Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Thursday after Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2017     Psalm 51:14-19  

Psalm 51:14-19 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.


18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
    build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
    in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

The anguished cry of confession from the depths of guilt finds God’s absolution and renewal on the certain footing of grace alone. Sin is an inheritance, born in us, ever damaging us. None of our works can ever set us free from terror, despair, or death. However, God has blotted out even the worst of our sins – adultery and murder – by Jesus’ sacrifice. 1

After David made confession of his sin, he now demonstrates the fruits of a contrite heart. Repentant believers are those who are sorry for their sin (contrition) and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior (faith). See Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and, finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.2 

[1] The Lutheran Study Bible, © 2009 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis

[2] Collect for Thursday after Ash Wednesday, http://www.liturgies.net/Lent/LentenCollects.htm

Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things