Psalm 51

With thanks to page sponsor:
Calling all serving in ministries
 or in training!
Please answer a research survey
on your spiritual journey
and ministerial or
priestly formation!
Click here to take survey.
(Jan0809)

• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV, Common Worship Psalter, ASB Psalter, and BCP Psalter) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Comparative World Scriptures from United Communities of Spirit:
    • "Ill"
    • "Atonement and Forgiveness" 
    • "Purity" 
    • "Repentance, Confession and Restitution" 
  • Chapter XVIII of The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Clement of Rome (ca. 96).
  • Chapter II of the Epistle of Barnabas. (ca. 130)
  • III.XVII.2, IV.XVII.1, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180) 
  • Chapter V, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter XII, On Prayer,  Tertullian (c. 199)
  • III.12, Paedagogus, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.1, IV.17, IV.18, VII.3, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter XXI, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
  • I.III.2, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • VII.XXXIII, VII.XLV, VII.L, Against Celsus, Origen (c. 246)
  • On the Mortality -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Epistle LXXVI -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 255)
  • Epistle LXXX -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 257)
  • From Augustine's Exposition on the Psalms.
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  • From Wesley's Notes.
  • "Unimpeachable Justice: Psalm 51:4," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1856.
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  • "The Wordless Book: Psalm 51:7," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1911.
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, Psalm 51:1-17 (Ash Wednesday), James Limburg, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "Our brothers and sisters in the faith before us have provided two important keys for unlocking this psalm."
  • Commentary, Psalm 51:1-12 (Lent 5B), Robert L. Hubbard, Jr., Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
    • "I may not like Lent, but this is what Lent does for me: I humbly hand myself over to God - to be sure, filthy, broken, and in despair - and he lovingly "restores" me to his favor."
  • Psalm 51:1-12, (Lent 5B) The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
  • Commentary, Psalm 51 / Romans 7:14-25, Marvin A. McMickle, The African American Lectionary, 2008.
    • "Psalm 51 employs a series of increasingly aggressive measures meant to remove sin from our lives."
  • Join the Feast, Psalm 51, Andrew-Taylor-Troutman, Union PSCE, 2009.
    • "In recent years, scholars have investigated this pericope from liberationist and feminist points of view in an effort to view the story from “the underside” or in solidarity with historically oppressed peoples. As Psalm 51 purports to give David’s perspective, these types of critical readings would present a balanced view, if not a helpful corrective."
  • "The Confession of a King," The Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin, Journey with Jesus Foundation, 2009. 2006 reflection.
    • "Joan Chittister, a Benedictine nun and author of some twenty-five books, returns time and again to the themes of personal failure and struggle. One mistake we often make, she suggests, is to accept perfection as our standard or goal."
  • "Regeneration," commentary by Samuel Wells, The Christian Century, 2000. At Religion Online.
    • "Two simple questions expose the differences between neighborhood regeneration and God’s renewal: What is the problem and what is the solution?"
  • 17th Sunday after Pentecost: Psalm 51, The Autumn Leaves: Pages from the Psalter for Late Pentecost, James Limburg, Texts in Context, Word & World, Luther Seminary, 1992.
    • "The psalm begins with a request for forgiveness. This request is rooted in God's 'steadfast love' or hesed in Hebrew, which is given classic definition in the story of Hosea's love for his unfaithful wife (Hosea 1 - 3) and the picture of a parent's love for a rebelling child (Hosea 11)."
  • "Bring Me Close, Lord," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
• Articles & Background:
  • "U2: Unexpected Prophets," Steven R. Harmon, (other resources at) "Singing Our Lives," Christian Reflection, 2006.
    • "Arguably the most successful rock band in the world, U2 not only cries out against injustice, but also dares to imagine an alternative in light of the Christian vision."
  • "The Logic and Lyric of Contrition," Robert C. Roberts, Wheaton College. Theology Today, July 1993.
    • "Penitence is a solidity of character nurtured by action after action, insight after insight, that consolidate the self in the terms of contrition...an emotion (I call it contrition) is the centerpiece and moving force of the process of repentance and the formation of a new self."
  • The Lowly Hyssop: Mother of the Za'tar Spice, by Nogah Hareuveni. From the topic of the month: Perfumes & Spices in Jewish Heritage Online Magazine #13.
• ATLASerials is now available on multiple platforms.  Direct links are currently available for ATLASerials via EBSCOhost and ATLA platforms when you are subscribed and logged in to ATLAS on one of these platforms. If you are unsure about which link to choose, please contact support@atla.com.
  • Barton, Mukti, "I Am Black and Beautiful," Black Theology, 2004.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brooks, Claire Vonk, "Between Text and Sermon: Psalm 51," Interpretation, 1995.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Cohen, Charles, "Two Biblical Models of Conversion: An Example of Puritan Hermeneutics," Church History, 1989.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gaiser, Frederick J., "The David of Psalm 51: Reading Psalm 51 in Light of Psalm 50," Word & World, 2003.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Goldingay, John, "Psalm 51:16a (English 51:14a)," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1978.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Harmon, Kathleen, Music Notes (Psalm 51), Liturgical Ministry, 1995.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kselman, John S., S.S., "A Note on Ps 51:6," Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1977.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Limburg, James, "The Autumn Leaves: Pages from the Psalter for Late Pentecost," Word & World, 1992. (The section on this text begins on page 273.)
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Mays, James Luther, "The David of the Psalms," Interpretation, 1986.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Miller, Patrick D., "Preaching Repentance in a Narcissistic Age: Psalm 51," Journal for Preachers, 1998.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Oxtoby, Gurdon Corning, "Conscience and Confession," Interpretation, 1949.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Roberts, Robert C., "The Logic and Lyric of Contrition," Theology Today, 1993.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Rosenblit, Barbara Ellison, "David, Bat Sheva, and the Fifty-First Psalm," Cross Currents, 1995.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Spielman, Larry W., "David's Abuse of Power," Word & World, 1999. (Section begins on page 258.)
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Tanner, Beth, "Preaching the Penitential Psalms," Word & World, 2007.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Walton, Jon M., "Imposition," Journal for Preachers, 2006. Sermon.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Weber, Timothy, "Mercy and Our Many Selves: A Meditation on Psalm 51," Currents in Theology and Mission, 1986.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Wells, Samuel, "Regeneration," The Christian Century, 2000.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Zink, J.K., "Uncleanness and Sin: A Study of Job XIV 4 and Psalm LI 7," Vetus Testamentum, 1967.
      ATLAS via ATLA Image Browse - ATLAS via ATLA PDF
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Reviews:
• Sermons:
  • "The Thunk, the Gap, and the Six A's," the Rev. Mark Sargent, Day 1, 2009.
  • "The Only Cure for Guilt," John Jewell, 2000.
• With Children:
  • "Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "How to Install Love," Rick Anderson, dramatix.
• Liturgy:
  • Responsive Liturgical Paraphrase at The Billabong by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia:
    • Proper B13/Ordinary B18
    • Lent B5
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
  • Psalm 51:10, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • Commercial Site: video, "Psalm 51," The Work of the People.
  • Bulletin Cover/Art, Psalm 51, John Stuart, Knoxville, TN. (Free use by churches.)
• Hymns and Music:
  • Contemporary/Praise Song suggestions, Together to Celebrate, David MacGregor.
  • Psalm 51, David Carr, The Emergent Psalter, 2009.
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Psalm 51. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
  • Hymn Selections, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • "O God, Be Merciful to Me," original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Limestone Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Delaware.
  • "Create in Me a Clean Heart," lyrics, midi, sheet music, mp3. Stephen J. Pearson, The Psalmistry.
  • Psalm Settings by Dale A. Schoening, Metrical Psalms
    • Psalm 51:1-10 set to Canonbury (LM 88 88)
    • Psalm 51:1-12 set to Canonbury (LM 88 88)
    • Psalm 51:1-17 set to Canonbury (LM 88 88)
  • The Psalmistry: Psalm 51 - All Psalms Music: original Christian sheet music, lyrics, guitar chords, midi, mp3 files for all 150 Psalms. See Terms of Use.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Psalms