Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 51:6

6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom .

Or, delightest in: Or, requirest: Heb. willest.

Either, 1. Sincerity in Confessing my sins; which therefore I have now acknowledged, though hitherto I have Practised much Falshood and Dissimulation in indeavouring to conceal them from Men. Or rather, 2. Integrity or uprightness of Heart; which seems to be here opposed to that Iniquity mentioned in the last Verle, in which he was, and all Men are, framed and Born. And this may seem to be added; Partly, as a Proof or Aggravation, of the sinfulness of Original Corruption, because it is contrary to the holy Nature and Will of God, which requireth not onely unblameableness in mens Actions, but also Universal innocency, and Rectitude of their Minds and Hearts: and Partly as an Aggravation of his actual sin, wherein he had used such gross Deceit and Treachery.

(i. e.) In the Heart, called the hidden Man of the Heart, 1 Pet. 3. 4. and the [illegible: 1 word] Part, Rom. 2. 16. which in the former Branch he called the Reins, or inward Parts.

So declares his Hope, that God would Pardon and cure his [illegible: 1+ letters]olly, which he had discovered, and make him Wiser for the Future. But this seems not to suit well with the Context, which runs wholly in another strain. The word therefore is, and may be rendred otherwise; Thou hast made me to know. So this is another Aggravation of his sin, that it was Committed against that Wisdom and Knowledge, which God had not onely revealed to him outwardly in his Word, but also inwardly by his Spirit writing it in his Heart according to his Promise. Ier. 31. 33. Or thus, do thou make me to know the future Verb, being here taken Imperatively, and as a Prayer; as the following Futures are here Translated, v. 7, 8. Having now said for the Aggravation of his sin, that God did desire or require Truth in t[illegible: 1+ letters]e inward Parts: He takes that Occasion to break forth into Prayer, which also he continues in the following Verses. Onely as he prays there for justification or Pardon of sin, so here he prays for Renovation or Sanctification. So his meaning is this, Therefore (as the Particle, and, is oft used, as hath been shewed) in the hidden Part, do thou make me to know Wisdom. Or thus, tho[illegible: 1+ letters] wouldest have me know: for Futures are oft taken Potentially, as Psal. 118. 6. and Mat. 12. 25. Compared with Mark 3. 24. and elsewhere. And Verbs which signifie, making or causing are sometimes understood onely of the Will or Command; as Ieroboam is said to make Israel to sin, 1 Kings 14. 16. because he Commanded them to do so, Hos. 5. 11. This I propose with Submission, but if this Sence be admitted, the last Clause of the Verse answers very well to the former, as it doth in the foregoing and following Verses, and every where in these Books: For this, thou wouldest have me know, Answers to that, thou willest or desirest; and in the hidden part Answers to that, in the inward Parts; and Wisdom, is the same thing for Substance with Truth, onely called by another Name.

(i. e.) True Piety and Integrity, which is called Wisdom, Iob 28. 28. Psal. 111. 10. and in many other Texts, as sin on the contrary is commonly called, as it really is, Polly. And to know Wisdom, is here meant of knowing it Practically and Experimentally, so as to approve and Love, and Practise it, as Words o[illegible: 1+ letters] knowledge are most frequently taken in Scripture, and in other Authors.

Marginal references: Heb. the Reins.