Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Scripture: Psalm 32.1-2, 5, 10-11
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Then, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Many are the torments of the wicked,
But steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Then, I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Many are the torments of the wicked,
But steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Devotion:
When I was a little girl, I can remember getting into an argument with another girl on the playground. She wanted me to play with her, but I wanted to play tag and run around. She physically tried to grab me and drag me across the playground, and I was really upset and angry. When we returned from recess, my first grade teacher lectured me in front of the whole class. I was so frustrated: I was the innocent party here! She was the one being mean! And yet I was still in trouble.
This week, we will be reading the story of the Prodigal Son and the Elder Brother in Luke 15, but we will be focused on the older brother. The elder brother has done everything right, and he is resentful of his younger brother who has done everything wrong and yet gets to be rewarded. The elder brother seems to have feelings similar to my own in first grade: I was right! I should be rewarded not punished! It’s not fair! And our Psalm today doesn’t help things. Psalm 32 describes the confession of sins, but it also says that those who are righteous and upright in heart should be shouting for joy. When we read this Psalm and about the prodigal son, most of us don’t see ourselves as the sinners or the ones who have wandered away. We, who sit in the pews and volunteer for things and pray at night, consider ourselves righteous and expect a reward.
But in the psalms the word “righteous” does not usually mean someone with a perfect track record. Someone often becomes righteous because they are willing to admit their sinfulness. Righteousness is having a humble heart and admitting when we’ve done wrong. Righteousness is knowing that I am not more righteous than someone else, but I’ve been made righteous by God’s grace. Righteousness is knowing that both the prodigal son and the elder son have a place at God’s table.
Throughout Lent, we have been singing this song: You Make Beautiful Things by Gungor. Take a listen
again and be reminded that we are all dust, but God is making beautiful things out of us.
When I was a little girl, I can remember getting into an argument with another girl on the playground. She wanted me to play with her, but I wanted to play tag and run around. She physically tried to grab me and drag me across the playground, and I was really upset and angry. When we returned from recess, my first grade teacher lectured me in front of the whole class. I was so frustrated: I was the innocent party here! She was the one being mean! And yet I was still in trouble.
This week, we will be reading the story of the Prodigal Son and the Elder Brother in Luke 15, but we will be focused on the older brother. The elder brother has done everything right, and he is resentful of his younger brother who has done everything wrong and yet gets to be rewarded. The elder brother seems to have feelings similar to my own in first grade: I was right! I should be rewarded not punished! It’s not fair! And our Psalm today doesn’t help things. Psalm 32 describes the confession of sins, but it also says that those who are righteous and upright in heart should be shouting for joy. When we read this Psalm and about the prodigal son, most of us don’t see ourselves as the sinners or the ones who have wandered away. We, who sit in the pews and volunteer for things and pray at night, consider ourselves righteous and expect a reward.
But in the psalms the word “righteous” does not usually mean someone with a perfect track record. Someone often becomes righteous because they are willing to admit their sinfulness. Righteousness is having a humble heart and admitting when we’ve done wrong. Righteousness is knowing that I am not more righteous than someone else, but I’ve been made righteous by God’s grace. Righteousness is knowing that both the prodigal son and the elder son have a place at God’s table.
Throughout Lent, we have been singing this song: You Make Beautiful Things by Gungor. Take a listen
again and be reminded that we are all dust, but God is making beautiful things out of us.