1.  Psalm 51 is one of seven Penitential Psalms (along with 6, 32, 38, 102, 130, and 143).  It is the expression of David’s desire for cleansing from his sin with Bathsheba and its aftermath (2 Samuel 11-12).  The superscription identifies the historical background to the psalm as the time Nathan came to David to confront him about his sin.  It occurred a little more than a year after the event.  David lusted after Bathsheba, committed adultery with her, tried to cover up his sin by ordering Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, home from the war, and when that didn’t work, he arranged for Uriah’s death in battle.  Confronted with the sin he had hidden all those months, David’s confesses it to God in Psalm 51 (and its companion Psalm 32). 

2.  The Psalm is a reminder that no matter what we have done, God’s people can come to God in humility and receive forgiveness and restoration.  It is also a warning about the consequences of sin.  Though David was forgiven, his sin could not be undone. 

3.  “Sin is like a cancer; left untouched it will kill you, blind you, deaden your tongue, deafen your ears, and kill your heart so that you will no longer be moved by compassion to serve God.  But the glorious news of God’s word is that sin can be removed.  Complete forgiveness is available.” (Allen Ross)

4.  When finally confronted with his sin, David doesn’t rationalize it, doesn’t blame it on circumstances, or base instincts (“You, God, made me this way!”), doesn’t claim ignorance, doesn’t blame it on Satan, doesn’t pass the buck or blame Bathsheba.  He also did not dwell on his failure.  He confessed it, sought God’s forgiveness and restoration and received it.

5.  We can learn from David, that:

-we must confess our sins (1 John 1:5-2:2 (confess=homologeo meaning “to say the same thing,” in confession we say the same thing about our sin that God does.)

-we must confess even so-called “little sins”

-we must recognize the progressive nature of sin (Davids’ lust led to adultery, deceit, & murder), sin draws us in deeper and deeper

-harm done to others cannot be undone

6.  “This great song, pulsating with the agony of a sin-stricken soul, helps us to understand the stupendous wonder of the everlasting mercy of our God.  Calvary is God’s answer; and it is enough.”  (G. Campbell Morgan)