Mea Culpa

Psalm 51
For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.


2 Samuel 12:11-14
11 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.”
Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.”

Matthew 1:6
Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).

Lament Structure of Psalm 51:1-12
Petition for Help (51:1-2)
Description of Trouble(51:3-5)
Restatement of Plea for Help (51:6-5)

What is Sin?
• Simply stated, sin is missing the target, falling short of the standard God has set for humanity.
• “Sin is believing the lie that you are self-created, self-dependent, and self-sustained.” Augustine
• Sin is the individual determination to live independently of God and make life work on your terms.

Psalm 51:1-2
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
   because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
   blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
   Purify me from my sin.

Our petition for forgiveness is derived from our need to be in a right relationship with a Holy God.

Psalm 51:3-5
3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
  I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
   and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner—
   yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.

Our confession should derive from a clear understanding of our offense to the holiness of God.

Psalm 51:6-12
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,
   teaching me wisdom even there.
7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
   you have broken me—now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
   Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
   and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
   and make me willing to obey you.

Because of the steadfast love and mercy of God, He will forgive even the most terrible sins if people ask with a contrite heart.

1 John 2:1-2
1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.