Psalm 51

2024 Lenten Devotional


“Pray without ceasing,” St. Paul instructs us in 1 Thessalonians, but he gives us few instructions of how to or even what unceasing prayer might look like. That might be because he assumed we would know at least two things: 1) it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to pray; and 2) that the psalmist is perhaps the greatest teacher, other than Jesus, who would show us how.


Psalm 51 is the quintessential psalm of repentance. But it is more than that. It is a masterclass in prayer and throughout these forty days of Lent we will pray with this psalm with our daily Lenten devotional. And, as we do every year, we’ll even begin our Lenten journey by praying together the 51st psalm. As we journey with the psalm, we will come to learn the ways in which we are called to be a people of prayer, a people of unceasing prayer, and how God helps us to do so.


Let us pray.

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness;

in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

 

2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness

and cleanse me from my sin.

 

3 For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is ever before me.

 

4 Against you only have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight.

 

5 And so you are justified when you speak

and upright in your judgment.

 

6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth,

a sinner from my mother's womb.

 

7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me,

and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

 

8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; 

wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

 

9 Make me hear of joy and gladness,

that the body you have broken may rejoice.

 

10 Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquities.




11 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.


12 Cast me not away from your presence

and take not your holy Spirit from me.

 

13 Give me the joy of your saving help again

and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

 

14 I shall teach your ways to the wicked,

and sinners shall return to you.

 

15 Deliver me from death, O God, 

and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,

O God of my salvation.

 

16 Open my lips, O Lord, 

and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

 

17 Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice,

but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.

 

18 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; 

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 

19 Be favorable and gracious to Zion,

and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

 

20 Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,

with burnt-offerings and oblations; 

then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.



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