August 19, 2021 — Psalm 50:1 – 53:6

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
⁴ Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. ⁵ Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. ⁶ You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. ⁷ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right^[b] spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:1-11

“Create in me a clean heart, O G-d, and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free spirit.”  Psalm 51 is one of the penitential psalms. Psalm 51 is often called the “Miserere” which is the opening word of the psalm in the Latin translation. It is a personal awareness and reminder of our collective wrongdoing and penitence. Verse 17, which reads “The sacrifice acceptable to G-d is a broken spirit” is a wonderful acknowledgment of human sinfulness which is why it is appointed for Ash Wednesday. 

We are reminded that G-d does not ask a whole lot that is out of our reach, or responsibility – G-d simply wants each one of us to look into our hearts, and realize how broken we all are – and how much we all need G-d’s love, mercy and Grace.

Let us pray,

Dear Lord, create in me a clean heart today. Renew my spirit so that I can do your will and love your people. Amen

Pastor Dave