13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
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Today’s passage raises the question in me: How do I respond to God’s forgiveness? Do I take it for granted, so used to the constant reminders of grace? Or does it spur me on to living as a representative for the kingdom?
David identifies two ways in which he will respond to the Lord’s forgiveness. He will seek to turn other sinners back to the Lord. And he will declare the Lord’s praises. In other words: Witness and Worship. The result of David’s repentance and the Lord’s forgiveness is not just that David has turned away from his sin. The result is not just negative. By that I mean it is not just “stop sinning.” The result is also positive. Through worship and witness, David seeks to honor and serve the God who is so gracious to him.
So today’s passage leads me to meditate on the connection between God’s grace and my service to the kingdom. My prayer is that every reminder of grace and every reception of forgiveness would empower and encourage me to serve my Lord and to work for His kingdom. I pray that this may be true in my life today.
NOTE:
Worship on Sundays at 8:30 and 10:30 in our Sanctuary. Live Stream worship each Sunday at 10:30 AM and Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Please go to this page for more information: https://stjohnslutheran.net/live-streaming-worship-at-st-johns/
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