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PSALM 51 - The walls of Jerusalem 22 Dec 2019

Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love,
...
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Guilt

It is all about my guilt. I was born as a sinner. I have sinned. I am still a sinner. God may send a prophet to me like he did sent Nathan to David. I have torn down the walls of my protection. The God of love always finds ways to pass over or through the walls of my safety.

My Needs

First I do need awareness of my brokenness. I deny it. Therefore the place of hiding needs to be opened. And strange enough, my walls of security crack when I sin, causing an openness for God's revelation to me. I need purification. I need to admit my sinfulness and my needs to God. I need to beg God to restore into me the joy of his salvation. Then I ask God to protect his precious gift by a wall of security.
Not just for me, but for many.

Psalm 51

1 [For the choirmaster. Of David.
When the prophet Nathan had come to him
because he had gone to Bathsheba]
Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love,
in your great tenderness wipe away my offences;
2 wash me clean from my guilt,
purify me from my sin.
3 For I am well aware of my offences,
my sin is constantly in mind.
4 Against you, you alone, I have sinned,
I have done what you see to be wrong,
that you may show your saving justice when you pass sentence,
and your victory may appear when you give judgement,
5 remember, I was born guilty,
a sinner from the moment of conception. 6 But you delight in sincerity of heart,
and in secret you teach me wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop till I am clean,
wash me till I am whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness,
and the bones you have crushed will dance.
9 Turn away your face from my sins,
and wipe away all my guilt.
10 God, create in me a clean heart,
renew within me a resolute spirit,
11 do not thrust me away from your presence,
do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.
12 Give me back the joy of your salvation,
sustain in me a generous spirit.
13 I shall teach the wicked your paths,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodshed, God,
God of my salvation,
and my tongue will acclaim your saving justice.
15 Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will speak out your praise.
16 Sacrifice gives you no pleasure,
burnt offering you do not desire.
17 Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit,
a broken, contrite heart you never scorn.
18 In your graciousness do good to Zion,
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in upright sacrifices,
- burnt offerings and whole oblations -
and young bulls will be offered on your altar.

Excerpt from THE NEW JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1985 by
Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division
of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

Wall to be build around the Temple.