DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
O God, we extend gratitude for guarding us until this day, and for the unwavering assurance that you will never let us go. Some among us can declare, “He restores my soul,” for they had strayed, but you brought them back. Lord, keep us from straying, and then we shall proclaim, “To him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us faultless before his presence with exceeding joy.”
Bless the Lord, our inmost soul blesses the Lord. Blessed be the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Triune God. Blessed be the Lord for every role undertaken by each divine Person and for the divine grace that flows through each title worn by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion.” (Psalm 51:1)
The sight of mercy is good for eyes that are sore with penitential weeping. Pardon of sin must ever be an act of pure mercy, and therefore to that attribute the awakened sinner flies. Act, O Lord, like yourself; give mercy like your mercy. Show mercy such as is congruous with your grace.
My revolts, my excesses, are all recorded against me, but Lord, erase the lines. Draw your pen through the register. Obliterate the record, though now it seems engraven in the rock forever: many strokes of your mercy may be needed, to cut out the deep inscription, but then you have a multitude of mercies, and therefore, I beg you, erase my sins.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
A devotional to help you run from sin and cling to Christ
Today, we began a new series through Psalm 51 in the “Verse of the Day” section of this newsletter. As we read this beautiful psalm together with Spurgeon over the next few weeks, I hope you’ll find greater confidence that our sins are forgiven, to help us know that we are forgiven of our sin by the great mercy of Christ.
If you want to continue to study Psalm 51, I highly recommend Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy by Paul Tripp. This book features 52 short devotionals (one for every week of the year) on Psalm 51. This is an incredible resource to help you remember the horrors of your sin and the wonders of God’s amazing grace.
You could read the book over the next few months with just five minutes a day, or read one devotional each week for the next year. I can’t think of a better way to spend your time than reflecting on God’s mercy towards broken sinners like us.
I hope you’ll buy a copy and enjoy mediating on God’s unending mercy with me.