Purify me from my sins,^[c] 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^[d] from me. Psalm 51:7-11

What is the method the author of this Psalm is using to restore his joy? How is that different from how most people do it? Which do you think is more effective?

Purify me from my sins,^[c] 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^[d] from me. Psalm 51:7-11

What is the source of joy?

Purify me from my sins,^[c] 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^[d] from me. Psalm 51:7-11

Which image speaks more to you about being made sinless “being washed” or “being whiter than snow”? Why?

Purify me from my sins,^[c] 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^[d] from me. Psalm 51:7-11

What is spiritual purity and cleanness?

For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
⁶ But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Psalm51:5,6

What’s the connection between honesty and wisdom?

For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
⁶ But you desire honesty from the womb,
    teaching me wisdom even there. Psalm 51: 5,6 

Explain honesty. Are there loopholes?

For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
⁶ But you desire honesty from the womb,^[b]
    teaching me wisdom even there. Psalm 51: 5,6

Is man basically good or basically evil? What makes you think this way?

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.

Psalm 51: 3,4

Why would David say “Against you and you alone have I sinned?”

Is our sin only against God?

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.

Psalm 51: 3,4

When did you first recognize that you were in rebellion against God?