1. Overview
(NET) Psalm 51. The psalmist confesses his sinfulness to God and begs for forgiveness and a transformation of his inner character. According to the psalm superscription, David offered this prayer when Nathan confronted him with his sin following the king’s affair with Bathsheba (see 2 Sam 11–12). However, the final two verses of the psalm hardly fit this situation, for they assume the walls of Jerusalem have been destroyed and that the sacrificial system has been temporarily suspended. These verses are probably an addition to the psalm made during the period of exile following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The exiles could relate to David’s experience, for they, like him, and had been forced to confront their sin. They appropriated David’s ancient prayer and applied it to their own circumstances.
2. v.1-2
x3 "sin," x2 "loyal love/great compassion"
(NET) In vv. 1b–2 the psalmist uses three different words to emphasize the multifaceted character and degree of his sin. Whatever one wants to call it (“rebellious acts,” “wrongdoing,” “sin”), he has done it and stands morally polluted in God’s sight. The same three words appear in Exod 34:7, which emphasizes that God is willing to forgive sin in all of its many dimensions. In v. 2 the psalmist compares forgiveness and restoration to physical cleansing. Perhaps he likens spiritual cleansing to the purification rites of priestly law.
(BDB) loyal love=of God: kindness, lovingkindness in condescending to the needs of his creatures...in redemption from sin
compassion=according to many denom. from רֶחֶם, orig. brotherhood, brotherly feeling, of those born from same womb
Summary: Because out of His feelings to us as our Creator and family ties, God showed us loyal love and great compassion. David dared to ask God for His forgiveness of his sins because of these.
3. v.3-5
"I am aware of, I am forever conscious, I have sinned, I have done, you are just when you confront me, you are right when you condemn me."
David admitted the sinful acts that he had done.
"A sinner" or "in sin did my mother conceive me" David admitted that his sin is not a one time thing. He had the sin nature.
4. v.6-8
"you desire, you want"
want=(NET) The Hiphil verbal form is causative, while the imperfect is used in a modal sense to indicate God’s desire (note the parallel verb “desire”).
In v.1-2 the background of asking forgiveness is the love and compassion of God. But here, the background is the unmatched reality to God's desire for his life. Therefore, he went back again to plead God for forgiveness in v.7-8
v.8 Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven.
May the bones you crushed rejoice.
(NET) Heb “cause me to hear happiness and joy.” The language is metonymic: the effect of forgiveness (joy) has been substituted for its cause. The psalmist probably alludes here to an assuring word from God announcing that his sins are forgiven (a so-called oracle of forgiveness). The imperfect verbal form is used here to express the psalmist’s wish or request. The synonyms “happiness” and “joy” are joined together as a hendiadys to emphasize the degree of joy he anticipates.
x3 "joy" from the state of "crushed bone"
Conclusion: This will be greatest differences in one's feeling. His petition being grant, the expectation of God to his life no longer being disappointed, and from being condemned to being forgiven will bring this effect to David.
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