The Strand Study Bible

PSALMS 51:1

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PSALMS 53:3

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. Psalm 52 A psalm of David [Written when David (26 years old) learned of Ahimelech’s death - I Sam 22:23] Date Written - c. 1054 BC/AM 2946 1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O 18 mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evilmore thangood; 19 and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 5 20 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: 7 Lo, this is the 21 man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for 22 it is good before thy saints. Psalm 53 A psalm of King David [Probably written when King David (60 years old) hid from his son Absalom in Mahanaim - II Sam 17:26] Date Written - c. 1020 BC/AM 2980 1 The 23 fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. 24 Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. 2 24 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were

1. Psa 63:3 2. or, “erase my debt” 3. or, “trample out of me mine iniquity ” 4. or, “set me free from my sin in every way” - I Jn 1:9 5. that is, “I make no attempt to hide my sin” 6. II Sam 12:13 & Lk 15:18 Note - God is always the “offended party” ( Against thee, thee only, have I sinned ) whenever someone commits a sin (Gen 39:9 & II Sam 12:13 & Lk 15:21). 7. Quoted in the NT- Rom 3:4 8. Psa 58:3 & Lev 14:4 & Num 19:18 & Heb 9:19 10. Isa 1:18 11. Pro 14:30 & Psa 6:2 & 38:3 12. Eph 4:30 13. Psa 25:8 14. or, “sins that deserve the death penalty” - Exo 21:12 15. I Sam 15:22 Note - It’s not what we can do for God ( thou desirest not sacrifice ), but what God can do through us (vs 17). God is looking for weak people through whom He can do a strong work. 16. Psa 34:18 & Isa 57:15 & 66:2 17. or, “bruised” - Isa 53:5,10 18. or, “Saul” 19. I Sam 18:17-19 20. I Sam 24:4 21. or, “Saul” - I Sam 15 22. that is, “ it has a good reputation” 23. Psa 14:1 Note - According to God’s Word, there are no such people as atheists, only “fools.” Psalm 53:1 should read: “ No God (for me).” 24. Quoted in the NT - Rom 3:10-12 Job 5:7 & 14:1 9. Exo 12:22 &

Psalm 51 A psalm of King David [Written when King David (49 years old) repented of his sin of adultery and murder - II Sam 12:17] Date Written - c. 1031 BC/AM 2969 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy 1 lovingkindness: accordingunto themultitude of thy tender mercies 2 blot out my transgressions. 2 3 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and 4 cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I 5 acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 6 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: 7 that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5 Behold, I was 8 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. 7 Purge me with 9 hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, 10 and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the 11 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; 12 and take not thy HOLY SPIRIT from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free SPIRIT . 13 Then will I 13 teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14 Deliver me from 14 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. 16 15 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: 16 a broken and a 17 contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

51:17 Those who wish to capture God’s attention ( O God, thou wilt not despise ) must first come to Him with a broken and a contrite heart ; one that says, “God, you’re always right and I’m always wrong. Hence, you don’t need me; I need you” ( Lk 10: 38- 41 -42). Jim Cymbala in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire notes: I discovered an astonishing truth: God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him. 1 1 Cymbala, Jim. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire , Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 1997. Print.