“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” —C.S. Lewis
We proposed an outline for Psalm 51 as follows: the Problem (vv 1-6); the Process (vv 7-12); the Proclamation (vv 13-15); and the Praise (vv 16-19). Look at the Problem. David uses three words to describe the damage he did. “Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (vv 1-2). Transgression (from the Heb root pâšat) means to invade, to go beyond the boundary. Iniquity (Heb, ‘avown) is lawlessness, from a root meaning “to make crooked.” Sin, the most commonly used word (Heb, hatâ’â), means “to miss the goal, to veer off the path.” David claims he is guilty of all three. He needs God’s mercy (Heb, hânan, “to stoop in kindness”), His lovingkindness (Heb, hesed), and His tender mercies (Heb, raham, “compassionate care”). The wonderful cleansing power applied by the Lord is described as expunging his record, washing his soiled garment, and cleansing him of his fatal disease (vv 1-2). For this to happen, David (and we) must “acknowledge” several facts (vv 3-6). First, we are responsible. Second, sin doesn’t just go away; it must be dealt with. Third, all sin is primarily against God. Fourth, any attempts at self-justification will falsely claim that God is wrong, not me. Fifth, I’m not responsible for being born a sinner, but for the sins I commit. Sixth, the external commission of sin is an exposure of our inward condition. Now we see the Process. Look at all the “me’s”: “Purge me…Wash me…Make me…Create in me…Restore to me…Deliver me” (vv 7-14), and so on. Note: there’s no danger today of the Lord taking His Spirit from us (v 11, Eph 4:30). And it isn’t God’s salvation that needs to be restored if we sin, but the joy of it (v 12).