Our final installment about the Seven Penitential Psalms. These Psalms are one of the common devotions for Lent practiced and prayed by many through the centuries. We’ve considered Psalms 6, 31 (32), 37 (38), 50 (51), 101 (102) {Why are the Psalms numbered differently?}. Today let’s consider the last two, Psalms 129 (130), and 142 (143).
Devotions for Lent: Seven Penitential Psalms
Psalm 129…”Whether speaking for himself or for his nation, the Psalmist here is deeply conscious of sin and of the wretchedness of soul that sin entails. He feels that he does not deserve pardon, bt he knows it will be granted, for His Lord is the God of mercy and forgiveness.”
—The Psalms Explained: For Priests and Students
I like how the Psalmist explains the situation to God in verse three, “LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?” Maybe he’s asking a question, but to me, in that situation, I would be hinting to God, “You know God if You keep track of my sins, the way I do now…you know, late at night when my soul is quiet. It starts with a quick review of my day. I see areas where I could have done better, could have done differently. And then, well, it’s like someone slid the light dimmer switch straight up! I not only see what I could have done better today, but I also start seeing yesterday–last week—last month—twenty years ago when I was living so far away from You. Those sins of mine, man, they can accumulate quickly! And hang on tight if I let them! And if You were to keep track of them, number them day by day, how could I stand before You?”
Yep, that’s the way my conversation with God would go. Maybe I should say, “Don’t be like me?” I don’t think the Psalmist is hinting the way I would–I know he’s not because the very next two verses, he is so bold!
“But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;”
By bold, I mean so fearless, his trust is so great, he confidently proclaims in his prayer! He tells God, “I know there is forgiveness with You, so I’m going to wait…and hope in Your Word.” Doesn’t this bring us back to another post–Bible Quotes: Wait on the Lord. It does!
Look in the comments and the ladies even mention waiting as being interchangeable with hoping. And that’s Lent isn’t it and the reason for devotions for Lent, this hopeful waiting.
Psalm 143 contains a familiar sentiment found in many other Psalms, “Make haste to answer me…I trust in Thee.” The urgency of help quickly followed by the knowledge of trust. I’ve said these before, have you? Not necessarily as eloquent as “Make hast.”
My pleas sound more like, “I can’t do this any.more.God! You’ve got to help me now…You will, it will be ok, Jesus I trust in You…”
Typing that reminded me of delivering my third baby. SQUIRREL! My third labor and delivery was my first unmedicated birth. As the contractions intensified and I couldn’t catch a breath, I would look to our Lord on the crucifix–benefit of delivering in a Catholic hospital.
Jesus couldn’t get His breath. That’s part of how crucifixion works; the person hanging on the cross cannot fill their lungs with air. Jesus died on the cross in part, from asphyxiation.
As I was laboring and trying to catch a breath I’d think about Jesus not being able to breathe. When I had an ebb in contractions, I would say to myself audibly, “It’s ok. You can do this.” At the peak of contractions, I was pleading with God, my husband, and nurse to help me; and then there would be that slight break where I remembered, I could trust in my body to do this.
That’s how I imagine this Psalm being pleaded out…in an ebb and flow of bated breath and glimpses of trust.
If you want to begin praying the Psalms this Lent, let me suggest a great little book–My Daily Psalms Book: The Perfect Prayer Book. This little prayer book has all the Psalms organized like they are when prayed in the Divine Office–they are organized by day as well as time (Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline). This would be a good introduction to someone wishing to pray the Office, but maybe not having the time yet. You could at least get into the habit of praying the Psalms of the Office.
If you haven’t found a devotional yet, check out our free Lent Devotional for Women. Each day there will be a new post and I don’t want you to miss one! You can bookmark this page, Lent Devotional for Women, or subscribe to our email.
If you haven’t decided on a book yet for Lent, here’s a post where I share some of my favorite Books for Lent. I added a new book to the list this year. It’s not a Catholic book, but it’s also not an anti-Catholic book. It’s the best book I’ve read in a while and seriously challenged me in my prayer life!
Leave a Reply