Psalms                           by Dr. Ralph Wilson

Lesson 11

Psalms: Finding Forgiveness and Restoration
(Psalms 32 and 51)

Psalm 32 -- Blessed Is the One Whose Sin Is Forgiven

Structure

The structure of the psalm seems to be:

• Blessedness of the forgiven person (1-2)
• The weight of guilt (3-4)
• The relief of confession and forgiveness (5)
• The protection of God for those who seek him (6-7)
• An admonition from God to be pliable and not stubborn (8-10)
• A concluding praise (11)

Blessed Is the Forgiven Person (32:1-2)

The Agony of Guilt (32:3-4)

The Freedom of Confession (32:5)

David uses three synonyms for confession:

• "Acknowledge

• "Not cover up”

• "Confess" 

Q1. (Psalm 32:2-5) How does self-deceit operate with sin to enslave us? How does confession enable us to get free from sin?

Why do we sometimes resist the truth about ourselves? What does it take to get us to see truth sometimes?

You Are My Hiding Place (32:6-7)

A Call to Teachability rather than Stubbornness (32:8-11)

Psalm 51 -- Create in Me a Clean Heart, O Lord

Setting the Scene (2 Samuel 11-12)

Structure

Here is the structure of Psalm 51:

1. Pleading for God's mercy (1-2)

2. Confessing and acknowledging sin (3-5)

3. Hungering for a pure heart once more (6-12)

4. Resolving to declare God's grace (13-15)

5. Offering the sacrifice of a contrite heart (16-17)

6. Praying for Jerusalem's prosperity (18-19)

Pleading for God's Mercy (51:1-2)

We've seen most of these words before:

• "Have mercy" 

• "Unfailing love"

• "Compassion" 

David makes his request with three synonyms for forgiveness and three synonyms for sin.

We looked at synonyms for sin in Psalm 32:1-2 above. Now let's examine the synonyms for pardon.

Confessing and Acknowledging Sin (51:3-5)

Q2. (Psalm 51:3-6) When David says, "Against you only I have sinned" (4a) is he minimizing his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah?

What does he mean by this?

When he mentions his sinfulness from before birth is he excusing himself or blaming Original Sin?

What does he mean by this?

Hungering for Fellowship Once More (51:6-12)

The Longing for a Pure Heart (51:10, 12)

Do Not Take Your Holy Spirit from Me (51:11)

Resolving to Declare God's Grace (51:13-15)

Offering the Sacrifice of a Contrite Heart (51:16-17)

Praying for Jerusalem's Prosperity (51:18-19)

Prayer

O Lord, we have sinned. We have struggled with temptation. Teach us how to confess our sins before you. Teach us a broken and contrite heart, a humble spirit. Help us to walk before you in humility and find the protection of your presence around us. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Songs

• "A Broken Spirit," words and music by Don Harris and Martin Nystrom (© 1993, Integrity's Hosanna! Music). Psalm 51:17.
• "Change My Heart, O God," words and music by Eddie Espinosa (© 1982, Mercy Publishing). Psalm 51:10
• "Create in Me a Clean Heart," author unknown. Psalm 51:10-12.
• "Create in Me a Clean Heart," words and music by Brown Bannister (© 1982, Bases Loaded Music). Psalm 51:10-12.
• "Create in Me," words and music by Mary Rice Hopkins (© 1989, Big Steps 4 U, Maranatha! Music. Psalm 51:10.
• "Freely Forgiven," words and music by Bill Batstone (© 1984, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 32:1-6.
• "Give Me a Clean Heart," words and music by Margaret J. Douroux (n.d.). Psalm 51:10.
• "God Be Merciful to Me" (On thy grace I rest my plea), words and music by Christopher Miner and Richard Redhead (© 1998, Christopher Miner). Psalm 51.
• "He Is Faithful," words and music by Walt Harrah (© 1986, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 32:1.
• "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" (O hope of every contrite heart), words: Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century), Jesu dulcis memoria, translated by Edward Caswall (1849). Music: "St. Agnes," by John B. Dykes (1866).
• "O Blessed Souls Are They," words: Isaac Watts (1719), music: "Pekin" arranged from a German carol by J.E. Kingsley (1847). Psalm 32.
• "Precious Promise" (I Will Guide Thee), words: Nathaniel Niles (1873), music: Philip P. Bliss. Psalm 32:8.
• "Refiner's Fire" (Purify my heart), words and music by Brian Doerksen (© 1990, Vineyard Songs Canada, ION Publishing). Psalm 51.
• "Refresh My Heart," words and music by Geoff Bullock (© 1992, Word Music, LLC, Maranatha! Music). Psalm 51:10.
• "Search Me, Know Me," words and music by Kathryn Scott and Mildred Rainey (© 2003, Vertical Worship Songs). Psalm 51:10
• "Search Me, O God" (Cleanse Me), words by J. Edwin Orr (1936). Music: Maori tune. Psalm 52.1-2.
• "Whiter than Snow," words: James Nicholson (1872), music: William G. Fischer (1872). Psalm 51:7.
• "You Are My Hiding Place," words and music by Michael Ledner (© 1981 Maranatha! Music, Admin. by The Copyright Company). Psalm 32:7.