17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
17 I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, OÂ God.
18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.
18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.
18 Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!
18 We will never turn our back on you; breathe life into our lungs so we can shout your name!
18 Then we will not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.
18 Then we will never abandon you again. Revive us so we can call on your name once more.
(Read Psalm 80:17-19)
The Messiah, the Protector and Saviour of the church, is the Man of God's right hand; he is the Arm of the Lord, for all power is given to him. In him is our strength, by which we are enabled to persevere to the end. The vine, therefore, cannot be ruined, nor can any fruitful branch perish; but the unfruitful will be cut off and cast into the fire. The end of our redemption is, that we should serve Him who hath redeemed us, and not go back to our old sins.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 51:17
Commentary on Psalm 51:16-19
(Read Psalm 51:16-19)
Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.