Faith Daily Lectio Monday, October 26, 2026 Morning Psalm
Monday, October 26, 2026 · Monday in the week of the Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 25); Philipp Nicolai, Johann Heermann, and Paul Gerhardt, Hymnwriters
Morning Psalm
Oratio (prayer)
O God, David prayed this Psalm when Your prophet showed him his sin. Send Your Holy Spirit as I pray Psalm 51 this morning, that I may confess my sin truly and trust Your mercy in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditatio (meditation)
Psalm 51
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.
1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against 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.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Consider even rereading in another translation.
You could also consider listening to this chapter, narrated:
KJV (Max McLean) · ESV (Max McLean) · NIV (dramatized)
You might read the whole reading slowly, aloud, more than once.
Consider this verse, for example:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10)
What other lines speak to you?
The Law "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me" (v. 3). David does not excuse himself. "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned" (v. 4), and the sin goes deeper than deeds: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity" (v. 5). We cannot wash ourselves, and God does not want our offerings in place of a broken heart.
The Gospel David prays to a God of mercy: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness" (v. 1). He asks for what only God can do: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (v. 7). In Christ's blood and in your Baptism, God has done exactly that for you. "a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (v. 17).
Prayer O God, I acknowledge my sin, and I cannot cleanse myself. Wash me for Jesus' sake. Create in me a clean heart, and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Tentatio (trial)
Some mornings our sin is "ever before me" (v. 3), and it is hard to believe we are forgiven. Under trial it may help to pray David's words slowly, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (v. 12), and to remember that God has already washed you in Christ.
Prayer Lord, when my sin weighs on me, cast me not away from Your presence. Uphold me with Your free spirit. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version.
My church home: Peace Lutheran Church, McMurray, PA. Looking for a church? See About Daily Lectio.
