Psalms 51:14

14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!

Psalms 51:14 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 51:14

Deliver me from blood guiltiness
Or "from bloods" F17; meaning not the corruption of nature; see ( Ezekiel 16:6 ) ; though to be rid of that, and to be free from the guilt and condemnation of it, is very desirable, ( Romans 7:24 ) ; but either from capital punishment in his family, the effusion of blood and slaughter in it, threatened him on account of his sin, ( 2 Samuel 12:10 ) . So the Targum is,

``deliver me from the judgment of slaying or killing;''

or rather from the guilt of the blood of Uriah, and other servants of his, he had been the occasion of shedding, and was chargeable with, being accessary thereunto, ( 2 Samuel 11:15-17 ) ( 12:9 ) ; which lay heavy upon his conscience, pressed him on every side, as if he was in prison, and brought upon him a spirit of bondage to fear; and therefore he prays to be delivered from it, by the application of pardoning grace, which would be like proclaiming liberty to the captive;

O God, thou God of my salvation;
who has contrived it for his people, chosen them to it, secured it for them in covenant, and provided his Son to be the author of it, and sends his Spirit to apply it. The psalmist knew, that being God he could pardon his sin, remove his guilt, and free him from obligation to punishment, which none else could; and being the "God of [his] salvation", and his covenant God, he had reason to hope and believe he would;

[and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness;
goodness, grace, and mercy, in forgiving sin; for "righteousness" sometimes designs clemency, goodness, and mercy; see ( Psalms 31:1 ) ; and faithfulness in making good the divine promise to forgive such who are sensible of sin, and repent of it, acknowledge it, and ask for mercy; or the righteousness of Christ, well known to David, ( Romans 4:6 ) ; which justifies from all sin, removes the guilt of it, and fills the soul with joy and gladness, ( Isaiah 61:10 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Mymdm) "de sanguinibus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Vatablus, Musculus; so Ainsworth.

Psalms 51:14 In-Context

12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.
13 [Then] I will teach your ways to those who are rebellious, and sinners will return to you.
14 Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, my savior. Let my tongue sing joyfully about your righteousness!
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will tell about your praise.
16 You are not happy with any sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one [to you]. You are not pleased with burnt offerings.
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