Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule:
Psalm 143-145
The very first of Luther’s 95 theses reads, “When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said ‘repent,’ He meant that the entire life of believers should be one of repentance.” Luther declared that Scripture taught that repentance is an absolute necessity for all people and that it involves a radical change of the entire person… mind, will, and emotion.
Real repentance is a change of mind by which we confront our sin with the Word of God, and that sin is acknowledged for what it is. We must agree with God that it is a grievous offense against God. Repentance also involves a change of emotions as we become broken over our sin with a godly sorrow. However, the most important part of repentance is when a believer experiences a change of will by which we turn away from his sin in order to obey God and pursue holiness.
David regularly wrestled with repentance and his struggle is well explained in Psalm 143. This psalm is known as a penitential psalm, one containing a confession of sin and a turning from that sin. It is a psalm acknowledging personal sin. I often explain that repentance is agreeing with God or saying the same thing as God. For instance, if we lie, we must admit to God that we lied and that we agree with Him that it is wrong and sinful. It is not telling God we may have stretched the truth a little. That would not be saying the same thing.
Probably the most familiar penitential psalm is Psalm 51. In Psalm 51 there is the acknowledgment of personal sin against God and the expression of heartfelt remorse over that sin’s offense toward God. In Psalm 143, only verses 2 through 6 deals with repentance, while the rest of the psalm is about David’s enemies from whom he asked to be delivered. Nevertheless, it does contain this somewhat indirect confession of sin; thus, it is properly classified as a penitential psalm. I think it is important to note that this is the last psalm in which David acknowledges his sin to God. May we be careful to keep short sin accounts and may we live honest before God. And may God say of us, as He did of David, that we are a person after God’s own heart.
Prayer Requests:
Personal
- Lord, please help me to keep short sin accounts and stand completely honest in your sight.
- Lord, please help me to choose to repent with my whole will, mind, and emotion.
- Lord, please help me to realize my greatest security in this life comes from being in perfect fellowship with you.
Political
- Senator Winnie Brinks – District 29 – Grand Rapids
- Representative Tommy Brann – District 77 – Wyoming
- Representative Julie Brixie – District 69 – Williamstown Twp.