Background
This Psalm has the title “Michtam,” which literally means an engraving. Psalms 56 through 60 all begin with this title. It is first seen in its only other occurrence—Psalm 16. All six of these titles deal with the Messiah’s death and resurrection.
Background
The Psalm’s title reads: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.” This refers to the record in II Samuel 11:1—12:23 where David took Bathsheba and was confronted by Nathan. Perhaps Psalm 51 is what David thought or prayed when he “fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth” (II Samuel 12:16).