Unfortunately this text doesn’t actually say “bloodguiltiness.” That is an interpolation of the actual word, dam. The text literally says, “Rescue me from blood.” It could also be read, “Deliver…
Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. Psalm 51:13 NASB I will teach – Are you saved? Have you been restored to relationship with the Most High? Then you are obligated! Your rescue did not come without a personal price tag. You didn’t pay for the action that…
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12 NASB Restore – Life is about direction, not destination. Of course, motivational speakers, generals and politicians, men and women of influence may attempt to teach you that what you need are goals. They will point to past successes…
Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Psalm 51:11 NASB Cast me away – What does it mean to say that you have been cast away? Is it like the Tom Hanks’ movie? Shipwrecked? Deserted? Or is there perhaps a biblical connection to a much…
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NASB Create – First let’s correct the syntax. The emphasis of this verse is not “create.” It is leb tahor, a “heart clean.” But even this needs a bit of explanation. The root taher is not about “spiritual”…
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Psalm 51:9 NASB Hide – What does God know about you? Everything. That means He knows all your faults, all your sins, all your rebellious acts. Since God knows all these, do you think it possible for Him to stop knowing them? Can…
Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Psalm 51:8 NASB You have broken – Broken bones and a broken heart. David eventually connects the two (as we will see in verse 17), but he starts with the impact of sin before he can reach the reconciliation of…
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7 NASB Purify me – The key to correctly translating this word is hyssop. If we understand the history of hyssop, then we can comprehend David’s request. Otherwise we are left with a very odd verb,…
Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Psalm 51:6 NASB Innermost being – It’s a good thing that the NASB and ESV put this English translation in italics. That indicates that the translators have altered in some way the original text. In this…
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Psalm 51:5 NASB Conceived – Have you ever felt as though everything in your life was just wrong? That somehow you got off track and life ended up just being one big mess? Have you ever felt as if you just…
