notes

Main point summary

Forgive me, O God, because of your great love and mercy and for I am well aware of my sin. Only against you Lord have I sinned therefore, your words are fair and judgment without fault.

Notes

The Psalmist asks for mercy, because of God's steadfast love. He also knows of God's abundant mercy and therefore, He seeks forgiveness from God. The Psalmist continues to plead for cleansing from his sin, that is, that the Lord may wash him clean from his transgressions. He asks this because he is well aware of his sins. He knows his sinful nature and he does not deny it. Our sin is always against God and not man. When we sin is like we prefer something else other than God. We should be satisfied in God and find joy in Him alone. Sinning is seeking satisfaction in something other than God. Therefore, only against God do we sin for He requires we be satisfied in Him. And because of this, God's judgment against us is justified. God's steadfast love and abundant mercy should give us the confidence to go to Him for forgiveness. We know that we are sinful by nature and therefore, we sin. We should never deny it when we go before God in repentance for He knows our frame (Psalm 103:14). There is no way we can repent while denying our flaws. We should always go to God in repentance because only against Him do we sin. This is a Psalm of a sinful man asking for forgiveness from a holy God. He acknowledges that he has sinned towards God and therefore God is justified in His judgment. When we sin, may we seek God's forgiveness with the same earnestness as the Psalmist. We can always go to God for forgiveness for His mercies are new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23

Arc

editing

OT

Psalms 51:1-4

esv

mine

w Have mercy on me, 1 O God,

O God, show me your compassion and forgiveness,

according to your steadfast love;

for your love is great and unchanging

ground

according to your x abundant mercy

and because of your overflowing mercy,

y blot out my transgressions.

therefore, take away from me my wickedness.

inference

series

z Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

Scrub away my wickedness from me

and a cleanse me from my sin!

and wash me clean from my sin!

ideaexplanation

b For I know my transgressions,

Because I am well aware of my wickedness,

and my sin is ever before me.

and I never loose the reality of my sinfulness.

c Against you, you only, have I sinned

You, O Lord, are the only one that I have done this wicked act against

and done what is evil d in your sight,

and only against you have I done what is evil according to your standard,

e so that you may be justified in your words

and because of my actions your words against me are right and fair

and blameless in your judgment.

and your judgment toward me is without fault.

actionresult

Forgive me, O God, because of your unchanging love and your overflowing mercy.

Cleanse me from my wickedness and sin for I am well aware of them.

Only against you Lord have I sinned so that your words are fair and judgment without fault.

The Psalmist cries for forgiveness from God for his sins because of God's love and mercy.

The nature of sin. Our sin is always against God.

discourse