The following excerpts come from today?s reading in Anticipating His Arrival: A Family Guide through Advent?and 300 Christmas Quotations and Prayers (both 50% off during Advent).
Tuesday: Psalm 25:1?10
To you, O Yahweh, I lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust you; let me not be put to shame.
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you should be put to shame.
Those who betray without cause should be put to shame.
Make me know your ways, O Yahweh.
Teach me your paths.
Cause me to walk in your truth and teach me,
because you are the God of my salvation.
I await you all day long.
Remember your compassion, O Yahweh,
and your acts of loyal love,
because they are from of old.
Do not remember
the sins of my youth or my transgressions.
According to your loyal love remember me if you will,
for the sake of your goodness, O Yahweh.
Good and right is Yahweh;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He causes the humble to walk in justice,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of Yahweh are loyal love and faithfulness
for those who keep his covenant and statutes.
Do not remember, O Lord, our old sins,
nor let original guilt bring sorrow on us,
whom a second birth in Christ regenerates.
Let your mercy, therefore, O Lord, take hold upon us;
for the Creator of man is born in man,
and man is assumed into God, who is to be glorified.
Reflection
1. What place does sin have in David?s life?
Response: David does not want ?the sins of his youth? (v. 7) to have any part in his life; he wants God to forget them completely. He desires God?s mercy, but he knows he deserves God?s wrath.
2. What place does God have in David?s life?
Response: David knows that God?s way is right, and that following God?s path will draw him closer to God through God?s steadfast love and faithfulness.
3. How does this relate to our Advent preparation?
Response: As David models repentance in Psalm 25, so too we should repent of our sins. As David desires God?s mercy in Psalm 25, so too we should desire God?s mercy. And as David seeks the path of the Lord, so too we should seek his path to prepare for his arrival.
