Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

King David in Psalm 51:5 NIV

Please note there are many references made to various portions in this Psalm. It might be good to first read Psalm 51 completely!

A Penetrating Acknowledgement

  1. Who spoke these words?
    King David
  2. What led him to say such thing?
    The prophet Nathan brought David's adultery and murder to light.
  3. What does David ask from God?
    Mercy and the blotting out of his sins (verse 1)
  4. On what does he base his plea?
    On the fact that he acknowledges his transgression (verse 3 & 4)
  5. What do we call this acknowledgement?
    Conviction of sin, confession of sin.
  6. What does David mean by "I was sinful at birth?"
    That he was sinful at the very time he started life.
  7. What is meant with "sinful from the time my mother conceived me."
    The evil nature was common to him and the mother who gave him birth.
  8. What does it not mean?
    That his mother committed a sin while conceiving David.
  9. What does King David mean by his confession?
    He means that he sees himself bad through and through, not only in act but in nature.

A deep-seated Evil

  1. Where does David place his sinfulness?
    In his nature
  2. What does this teach us?
    That our sinful acts are the result of a deeper evil.
  3. Where does this evil reside?
    In our inner being.
  4. What does the fact that we are "Sinful at birth" teach us?
    That we cannot reform ourselves.
  5. How does David show that this condition is common to all humans?
    By stating that he was sinful by the time his mother conceived him.
  6. What great fact concerning sin does this bring about?
    That it is inherited and universal.
  7. What effect had this experience on David?
    It made him long from cleansing and inner purity.
  8. What does this fact teach us?
    That apart from God's power our case is hopeless.

A Cry for Renewal

  1. Why did David utter this confession?
    In order to get a new heart from God  (verse 10)
  2. What word shows that only God could deal with his sinful nature?
    He says in verse 10 "Create in me a pure heart."
  3. What does this word "Create" teach us?
    That nothing avails but an entire new creature.
  4. How did David show his confidence that this renewal would take place?
    He says: "A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Verse 17)
  5. What lesson does this teach us?
    That a conviction of sin is a cause of hope, not of despair!

Text Twenty One

Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939