"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 6 September 2016 with Scripture:Psalm 51:1-10

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 6 September 2016
with Scripture:Psalm 51:1-10
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Psalm 51:11 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David, 2 when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva:
3 (1) God, in your grace, have mercy on me;
in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
4 (2) Wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.
5 (3) For I know my crimes,
my sin confronts me all the time.
6 (4) Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil from your perspective;
so that you are right in accusing me
and justified in passing sentence.
7 (5) True, I was born guilty,
was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me.
8 (6) Still, you want truth in the inner person;
so make me know wisdom in my inmost heart.
9 (7) Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
10 (8) Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
so that the bones you crushed can rejoice.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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This portion of Psalm 51 is also assigned in the lectionary as a reading for Ash Wednesday and the fifth Sunday in Lent (year B). The Lutheran Study Bible footnote states, "The Psalmist or writer uses three different words for the same thing, 'my transgressions,... my iniquity,... my sin,... emphasizing the magnitude of personal sin.'" Magnitude of personal sin--that is a lot of sin. This psalm is traditionally understood as King David's awareness of his behavior with Bathsheba and his part in the death of Uriah. But given that this psalm is included in the lectionary three times would also suggest that this cry of confession in the psalm is not just David's confession but ours, too. God's people are called to confess over and over again, called to an awareness of the magnitude of their sin so that an awareness of God's forgiveness might also be comprehended.
God of grace, with David we confess the magnitude of our sin and pray for your forgiveness. Give us confidence and trust that our sins are wiped away and that we are cleansed and set free. Amen.
Peggy Paugh Leuzinger, '88
Rivers of Faith Lutheran Parish, Livingston and Wilsall, Mont. 
Psalm 51:1 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; 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 spirit within me.[New Revised Standard Version]
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