Spurgeon Morning and Evening April 7 PM

Biblical Context

This verse comes from Psalm 51, a prayer David offered after Nathan the prophet confronted him about his grievous sin with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah. It’s a raw, honest look at a man broken by his actions, seeking God’s mercy and cleansing. David, a king chosen by God, fell into deep sin, which resulted in significant personal and national consequences. His prayer here isn’t just about avoiding punishment; it’s about a deep craving for restoration with God and a clean heart.

Key Word Study

The word “bloodguiltiness” is a powerful term. In Hebrew, the concept often uses the word *damim* (דָּמִים), meaning ‘bloods’ or ‘bloodstains.’ It speaks to the guilt and defilement that comes from shedding innocent blood. This isn’t just about a physical act; it carries the heavy weight of moral and spiritual responsibility for causing someone’s death. It points to a deep spiritual stain that needs more than just a cover-up; it needs divine cleansing and forgiveness. It’s a sin that cries out from the ground, demanding justice.

Calling Sin By Its True Name

In this prayer, we see David make a solemn confession. It’s pleasing to observe that he plainly names his sin. He says, “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God.” He doesn’t call it manslaughter, or try to speak of it as some imprudence where an unfortunate accident happened to a worthy man. Instead, he calls it by its true name: bloodguiltiness. Think about that for a second. David didn’t actually kill Bathsheba’s husband with his own hands. But it was planned in David’s heart that Uriah should be slain. Before the Lord, David was his murderer. It’s a stark reality that hits you hard.

You need to learn in confession to be honest with God. Don’t give fair names to foul sins. Call them what you will, they won’t smell any sweeter. What God sees them to be, that’s what you need to labour to feel them to be. With all openness of heart, you must acknowledge their real character. Observe, David was clearly oppressed with how bad his sin was. It’s easy to just use words, but it’s really difficult to feel their true meaning down deep.

The fifty-first Psalm isn’t just some nice poem; it’s like a photograph of a contrite spirit. We need to seek after that same kind of brokenness of heart. Because however excellent our words might be, if our heart isn’t truly conscious of the hell-deservingness of sin, we can’t expect to find forgiveness.

An Earnest Prayer to the God of Salvation

Our text also has an earnest prayer in it. It’s addressed to the God of salvation. It’s His special right to forgive; it’s His very name and job to save those who seek His face. Even better, the text calls Him the “God of my salvation.” Yes, blessed be His name, while you’re yet going to Him through Jesus’ blood, you can rejoice in the God of your salvation. It’s a personal relationship, a deep connection even when you’re still on the path to healing and forgiveness.

A Commendable Vow

The psalmist ends with a commendable vow. If God will deliver him, he will sing. Nay, more, he will “sing aloud.” Who can sing in any other style when they’re talking about such a mercy as this? But note the subject of the song: “THY RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

We must sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour. And he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest. It’s not about your good deeds or what you’ve earned; it’s about what He has done. When you truly grasp the depth of His forgiveness and the power of His salvation, you won’t be able to keep quiet. You’ll want to declare His righteousness for everyone to hear, because you know firsthand what it means to be delivered from the deepest sin by His amazing grace.