Homilist Psalm 51:1-19 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness… I. THE PENITENT'S PRAYER. 1. A prayer of pity. Three ways of treating sin: indifference, severity, mercy. God's way, as revealed specially by Christ, unites both justice and mercy. 2. A prayer for pardon. Sin must be blotted out before peace can be restored. 3. A prayer for purification. There is here a recognition — (1) Of his perilous position; and (2) Of his personal accountability: "nay sin." II. THE PENITENT'S PLEA. He does not plead past purity, pious parentage, public position, princely prowess; but the plenitude of God's mercy. A "multitude" of tender mercies! (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.} Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. |
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