Psalms 51:1

“According to thy lovingkindness”

Psalms 51:1 says “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”

Psalms 51 is a psalm about repentance of sin. When you do something wrong the best thing to do is to repent of that wrong as quickly as possibly. God is a God of mercy and therefore you can be sure that if you sin, if you repent and pray to God for mercy you will receive mercy.

In regards to the blotting out of transgressions or the forgiveness of sins 3 things are mentioned in verse 1: mercy, lovingkindness and tender mercies.

You should never doubt the love of God. God is love. It was the lovingkindness of God that put into plan the birth and death of Christ and His rising from the grave. God will have mercy on those that ask him for mercy God will have mercy according to His lovingkindness and according unto the multitude of his tender mercies.

It is without a doubt amazing grace that whenever a human being sins regardless of the sin and regardless of the consequences of that sin you can always come to Christ for forgiveness of sin and find mercy.

Psalms 51:2-4 says, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 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.”

In regards to consequence man has a responsibility to his fellow man to make things right but when it comes to forgiveness of sins there is one mediator between God and man the man Christ Jesus. This means that even if others do not forgive you when you fail Christ will still forgive you. This means that even if there are relationships that are lost and destroyed because of sin you will never lose your relationship with Christ. Against Thee, and Thee only, have I sinned.

Psalms 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” This verse is a way of pointing out the sin nature of man. Because of Adam and Eve all men are born with a sinful nature. This is one of the reasons that we fail so easily. It is also a reason that we need the lovingkindness and tender mercies of Christ. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

Psalms 51:6-7 says “Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” When it comes to true repentance of sin it is an inward action of the heart not an external action. That is why Jesus said in John 4:23, “the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.”

Psalms 51:8, “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” There is a very important result to having sins confessed to Christ, joy and gladness. Human beings need joy and gladness to live. What greater joy can there be than to know that Christ has forgiven you of your sins and that you have escaped the wrath of God? What greater joy can there be than to know that you have home in heaven waiting for you?

Psalms 51:9-12 says, “Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” These verses give another example of what a person who is truly repentant of their sins might pray to God. True repentance of sin and a desire to be closely in fellowship with the Lord go hand in hand. In addition to this there is a joy of salvation that is always in the heart of a believer who is rightly related to the Lord Jesus Christ. This joy and close fellowship through the Spirit of God only happens to those who have a clean heart.

Psalms 51:13 says, “Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee.” Notice what is necessary to be a strong testimony to the lost of this world, that your sins are confessed to Christ that’s it it’s very simple. If we confess our sins to Jesus then we are a testimony in this world because the lost people of this world do not repent of their sins and they are in need of repentance.

Psalms 51:14 says, “Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness.”

King David was guilty of committing adulty with another man’s wife and then causing that man to die. In other words murder. Even though he commited murder one of the worst sins a person can commit at least he repented of his sin. Most people in this world that commit murder do not repent of their sins to Jesus.

The unjust taking of another person’s life, murder, is indeed one of the most horrible sins a person can commit. The taking of a life cannot be undone. A life cut short by murder leaves family and friends greatly bereaved. A life murdered is stolen of its opportunities to life and especially its opportunities to turn to Jesus. There been many many murders in human history. But few who have truly repented of their crimes. The example of king david is a great example to follow, “deliver me from blood guiltiness.”

How great indeed is the mercy of God that all sins and any sins can be forgiven because Jesus paid the sin debt when he suffered and died on the cross. If you have never turned to Jesus from your sins you can do so today and learn of the tender lovingkindness of the Lord and the joy of salvation.

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