Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 51 NIV
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
If God creates all things good, why does humanity sin?
In the beginning, You created all things and it was good. You had a perfect relationship with Adam and Eve and they lived freely in paradise. They listened to the lies of Satan to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree to become “woke”. (Genesis 3:5) Instead of the freedom they already had, they became slaves. Instead of living in peace and prosperity in the garden, they were thrown into the world to experience real sin including jealousy, pride, murder, and fear. Sin infiltrated humanity and it ain’t pretty. Lord forgive us. I pray that Your church and Your people do not become woke by listening to the demon-possessed lies of the WOKE Crowd, but are shaken from their complacency and laziness to realize that Satan is using the same lies over and over. Give us a repentant heart and return to You. Start with me right now. Slay my sinful spirit, cleanse me with Your blood. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, lead me to do Your will, and show me Your ways. Who do You say that I am? Bless me indeed and expand my territory. Keep your hand on me and protect me from the evil one. Create in me a clean spirit, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore onto me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with Your free spirit. My eyes are focused on You Lord. Show me Your ways and let me witness Your Glory shine for all people in this dark world. Amen