The Cross in David’s Confession (Psalm 51) – Brad Jersak

As I’ve stated in A More Christlike Word and previous articles, the Psalms often begin with what seem to be musical superscriptions. These ‘liner notes’ also frequently signal Messianic content, especially with the words, “To the end” (mistranslated “for the choir director” in many Bibles).

“To the end” or “Unto the telos” is like a dedication to the coming One—the Messiah—who would fulfill the words of the Psalm as Israel’s Deliverer, especially through the Cross of Christ. The Psalm will anticipate a telos—a completion or fulfillment—an “it is finished” through the good news of Jesus and also in us. That is, the gospel is set on bringing us to completion, too—to our telos—transforming us “from glory to glory into the image of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

On this note, I revisited David’s famous confession in Psalm 51, his heartfelt prayer of contrition (if not also self-absorbed) after his scandalous exploitation of Bathsheba and de facto murder of her husband.

Last night I noticed that Psalm 51 also begins with “Unto the end” and it struck me that while Christians have often emulated David’s repentance by praying this Psalm, I should take note of how David’s requests also prophesy the Cross of Christ directly and explicitly.

In such cases, it’s not that every line applies to Jesus or the gospel, but in this striking example watch how I am able to read every line except vs. 5 and 19 [which need further thought] through the Cross!

On the Cross you will

• ¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
• according to your steadfast love;
• according to your abundant mercy,

On the Cross you will

• blot out my transgressions.

On the Cross you will

• ² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
• and cleanse me from my sin.

• ³ For

AT the Cross

• I know my transgressions,
• and my sin is ever before me.

AT the Cross

• ⁴ Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
• and done what is evil in your sight,
• so that

AT the Cross

• you are justified in your sentence
• and blameless when you pass judgment.

• ^[5 Indeed, I was conceived in iniquities, 
•     in iniquities did my mother conceive me.]

AT the Cross

• ⁶ You desire truth in the inward being;
• therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

On the Cross you will

• ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

On the Cross you will

•     wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

AT the Cross

• ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;

AT the Cross

• let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

On the Cross you will

• ⁹ Hide your face from my sins,
• and blot out all my iniquities.

On the Cross you will

• ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God,
• and put a new and right spirit within me.

AT the Cross

• ¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence,
• and do not take your holy spirit from me.

On the Cross you will

• ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
• and sustain in me a willing spirit.

• ¹³ Then

AT the Cross

• I will teach transgressors your ways,
• and sinners will return to you.

On the Cross you will

• ¹⁴ Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
• O God of my salvation, and

AT the Cross

• my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

AT the Cross

• ¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
• and my mouth will declare your praise.
• ¹⁶ For

AT the Cross

• you have no delight in sacrifice;
• if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

AT the Cross

• ¹⁷ The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;

AT the Cross

• a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

On the Cross you will

• ¹⁸ Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;

On the Cross you will

•  rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

• ¹⁹ then

AT the Cross

• you will delight in right sacrifices,
• [in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

• then bulls will be offered on your altar.]

Reading the Psalm this way, David’s painful confession and sincere repentance meet the Cross, with a final answer:

“David (and Bradley), I’ve heard your prayer. At the Cross, it is done, finished, fulfilled, accomplished. Your sins were and are and will be forgiven.”

I don’t pray this prayer as if Christ had not already accomplished it.

Nor do I pray this prayer as if I don’t need to.

Rather, my heart needs to keep hearing the good news, that I can always bring my missteps, however minor or colossal, to the foot of the Cross, where the once-forever Cross of Christ ever-again cleanses my heart of fear, shame, and alienation. At the Cross, most of all, I remember that I am loved.

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