REPENTANCE

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

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UNDERSTANDING

Psalms of David (Psalms 51–65, 68–70). The first ten of these psalms (51–60) contain superscriptions that often indicate the precise situation David was in when he wrote that particular psalm. When we enter these psalms, we are entering a very tumultuous, dark period in David’s life. He is caught in sin. He is fleeing from Saul. He is captured by the Philistines. He is in fear for his life. These are psalms written for turbulent times. At first, it may seem odd that these psalms are included in the Bible as acts of worship. However, once again, when reading or singing the psalms, one has to recognize the much wider scope of the psalms than any collection of hymns or choruses we have encountered. These are psalms for the whole of life. Psalms written in times of anguish, repentance, and grief are just as important as psalms written for moments of joy and celebration.

Psalm 51 is the fourth of the seven Penitential Psalms, and reflects David’s repentance after being confronted by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12 for his adultery with Bathsheba. The depth of David’s repentance and his anguish before God make this one of the most poignant psalms in the book. What makes this prayer of repentance so powerful (and so important for us) is that David clearly understands that his sin is much more than breaking the seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exod. 20:14) or his violation of the dignity of Bathsheba. It is, of course, never less than these things, but David understands two foundational truths about sin, which remain true for all of us. First, David understands that he has sinned against God himself: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight” (v. 4). All sin, at its root, is a disregard for the holiness of God and is a sin against him. The gulf he is in is not between himself and a commandment, but between himself and a holy God, who is the giver of the commandments.

Second, David expresses in this psalm that he is a sinner. He does not see himself as a good man who has sinned, or as is often said today, “made a mistake.” Rather, David sees himself bound to a sinful nature. We are not sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. This is what Martin Luther called the bondage of the will. We are sinners, and therefore, no kind of inner resolve or self-help plan or resolutions can deliver us. Our only hope is in God’s action in our lives. He must cleanse us and make us white as snow (v. 7). He must create in us a pure heart (v. 10). He must draw us into his presence and empower us with his Holy Spirit (v. 11).

This psalm underscores one of the great mysteries of the Christian message. On the one hand, the Bible says that we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13). It does not say that sin has merely made us spiritually ill, or, like a ball and chain, merely impedes us in some way. The Bible says that we are spiritually dead. On the other hand, the Scriptures are filled with commands that call us to act or respond in some way.

We are called to come, to repent, to believe, and to return, among other things. Yet, dead people cannot do any of these things. The Bible resolves this mystery through the meditation of God’s Grace. In the midst of our spiritual death, God grants us sufficient Grace, which enables us to respond to His call. At that point, we must take steps to come before God, confess our sins, and repent. None of this would be possible apart from His Grace, but once enabled, we have real choices to make. David was dead in his sin. Yet, God sent the prophet Nathan as an extension of Grace. David responded through an act of repentance, and God restored him. We, too, must repent of our sins, knowing that, in the end, only God can make us new and restore us before His Holy Presence.

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The Seven Penitential Psalms

Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143—are a traditional group of biblical prayers (often attributed to King David) focused on repentance, confession of sin, and pleading for God's mercy.

The Seven Penitential Psalms (Common Numbering):

• Psalm 6: A prayer for mercy in time of distress, asking for healing and deliverance.

• Psalm 32: A psalm of1 thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins, highlighting the joy of being forgiven.

• Psalm 38: A cry for help from a suffering sinner who feels the weight of guilt and divine punishment

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• Psalm 51: The Miserere—a profound prayer for cleansing and mercy, traditionally linked to David's repentance.

• Psalm 102: A prayer of an afflicted person, pleading for God's help and restoration.

• Psalm 130: The De Profundis—a cry from the depths for divine mercy and waiting on the Lord.

• Psalm 143: A final plea for guidance and deliverance from enemies.

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 Psalm 6: A prayer for mercy in time of distress, asking for healing and deliverance.

O Lord, Deliver My Life

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.[a] A Psalm of David.

6 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?

4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears I drench my couch with my weeping.

7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;

    they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Psalm 32: A psalm of1 thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins, highlighting the joy of being forgiven.

32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

    whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

    through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

    my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly

    offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;

surely in the rush of great waters,

    they shall not reach him.

7 You are a hiding place for me;

    you preserve me from trouble;

    you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

    which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

    or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

    but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 38: A cry for help from a suffering sinner who feels the weight of guilt and divine punishment

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

38 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

2 For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

3 There is no soundness in my flesh

because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones

because of my sin.

4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

5 My wounds stink and fester

because of my foolishness,

6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;

all the day I go about mourning.

7 For my sides are filled with burning,

and there is no soundness in my flesh.

8 I am feeble and crushed;

I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

9 O Lord, all my longing is before you;

my sighing is not hidden from you.

10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me,

and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.

11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,

and my nearest kin stand far off.

12 Those who seek my life lay their snares;

those who seek my hurt speak of ruin

and meditate treachery all day long.

13 But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,

like a mute man who does not open his mouth.

14 I have become like a man who does not hear,

and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait;

it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.

16 For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,

who boast against me when my foot slips!”

17 For I am ready to fall,

and my pain is ever before me.

18 I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin.

19 But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,

and many are those who hate me wrongfully.

20 Those who render me evil for good

accuse me because I follow after good.

21 Do not forsake me, O Lord!

O my God, be not far from me!

22 Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!

Psalm 51 a profound prayer for cleansing and mercy, traditionally linked to David's repentance.

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 judgment.

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.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right[b] spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from your presence,

and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will return to you.

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.

Psalm 102: A prayer of an afflicted person, pleading for God's help and restoration.

Do Not Hide Your Face from Me

A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the Lord.

102 Hear my prayer, O Lord;

let my cry come to you!

2 Do not hide your face from me

in the day of my distress!

Incline your ear to me;

answer me speedily in the day when I call!

3 For my days pass away like smoke,

and my bones burn like a furnace.

4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;

I forget to eat my bread.

5 Because of my loud groaning

my bones cling to my flesh.

6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,

like an owl[a] of the waste places;

7 I lie awake;

I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.

8 All the day my enemies taunt me;

those who deride me use my name for a curse.

9 For I eat ashes like bread

and mingle tears with my drink,

10 because of your indignation and anger;

for you have taken me up and thrown me down.

11 My days are like an evening shadow;

I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever;

you are remembered throughout all generations.

13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;

it is the time to favor her;

the appointed time has come.

14 For your servants hold her stones dear

and have pity on her dust.

15 Nations will fear the name of the Lord,

and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.

16 For the Lord builds up Zion;

he appears in his glory;

17 he regards the prayer of the destitute

and does not despise their prayer.

18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,

so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:

19 that he looked down from his holy height;

from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,

20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,

to set free those who were doomed to die,

21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord,

and in Jerusalem his praise,

22 when peoples gather together,

and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

23 He has broken my strength in midcourse;

he has shortened my days.

24 “O my God,” I say, “take me not away

in the midst of my days—

you whose years endure

throughout all generations!”

25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,

27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.

28 The children of your servants shall dwell secure;

their offspring shall be established before you.

Psalm 130: A cry from the depths for divine mercy and waiting on the Lord.

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!

2 O Lord, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive

to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness,

that you may be feared.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope;

6 my soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen for the morning,

more than watchmen for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

and with him is plentiful redemption.

8 And he will redeem Israel

from all his iniquities.

Psalm 143: A final plea for guidance and deliverance from enemies.

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

143 Hear my prayer, O Lord;

give ear to my pleas for mercy!

In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!

2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,

for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;

he has crushed my life to the ground;

he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.

4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;

my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all that you have done;

I ponder the work of your hands.

6 I stretch out my hands to you;

my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!

My spirit fails!

Hide not your face from me,

lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,

for in you I trust.

Make me know the way I should go,

for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!

I have fled to you for refuge.[a]

10 Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God!

Let your good Spirit lead me

on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!

In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,

and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,

for I am your servant.

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