Purge Your Inward Parts (Psalm 51)

Read Psalm 51 and 2 Samuel 11:1-12:13).

1. What is the basis of David's plea for mercy and cleansing of his sin (Ps 51:1-2; Exo 34:6-7)?
2. How did his sin affect him (Ps 51:3, 8, 12; 13:2; 38:2, 6)? Who is ultimately offended by his sin (Ps 51:4)? 
• How bad do you feel about your sin (Ps 51:17)?
• Does this challenge you to look at your life and sin differently (Num 32:23)?
3. What did he realize about his sin (Ps 51:5; Gen 8:21)? About God (Ps 51:6; 19:14; 139:24)? Did he try to hide his sin (2 Sam 11:5, 14-15)? What happens when you hide your sin (Ps 32:3-4; Prov 28:13a)? How did God expose his sin (2 Sam 12:1-10)? Did he make excuses for his sin (2 Sam 12:13-14; Ps 32:5)?
4. How spotlessly clean do you sincerely desire to be (Ps 51:7-10)?
• How very close to God do you wish to be (Ps 51:11)? 
• How did Isaiah feel in God's very presence (Isa 6:5)?
5. After you repent, do you ultimately desire to teach others about God (Ps 51:13-15; 32:8)?
6. How do you cultivate a broken and contrite heart (Ps 51:16-17)?
7. How does David's prayer for Zion and Jerusalem translate into your prayers for your own church, community, city and country (Ps 51:18-19)?
   
8. Do you commit adultery and murder like David (Mt 5:21-22, 27-28; Rom 7:15, 17, 18, 19, 23)? What can you do (Rom 7:24-25; Lk 18:9-14)? 

• How can you implement the teaching of Psalm 51 in your daily life?
• How does Psalm 51 challenge our notions of sin, confession, forgiveness and community?