PSALM 51

SUMMER PSALMS

This post is a summary of the most recent sermon preached at Morningside Baptist Church (MBC) by Pastor Dave Sowers. The audio of the sermon can be found at the "Sermon Audio Podcast" link of the website http://www.morningsidebaptist.us/. As much as is possible it is hoped that these notes honor both the intent and the content of Pastor Sowers' original message. Please compare to the sermon audio podcast. Note: This post was made live blogging on 8/16/09. May it serve as a reminder of the sermon itself but not as a full presentation of all that was preached.

What should we do when we wrong or hurt other people. Ask for forgiveness. What about when we blow it with God - which in any given day - we can fail to do or say what is right or do and say that which is wrong?

Our text today tells us how it is possible to experience that forgiveness.

David composed this psalm under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The background is David committing adultery with Bathsheba and then having her husband killed to hide his sin. This psalm is his prayer of confession.

The first 9 verses this Sunday and the remaining next Sunday.

Psalm 51:1-9
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against 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.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

Transgression: rebellion we experience in our hearts that says it is ok to step accross that line.

Iniquity: moral crookedness. Our ultimate motive is THE GLORY OF GOD all the time for everything and yet this crookedness in our hearts causes us to fall short of that, claim some for ourselves.

Sin: Falling short, missing the mark, not making the standard. Such as Loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength - at all times. But none of this does that perfectly - all the time - with ALL of our HEART - every fiber of our being - always at all times. To do less is sin. Sin is not just breaking a set of rules, or wronging other people. But ultimately sin is an offense against God himself. Remember Joseph's response to Potiphar's wife. It was not how can I do this against my boss, but how can I sin against God.

2Sam 12:9 -- Nathan addressing David for his adultery - "Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? "

Psalm 51:5 -- "In sin did my Mother conceive me." There is nothing innocent about childhood.
Doubt this - then ask yourself: "Did I have to teach my kid to be selfish? Did I have to teach rebellion to my child? " NO - original sin, the technical word for this was already present.

Jerry Bridges: "Every day we sin....beneath the surface of our lives we tolerate all sorts of refined sins..."

We should at this point recognize our need for forgiveness. How do we experience this forgiveness.

Psalm 51:1 - appealing for mercy, knowing God's character, loving kindness and a multitude of tender mercies. Appealing to God who has revealed himself as merciful.

BLOT OUT all my transgressions: cancelling and erasing. David knowing truly that he is guilty before God, asking then that God would BLOT THAT OUT, take it away and remove all trace of it.

Isa 43

Sin is a filthy spot which mars your hearts and consciences. The stain is there - sins as scarlet. How can we be white as snow? With sin so filthy.

Psalm 51:7 "purify me with hyssop" what's hyssop?

Hyssop is a plant with a straight stock and a bushy head. On the first passover, Moses called for the elders of Isarel and said to them to slay the passover lamb and with hyssop dipped in blood applied it to the lintel and the two door posts of their house. Staying in the house that has been covered with blood until morning. So that when the angel of death came, seeing the blood he would pass over that house so covered. David understoods the connection of the blood of an innocent lamb being shed with forgiveness and cleansing of sin.

Heb 9:22 all things are cleansed by Blood -- w/o the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:13-14
13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Romans 4:4-8
4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

David understood that it was not anything he could give God that procurred forgiveness. But that this forgiveness is a gift only. It is through Christ alone that we receive forgiveness of sin.

Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.


Colossians 3:12-13
12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

So we started out with the wrongs we do to others, and espeically to God, but we have come full circle to now seeing how God HAS fogiven us - how can we not forgive others.


NOTE: TO SEE THE VIDEO WHICH WAS VIEWED JUST AFTER THE OFFERING AND BEFORE THE SERMON CLICK HERE: