Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017 Psalm
51:1-14
Psalm 51:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
Create in Me
a Clean Heart, O God
To the
choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him,
after he had gone in to Bathsheba.
51 Have
mercy on me,[a] 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 only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgement.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
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 only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgement.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
The portion of scripture is known
as a penitential psalm in which David confesses his sin with Bathsheba in an
intensely personal lament over his sin. His words are used in the church’s
liturgy. Vv. 10-12 in the Offertory, v. 15 in the opening sentences of Matins
and Vespers and as the Introit for Ash Wednesday. David not only explains sin and its deadly consequences as powerfully
present in all people, but he also unfolds God’s re-creative mercy as He works
repentance and forgiveness. The format of this psalm; Vv. 1-2 an opening appeal
for mercy; Vv. 3-6 a confession of sin, v.7 a prayer for cleansing. [1]
The first part of confession is
that we confess, that is, we acknowledge, our sin. Luther reminds us, “When I urge you to go to Confession, I am
doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian.”[2]
To be a Christian is to
acknowledge our need of forgiveness. Especially on this day, Ash Wednesday, we
should be cognizant and much aware of our need for God’s forgiveness. The
writer to the Hebrews reminds us, “Let us
then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive
mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
The Lenten season is upon us once again, O Lord God, and we come to You
with the sign of ashes, and the sign of what we are and what we have been. With
repentant hearts, we come to You, begging You for forgiveness and life.[3]
Almighty God, you have created me out of the
dust of the earth: Grant that these ashes may be to me a sign of my mortality
and penitence that I may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we
are given everlasting life; through Jesus Christ my Savior. Amen[4]
Savior, the season of Lent is upon us. You have directed us to come
imploring- crying out in Your Father’s name. As we have experienced the
Father’s mercy and love, which You earned for us, may we demonstrate this same
mercy with others especially those who do not yet know You for You demand both
mercy as well as sacrifice from those who would bear Your name.[5]
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