Tehillim / Psalms 51, Part 1, The Sacrifice of Righteousness and the Torah

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This week’s study is from Tehillim / Psalms 51:1-19, David opens the Psalm saying א  לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: A psalm of David.  David asks the Lord to forgive his sin saying ב  בְּבוֹא-אֵלָיו נָתָן הַנָּבִיא כַּאֲשֶׁר-בָּא אֶל-בַּת-שָׁבַע: ג  חָנֵּנִי אֱלֹהִים כְּחַסְדֶּךָ כְּרֹב רַחֲמֶיךָ מְחֵה פְשָׁעָי: 51:1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. (NASB)  He confesses his sins before the Lord, a thing that is characteristic of those who belong to the Lord (51:2-4).  As part of his confession, he says that he was brought forth in iniquity and in sin he was conceived (51:5, ו   לְךָ לְבַדְּךָ | חָטָאתִי וְהָרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ עָשִֹיתִי לְמַעַן-תִּצְדַּק בְּדָבְרֶךָ תִּזְכֶּה בְשָׁפְטֶךָ: ) What does it mean to be conceived in sin and why would he need to recognize this about his conception?  How does this compare to the Lord desiring truth be found in the inner most being? (51:6)  How does the Lord make us to know wisdom?  David asks to be purified drawing a parallel to the cleansing ritual detailed in the Torah (51:7).  David says יא   הַסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מֵחֲטָאָי וְכָל-עֲוֹנֹתַי מְחֵה: יב  לֵב טָהוֹר בְּרָא-לִי אֱלֹהִים וְרוּחַ נָכוֹן חַדֵּשׁ בְּקִרְבִּי:  51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (NASB)  He asks the Lord to 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. (NASB)  After the Lord has done all of these things, he will teach transgressors God’s ways.  Being taught the way of God causes a sinner to be converted.  What is the meaning of conversion in this sense? (51:13) Read more here: Tehillim 51-Part1