Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your holy spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice;
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,
then you will delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Questions
1. These psalms come from the Revised Common Lectionary. This is a calendar of scripture for Sundays and special days in the liturgical year. Many denominations use this resource. Think of all the other believers who are reading and praying the same psalm. Pray that the spirit connects you to this great cloud of witnesses.
2. How do this week’s psalms pair with the narrative of Jesus’ final days on earth? Look for similar language and imagery between the psalm and the Gospels’ story.
3. Try to identify the type of psalm that the lectionary has selected.
4. Each day, reflect on something you have learned during Lent. How has your faith, knowledge of God, or person been transformed from reading the psalms or observing the season of Lent?