Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. I. INQUIRE INTO THE MEANING OF A CLEAN HEART, or the proper ingredients and expressions of such a temper of soul. 1. A fixed habitual abhorrence of all forbidden indulgences of the flesh. This is that which principally constitutes a clean heart; and from this all the other fruits and expressions of such a temper will proceed. 2. All past impurities, either of heart or life, will be reflected on with shame and sorrow (Jeremiah 31:19; Ezekiel 16:63; Ezekiel 20:42, 43). 3. A clean heart imports that the heart is actually freed in a good measure from impure thoughts and irregular desires; or at least that they are not entertained with pleasure and delight. He cannot be at rest till they are dispossessed and gone. 4. A clean heart discovers itself by a cautious fear of the least degrees of impurity. He dares not allow himself to go to the utmost bounds of things lawful, because he reckons himself to be then upon a precipice. 5. A clean heart necessarily implies a careful and habitual guard against everything which tends to pollute the mind (Proverbs 4:23). All loose and vicious company will be avoided as much as may be by those who have a clean heart. Intemperance will be carefully avoided by those who have an earnest concern to maintain their purity. II. REPRESENT THE OBLIGATIONS THAT LIE UPON US TO SEEK AFTER SUCH A PURITY OF HEART. 1. A ruling inclination to sensuality is directly contrary to the purity and holiness of the Divine nature. 2. Sensuality has a special tendency to extinguish the light of reason, and to unfit for anything spiritual and sacred. 3. Sensuality is most contrary to the design and engagements of Christianity. Our Lord inculcated the strictest purity upon all His disciples; not only an abstinence from gross outward acts, but from polluting thoughts and desires (Matthew 5:27-30). 4. The blessed hope with which Christianity inspires us, lays us under a forcible engagement to present purity. (1) Those of the contrary temper are absolutely excluded, by the express declarations of the Gospel, from the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10). (2) On the contrary, the promise of the future blessedness is most plainly made to the pure in heart (Matthew 5:8). (J. Evans, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.WEB: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. |
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