Have Mercy, Lord
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
PSALM 51:1
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Have Mercy, Lord
Let all men sing this verse with David and acknowledge that they are sinners but that God is righteous, that is, merciful. This confession is a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God, and David invites us to it. He wants this to be a teaching for the whole world. When the devil or our conscience accuses us because of our sins, we can freely confess that our sins are many and great, but not despair because of them. For though our sins are many and great, nevertheless we are taught here that the mercies of God are also many and great. With this argument all the saints have defended themselves against Satan, that though they were sinners, yet they are made holy by this knowledge, according to Isaiah 53:11: "The knowledge of Christ will justify many."
From Commentary on Psalm 51 (Luther's Works 12:325-26)
PSALM 51:1
+
Have Mercy, Lord
Let all men sing this verse with David and acknowledge that they are sinners but that God is righteous, that is, merciful. This confession is a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God, and David invites us to it. He wants this to be a teaching for the whole world. When the devil or our conscience accuses us because of our sins, we can freely confess that our sins are many and great, but not despair because of them. For though our sins are many and great, nevertheless we are taught here that the mercies of God are also many and great. With this argument all the saints have defended themselves against Satan, that though they were sinners, yet they are made holy by this knowledge, according to Isaiah 53:11: "The knowledge of Christ will justify many."
From Commentary on Psalm 51 (Luther's Works 12:325-26)
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