Ps. 51.11 (David into Saul)

“Do not banish me / from your presence
and your holy spirit / do not take from me.” 

Up until this point David’s pleas have focused on God’s action in removing his rebellion, whether through blotting out or washing or cultic cleansing (or, indeed, in a new act of creation). Here, for the first time, however, David’s request focuses on asking God to not do something. And, importantly, the form of judgment that David is most concerned about is that which would remove him from God’s presence. This sense of exclusion has been present, though subtle, already in David’s request to “hear joy and gladness” (participating within festal and liturgical gathering). Here, however, David’s concern is that Cain-like his sin will result in God’s banishing (or, casting) him away from himself. This points in two directions: first, that God’s presence itself is holy and will actively cast out that which rebels against it or is impure; second, that God’s presence is the source of life and joy for David. As we have seen throughout, this is the line that sin forces David to straddle. On the one hand, he knows and accepts his own rebellion. On the other, he pleads for ‘abundant mercy’.  The second action is just as forceful: “do not take your holy spirit away from me.” We see here not the removal of sin/rebellion, but the removal of God’s presence and his empowering spirit. Indeed, it is because of this potential for removal that David pleads that his rebellion be removed. Both actions, the banishment and the removal seem particularly severe and threatening. To be banished from God presence, as with Cain, is to be placed outside of his protection. To have his holy spirit taken from you is to be made ‘Saul-like’, a wind tossed by every wind and entirely unstable. Both prospects are dire and haunting. And David is clearly aware that his sin has potentially placed in this sphere of God’s absence.