Sometimes the most difficult prayers we pray are prayers of confession. When we truly come to understand our actions have caused harm to others, to ourselves, and our relationship with God we may find ourselves praying much like David did in Psalm 51. There is no doubt the psalmist felt the weight of sin and was willing to take God’s judgment and punishment. The writer was also willing to change – to allow God to change his very heart which has been broken and humbled. Confession for the sake of a change of heart and character is a difficult prospect, but it opens the door to honest and closer relationships with God, ourselves, and our neighbors. It also recognizes the far reaching effects, even in our average lives.
Today’s psalm reading is also today’s prayer. May we all have the courage to live into the grace of the prayer, in the assurance of forgiveness in Christ, and the change of heart through the Holy Spirit.
1
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;[a]
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.
12
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing[c] spirit.
13
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
15
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
17
The sacrifice acceptable to God[d] is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
19
then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.