INTRODUCTION: The title of this psalm identifies it as “A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” Therefore, we know the human author of this psalm and the occasion for which he wrote it. The sin of   2 Samuel 11 led to the accusation and confession of 2 Samuel 12. David acknowledged in 2 Samuel 12:13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
See All..., “I have sinned against the LORD.” This psalm is the larger expression of that confession.

Even in the confession of such heinous sins, we can see why God looked to David as “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
See All...; Acts 13:22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
See All...). David’s confession has no pride or pretense. He totally seeks to restore the joy that he had earlier known with the Lord. Oh, that we might avoid the greatness of David’s sins while learning the fullness of his repentance and confession!

1. DAVID’S CONFESSION (Psalm 51:1-6 [1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. [4] Against 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. [5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. [6] Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
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1. His Need (Psalm 51:1-3 [1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. [3] For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
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1. For mercy - According to God’s lovingkindness (Psalm 51:1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
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2. For cleansing – According to God’s tender mercies (Psalm 51:1-2 [1] Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. [2] Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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1. Blot out my transgressions (Psalm 51:1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
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2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity (Psalm 51:2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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3. Cleanse me from my sin (Psalm 51:2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
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3. For confession (Psalm 51:3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
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1. I acknowledge my transgressions.
2. My sin is ever before me.
4. Note: God’s lovingkindness brings about His mercy, and according to His mercies, He blots out man’s transgressions. The reception of this forgiveness is dependent upon man’s confession.
2. His Guilt (Psalm 51:4-6 [4] Against 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. [5] Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. [6] Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
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1. The One offended by David’s sin (Psalm 51:4Against 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.
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1. His sin
1. Against God
2. By doing evil in God’s sight
2. God’s justness
1. In speaking against David’s sin
2. In judging David’s sin
2. David’s history (Psalm 51:5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
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1. I was shapen in iniquity.
2. In sin did my mother conceive me.
3. God’s desire (Psalm 51:6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
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1. Truth in the inward parts
2. Wisdom in the hidden part
2. DAVID’S CLEANSING (Psalm 51:7-12 [7] Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. [8] Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. [9] Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. [11] Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. [12] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
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1. From Sin’s Defilement (Psalm 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
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1. Purge me and I shall be clean.
2. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
2. From Sin’s Depression (Psalm 51:8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
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1. Make me to hear joy and gladness.
2. That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice
3. From Sin’s Disgrace (Psalm 51:9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
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1. Hide thy face from my sins.
2. Blot out all mine iniquities.
4. From Sin’s Damage (Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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1. Create in me a clean heart.
2. Renew a right spirit within me.
5. From Sin’s Division (Psalm 51:11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
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1. Cast me not away from thy presence.
2. Take not thy holy spirit from me.
6. From Sin’s Downcast (Psalm 51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
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1. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.
2. Uphold me with thy free spirit.
7. Note: Consider the truth presented by David’s wording. His forgiveness was very much dependent upon the working of God.
1. Purge me and wash me (Psalm 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
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2. Make me to hear (Psalm 51:8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
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3. Hide thy face and blot out (Psalm 51:9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
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4. Create and renew (Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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5. Cast me not and take not (Psalm 51:11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
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6. Restore unto me and uphold me (Psalm 51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
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3. DAVID’S CONFIRMATION (Psalm 51:13-15 [13] Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. [14] Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. [15] O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
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1. To Speak of God’s Ways (Psalm 51:13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
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1. I will teach transgressors thy ways.
2. Sinners shall be converted unto thee.
2. To Sing of God’s Righteousness (Psalm 51:14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
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1. The manner of singing – “aloud”
2. The message of the song – “of thy righteousness”
3. To Show Forth God’s Praise (Psalm 51:15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
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1. With God’s help – “open thou”
2. To God’s praise – “my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”
4. DAVID’S CONSECRATION (Psalm 51:16-19 [16] For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. [18] Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. [19] Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
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1. His Sacrifice (Psalm 51:16-17 [16] For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. [17] The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
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1. Not an offered animal (Psalm 51:16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
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1. God did not desire sacrifice, nor did He delight in burnt offering.
2. If He had, David would have gladly complied.
2. But a broken heart (Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
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1. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
2. A broken and contrite heart, God will not despise.
2. His Surety (Psalm 51:18-19 [18] Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. [19] Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
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1. That God will prosper His people (Psalm 51:18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
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1. Do good unto Zion.
2. Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
2. That God will be pleased (Psalm 51:19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
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1. With the sacrifices
1. Of righteousness
2. The burnt offering and whole burnt offering
2. With the altar

CONCLUSION: Is there sin in your heart? Would you not come to God with the openness and brokenness of David? Would you not allow God to cleanse you of your iniquities?