Psa 32 and
51, written by David after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah the
Hittite, records his repentance and, in light of Rom 4:6-8, his being rejustified. According to many
Reformed authors, David was justified before
he wrote Psa 32 and 51. Note the following from George Smeaton (1814-1889) in
his book on the Holy Spirit:
In the 51st Psalm David prays: “Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me” (Ps.
li. 11). David had grievously sinned, and in that psalm, which contains the
expression of his repentance, he penitently prays that the Holy Spirit may not
be taken from him. Previous to his fall
he must have tasted the joy of God’s salvation, and possessed that free
Spirit, when he pleads with such a vehement desire for its restoration. Here,
for the first time, we have the epithet HOLY connected with the Spirit of God.
He is not only the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of power but the Holy
Spirit. And in another psalm He is designed the GOOD Spirit. (George Smeaton, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit [London:
The Banner of Truth Trust, 1958], 25, emphasis in bold added)
On why this,
coupled with Paul’s use of David as an example of justification, disproves
Reformed soteriology, see:
