Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 11

Thanksgiving Month Introduction...

Psalm 51:1-19
（Memorization Scripture 10-12,17-18）
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

【Reflection】This is the most famous of the seven penitential psalms, often helping us turn to God with a heart of sorrow and repentance in times of weakness, sin, and conviction of conscience, following David's example. The psalmist believes that as long as we are willing to genuinely confess and repent before God, He will "not look on my sins, but blot out all my iniquities" (verse 9). "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10). At this moment, a person who has committed a grave sin (verse 4) not only has a heart full of remorse but also gratitude. What other god is like our God, so abundant in mercy and forgiveness, willing to wipe away and cleanse all our sins, and to make our once-crushed bones rise up with joy! (verses 7-8)
What's even more incredible is that God will also give us a new heart and a new spirit to enable us to follow His will. David fervently implores, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me." (verses 10-11). Thanks be to the Lord, by the redemption of the Messiah, saved believers today have received this "pure heart," and the Holy Spirit also indwells in us, never to leave. After offering a heart of sorrow and repentance as a sacrifice, the psalmist confidently and earnestly prays for a willing and obedient spirit. He wants to delight in God's salvation again and not let sin separate him from God (verse 12). A truly repentant person is one who knows grace and proves their repentance through practical change (verses 13-17).
Finally, the psalmist does not forget to pray for blessings upon Zion and Jerusalem, asking God to build the walls of Jerusalem and protect God's children from falling into the snares of their enemies and offending God themselves. What gratitude there is in such a transformed life.