October 22, 2006 | Author: Dana Marlin  

Cry Out for Mercy

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.”  ~  Psalm 51:1

Study Overview

Seven psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) are classified as penitential psalms.   Psalm 51, comes from David’s personal anguish as he explores the depth of his wrongdoing and comes as a beggar to Jehovah God.

Background

The textual background is 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25.  David stayed behind at the palace in Jerusalem rather than going to battle.  One evening while walking on the palace roof high above the city, David saw Bathsheba bathing and sent for her, and committed adultery with her.  When she sent word to David that she was pregnant, he attempted to hide his sin by sending for her husband Uriah to come home to his wife.  When Uriah did not go home, David wrote a letter to Joab instructing him to place Uriah in the fiercest fighting.  Bathsheba learned of her husband’s death and after mourning for him, she married David and gave birth to their son.   Jehovah God sent the prophet Nathan to David to ask “Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?”  Even though David repented, Nathan told him he must suffer God’s consequences: 

• “You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own.  Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”  (2 Samuel 12:9-10)
•  “Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you.  Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight.  You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.”  (2 Samuel 12:11-12)
• “…because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt,the son born to you will die.”  (2 Samuel 12:14-23)

Read Psalm 51

With his soul deeply aware of his sin and of offending God, David is in desperate need of God’s grace.  David begins with an impassioned plea:  “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (vs.1-2); with deep grief and confession for the enormity of his sin:  “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight…” (vs.3-6); with prayer to be restored:  “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (vs.7-12); with gratitude: “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, … my mouth will declare your praise.”(vs.13-17); concluding by praying for national restoration:   “In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.  Then there will be righteous sacrifices…” (vs.18-19).

Questions for Discussion

• In his search for forgiveness, David opens his sinful heart using three words to define his deeds.  Define “transgressions” (vs.1), “iniquity” (vs.2), ”sins” (vs.2) 
• The strong words used to describe David’s sins were “evil” and “despising the word of the Lord.”  Do we understand or underestimate the seriousness of sin—being alienated from God? 
• How do you envision David’s once close relationship with God during the months after the adultery and murder, before God sent Nathan to David? 
• How do you believe God felt about David during this time?  What do we learn about God’s timing by the length of time that elapsed before God confronted David?   
• What gave David the courage to open his sinful heart to God?  1 Samuel 13:14; 

       2 Samuel 7:18-29; Acts 13:22.

• How do you understand David’s statement “against you, you only, have I sinned”(Psalm 51:4)?   
• Reconcile Psalm 51:5 … “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” with Ezekiel 18:20-23 and Matthew 19:14.  
• Why can a forgiven sinner effectively teach other sinners the ways of God?  (Psalm 51:10-13)
• How do nations suffer when their leaders do not live in the fear of God?  (Psalm 51:18-19)
• In what way[s] does this psalm speak to your struggles, your despair or your faith in God? 

We are highly significant.

We are deeply fallen.

We are expensively redeemed.

~ Bruce Narramore

To confess your sins to God is not to tell him anything he doesn’t already know. 

Until you confess them, however, they are the abyss between you.

  When you confess them, they become the bridge. 

~ Frederick Buechner

Closing the Class

Pray one of the penitential psalms and sing or read aloud a hymn based on a penitential psalm:  Hymn 793 (Ps.6:9);  441, 841 (Ps.32:7);  662 (Ps.51:15-17);  445, 764 (Ps.130:1, 5-6);  394, 698 (Ps.143:8, 10).

Assignment

• Make the seven penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) your own by praying one each day this week.
• Rewrite one of the Psalms as your own.