October 5
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PSALM 51 WASH ME O LORD SO I CAN BE WHITE AS SNOW
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 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.
– Psalm 51:1-8
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A poem inspired by this psalm by ILMA
My Lord, please cleanse me from all my sinfulness
I have been so full of myself and gave in to unrighteousness
I find myself being dragged to go against you by forces around me
Please forgive me and grant me mercy so I can triumph over the enemy
Wash me O Lord from all my filthiness, so I can be purified and be white as snow
I have been conceived in sin from my mother’s womb and have been untrue
Remove my sins through the blood of your only Son Jesus
Help me never to forget that you want me to be holy and righteous
Though my nature is evil, I know that you can change that
Grant me a heart that longs to please you and follow your path
Let me be filled with gratitude and a spirit that rejoices in you
Give me repentance of my sins so I can shout out loud with joy
Lord, I worship and adore you for you are steadfast in your love
Take away everything that draw me away from you, my Lord.
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REFLECTION
• Why does the psalmist request God for cleansing? Don’t we do that ourselves?
• Why is it important to remember that we were all conceived in sin as this psalm mentions?