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Psalms 51:17  (King James Version)
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<< Psalms 51:16   Psalms 51:18 >>


Psalm 51:16-17

As a converted man, David understood that animal sacrifices were really not doing anything except setting a pattern. Certainly, they were tutors to those who understood. The Israelites could sacrifice thousands of animals and not get a thing out of it, but David understood. He writes, "For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart."

That costs a man something! A person sacrifices of himself when wild human nature is being cut away, when he, by the exercise of his will due to his faith in God, determines to do or not to do something, even as Jesus later did. By the force of His will, buttressed by His faith, He would make himself do something, or keep Himself from doing something, that every fiber of His passionate being yearned to do the opposite. "These, O God, You will not despise."

John W. Ritenbaugh
Preparing to Be a Priest



Psalm 51:1-19

When David saw the enormity of his sin, he realized he had hurt God and His purpose. His sorrow, chagrin, and remorse reached deeply into his heart, mind, and entire being. Our opposition to God should create a similar deep emotional response in us, for we have all played major roles in our Savior's death. He died for our sins. Emotional sorrow alone is not the answer, however. Paul says godly sorrow produces repentance (change) toward salvation, while worldly sorrow is like saying, "I'm sorry I got caught. I'll be more careful next time I sin."

Martin G. Collins
Basic Doctrines: Repentance



Psalm 51:17

This verse echoes the beatitude in Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn." It mentions one of the sacrifices that God accepts: the contrite spirit, the broken heart.

What is mourned here is spiritual in nature, and the sorrow is likewise spiritual, a kind of contrition or remorse. Those who mourn like this are desperately sorry for their own sins and unworthiness. It is pointed directly at one's own heart, in which we see great sin, and because sin inhabits our heart, we know we are unworthy.

People who have a contrite spirit feel grief for how much they have contributed personally to the world's evils. They have a sense, like David, of sin in themselves and how deeply rooted it is, and its continuing presence breaks them. Their sorrow goes beyond sad. It is an abiding sorrow that it is there, and they are upset, even angry, at themselves that it keeps coming out when they want to be rid of it and spiritually clean.

But it keeps popping up because of their own weakness, bad habits, and rebellion. They want it out and work to get it out, yet it keeps showing up, like a fabric stain that just cannot be washed out. When we clean a stained piece of clothing, and it is wet and soapy, we think it looks good. We tell ourselves we finally managed to rub the stain out! Then we let it dry, and . . . it is there still.

How frustrating! Yet, those who possess an internal disposition of brokenheartedness, of a contrite spirit, will be comforted through God's complete redemption.

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Those Who Mourn



Psalm 51:17

Broken spirit means "to be overwhelmed with sorrow." Contrite heart means "to be completely penitent, feeling remorse and affected by guilt, deeply regretful and wishing to atone for sin." "Broken spirit" and "contrite heart" are virtually the same thing. This is further confirmation that spirit is used as an aspect of mind that generates a wide diversity of activity, including, but not restricted to, conduct. It must be clean and right if the conduct that is produced is going to be beneficial. This alludes, then, to our motivations. What is in our heart? What is in our spirit? If our heart and spirit are not right, our motivations will not be right, and our conduct will have the aim of taking advantage, of controlling, of manipulating to one's own ends, self-centeredly rather than selflessly.

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Four)




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Psalms 51:17:

Matthew 5:23-24
Luke 17:15-18
Luke 21:34-36

 

<< Psalms 51:16   Psalms 51:18 >>



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