Psalms 51:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Against thee, &c.— Injuries done to private persons are offences against government, and, as to the right of punishment, offences only against government. And therefore, though David had injured Bathsheba, whom he had corrupted, and Uriah, whom he had murdered; yet, as no one could call him to an account, or punish him for those crimes, but God only, whose immediate substitute he was, as king of Israel, God himself being properly the supreme governor, he could say, with great propriety and truth, against thee only have I sinned: not as if he had not sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah, and to extenuate his sin; but by way of aggravating his guilt, in that, though he was not arraignable at any earthly tribunal, he was at God's; and that to his punishment he had rendered himself obnoxious, and was worthy of having it inflicted on him in the most exemplary manner. For thus it immediately follows; that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. When Nathan had represented the crying and shameful injustice of the rich man, David declares with an oath, that he was worthy of death, and therefore condemns himself as deserving that punishment: and though God mercifully declared, he shall not die, yet he pronounced a very severe vengeance against him, 2 Samuel 12:11-12. And this sentence he acknowledges to be just. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil, and subjected myself to thy punishment; (למען lemangan,—ita ut; See Noldius upon the word;) so that thou wilt be just, בדברךֶ bedabreka, in what thou hast spoken; i.e. the sentence thou hast pronounced against me; and pure, i.e. free from all reproach, in judging me; that is, shouldst thou pass sentence of condemnation and death against me." Houbigant reads the words, Wash me from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins; that thou mayest hereby be justified in what thou hast spoken, and clear when thou enterest into judgment: And he explains the words, in what thou hast spoken, of God's promises to David, in reference to his glory, and the prosperity of his kingdom. But I apprehend this is too bold a criticism to be easily allowed; nor do I see it at all necessary to vindicate the apostle's citation of these words, Romans 3:4 for there he quotes them only as containing this general truth: that God would be justified in the whole of his procedure with men, and even in the condemnation of the Jews themselves for their unbelief. And nothing could be more applicable to his purpose, than these words of the Psalmist, in the sense in which I have explained them: So that thou wilt be just in thy sentence; thou wilt be pure in the judgment thou hast pronounced. Chandler.