Psalm 51 / Leader Guide week of 11/2/08

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 2, 2008

Series: Honest To God
Message: Dear God, Sometimes I Wonder If You
Can Ever Forgive Me
Psalm 51

Getting Started:
1. Have you ever wondered if a sin you committed was more than God would forgive?

Going Deeper:
2. Read Acts 3:19 and Psalm 51:1. The verse in Acts refers to repentance. Is David showing this repentance in the Psalm verse? Why or why not?

3. Read Psalm 51:3. Do you think David is saying that, in general, he is aware of his overall sinfulness? Or, do you think he has something specific in mind? If you think he is referring to something specific, what is it?

• Before the psalm begins, we read, “For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.”
• Apparently, David does have something specific in mind.
• If you’re not familiar with David’s actions regarding Bathsheba and her husband, read about them in 2Samuel, chapters 11 and 12.
• David definitely has something specific in mind. That said, it is also clear that he understands that he is sinful by nature, to his very core.

4. Read Psalm 51:4. Did David sin against God alone or against someone else? What does he mean by saying “against you, you only, have I sinned”? Read 2Samuel 11 and 12.

• Here is what the NASB study Bible says: David acknowledges that his sin was preeminently against God. He had violated specific covenant stipulations.
• Preeminently means, “above all” or “in particular” and “especially”

5. What does the bible teach about when life begins? Does verse 5 give any indication about what God thinks regarding this question? What about these verses: Psalm 139:13-16, Luke 1:41-44, Ephesians 2:10, Jeremiah 1:5?

• From these verses it appears that: God is involved in the “knitting together” of our inmost being, God’s eyes see our unformed bodies even before birth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb reacted to the presence of an as yet unborn Jesus by leaping for joy, God prepares good works in advance for those not yet born, God knows us before we are formed in the womb.

6. In verse 5, David says he was sinful since the time of his conception. Are people really sinful from the time of conception? Are people counted in God’s sight as sinners before they are even born? If so, what are the implications of this belief?

• The Bible tells us that even if an infant or child has not committed personal sin, all people, including infants and children, are guilty before God because of inherited and imputed sin. Inherited sin is that which is passed on from our parents. Reproduction happens "each according to its kind." Sinners beget sinners. In Psalm 51:5, David wrote, "I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me." David recognized that even at conception, he was a sinner. The very sad fact that infants sometimes die demonstrates that even infants are impacted by Adam’s sin, since physical and spiritual death is the result of Adam's original sin. Each person, infant or adult, stands guilty before God. The only way that God can be just and at the same time declare a person righteous is for that person to have received forgiveness by faith in Christ. Christ is the only way. John 14:6 records what Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." Also, Peter stated in Acts 4:12, "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Salvation is an individual choice. But, what about babies and young children who never reach the ability to make this individual choice? Consider the following: Christ's death is presented as sufficient for all of mankind. 1 John 2:2 says Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world." This verse is clear that Jesus' death was sufficient for all sins, not just the sins of those who specifically have come to Him in faith. The fact that Christ's death was sufficient for all sin would allow the possibility of God applying that payment to those who were never capable of believing. The one passage that seems to identify with this topic more than any other is 2 Samuel 12:21-23. The context of these verses is that King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, with a resulting pregnancy. The prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to inform David that because of his sin, the Lord would take the child in death. David responded to this by grieving, mourning, and praying for the child. But, once the child was taken, David's mourning ended. David's servants were surprised to hear this. They said to King David, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." David's response was, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." David's response might be seen as an argument that those who cannot believe are safe in the Lord. David said that he could go to the child, but that he could not bring the child back to him. Also, and just as important, David seemed to be comforted over this. In other words, David seemed to be saying that he would once again see the child (in heaven), though he could not bring him back.
• Though the Bible leaves open the possibility, the one problem with saying that God applies Christ's payment for sin to those who can't believe is that the Bible does not specifically say that He does this. Therefore, this is a subject for which we should not be adamant or dogmatic. We can, however, be dogmatic about the fact that God ALWAYS does what is right.

7. If you have read 2Samuel 11 and 12, you are familiar with the extent of David’s various sins. In Psalm 51:7, David says that he can be cleansed to become whiter than snow. Does God really forgive the types of sins David committed?

8. Read verses 16 and 17. Where else have you read statements like that in scripture? What do they teach?

• Matthew 9:13
• Matthew 12:7
• Hebrews 10:5-14

9. A couple of times in this psalm, David refers to a pure, contrite, broken heart and his desire for a willing and broken spirit. Why is David asking for these things?


Putting it into practice:
10. What about this psalm reminds you of you? Pray in your groups for those who are feeling un-forgiven and lay hands on them this week.

Quote Of The Week:
What I envy most about you Christians is your forgiveness; I have nobody to forgive me.
--Marghanita Laski, secular humanist and novelist, before her death in 1988.