Sermon on Psalm 143, for the 24th Sunday after Pentecost 2020 (A), "Wonderful Openness"
Sermon notes · Read Introit with reference to Hebrew poetry parallelisms. Explanatory, deepening, reflective. Praying the Psalms is an exercise in meditation. Explore in this Psalm how a relationship in prayer creates a wonderful openness between us and God. May He create in us a clean spirit! · Context of Psalm: relationship between believer and God. Like many Psalms, shows God’s qualities and the posture of the praying believer. · V. 1-2 Humility and repentance before God’s judgment, seeking God’s mercy, faithfulness, righteousness. Acknowledging guilt. No false standing before God. When have you been crushed by your sin, your guilt and failure, and utter unworthiness before God? We cling to His mercy. · V. 5 Remember, meditate, ponder—days of old, all you have done, the work of Y...