Notes for Teacher/Facilitator
Psalm 51 is a poem of confession written by David, supposedly after his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. While we can’t be 100% positive that the title attached to this psalm is correct, the content of the psalm does support that this is David’s confession after his most famous sins. A word about the word “confession” – we throw this idea around a lot in religious settings, however, I’m not sure that we stop to think about what it means. “To confess” means much more than simply to state things that we have done wrong. Instead its word origin reveals something important; “to confess” is a compound word: “con” = “with” and “fess” – “to acknowledge” or “to agree.” Thus, “to confess” means something like, “to agree with someone or something.” By extension then, “to confess to God” would mean “to agree with God about someone or something.” So in Psalm 51 we see David agreeing with God about his actions and their impact. In fact, it’s this act of agreeing with God that allows David finally to come to terms with what he has done and to beg God for forgiveness and grace.
Here are a few notes about particular words in this psalm:
- “Have mercy” (chanan) – v.1: This is a word which indicates that David is imploring God, begging him, to show him favor and, by extension, the redemption of his sins. What David is asking for is something that only God can bestow.
- “Unfailing love” (checed) – v.1: The older translation of this word is “lovingkindness” and sometimes it is rendered as “covenant loyalty.” This is God’s love or kindness that is shown through the meeting of his creature’s needs, including but not limited to the forgiveness of sin.
- “Compassion” (racham) – v.1: An alternate translation is “tender mercies.” The basic idea is that God is being asked to show undeserved concern for David in spite of his self-inflicted plight.
- “Womb…secret place” (tuchah…satham) – v.6: The NIV translates these Hebrew words metaphorically in light David’s mention of conception and birth in v.5. However, these words carry with them more direct meanings, namely “innermost parts” and “in the hidden (place).” David could simply be saying that God expects faithfulness in his inner life and gives him wisdom in his place of prayer or deep connection with God.
- “Hyssop” (ezob) – v.7: This word refers to an herb (perhaps wild marjoram) that was believed to have purifying qualities. In Exodus 12.22 hyssop was used for sprinkling blood on the doorposts of the Israelites and in several other places in Leviticus and Numbers hyssop was associated with cleansing and sacrificial practices.
- “Contrite” (dakah) – v.17: In an active voice this word means “to crush.” But here the verb is used in a passive voice, meaning that David is saying that his heart has been crushed to pieces by the weight of his sin.
Introduction
- Open your class/community time with prayer. Ask the Spirit of God to reveal himself to all of you through the Scriptures and through your discussion together.
- Discuss last week’s challenge and encourage people to share how the challenge went for them.
- Begin with a smaller-group discussion with questions like these: What is confession? Is it something that comes naturally to you? Why or why not? Is confession only a personal matter or is there a communal aspect to it?
Bible Questions
- In Acts 13.22 we learn that God said that David was a man after his own heart. How can that be so considering the sins he committed that inspired Psalm 51, namely adultery and murder?
- Read 1 John 1.9. What role does a confession like Psalm 51 play for a follower of Jesus?
- David says in v.4 that he has sinned against God, and him alone. Is that true? Didn’t he sin against Bathsheba and Uriah also? How do you make sense of this verse?
- What is David’s point when he says that from conception and birth he has been sinful in v.5?
- Only God can take our contrite hearts (v.17) and turn them into pure hearts (v.10). What’s our responsibility in all of this then?
- In vv.13-15 David says that receiving forgiveness makes him want to share this good news with others. Has this been your experience? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
- Look back over Psalm 51. What can you find that makes you love and admire God more?
- How can our Christian community help or hurt our ability to confess as individuals? And should communal confession be more common? Why or why not?
- If we were more honest about our sin and our need for forgiveness, how do you think those who are far from the Lord might respond?
Takeaway
Agreeing with God about our sinfulness is always a needed step if we want to be close to God.
Challenge
Confess your sinfulness each morning and night for a week. Report back about how that went next week. What changed in your life, if anything?