There are some notable verses in today’s reading. In the style of the book of Proverbs, Psalm 49 warns us regarding “those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches” (49:6), and reminds those who do so that “no ransom avails for one’s life, there is no price one can give to God for it” (49:7). Then in the following psalm everyone should memorize the Revised Standard Version’s translation: “I will accept no bull from your house” (50:9).

The most famous of today’s five psalms is certainly Psalm 51, a penitential psalm asking for God’s mercy, pleading for cleansing from personal sin (51:1-2). The psalm is ascribed to David, after his sin with Bathsheba; but the ascriptions in the headings to the psalms were all added much later. They were not part of the original text of the Bible, and are like the notes in a study Bible added by an editor who is trying to provide background to the reader: they are not themselves scripture, but are instead comments on the scripture (sometimes accurate, sometimes less so).

It is very difficult, for example, to suppose that David would be praying that God would “rebuild the walls of Jerusalem” (51:18); that’s what Nehemiah would be praying, four centuries or so after the time of David. And indeed, it is pretty awkward to suppose that David would pray to God: “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight” (51:4); we would certainly hope that David recognized that he had sinned against Uriah by ordering his death.

The heart of the psalm is this: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit” (51:10-12). It is difficult for us to confess our sins, in true sorrow and mourning: and we often argue against the need for it, because who would want everyone to be all gloomy and downcast? Yet the psalm has it right: the road to the joy of salvation goes through repentance. God will indeed restore us and sustain us, as we turn away from our bad choices to follow the Lord once again.

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You are indeed justified in passing sentence against us, O Lord; none of us can stand against your judgment. We come with broken and contrite hearts, trusting in you. Hide your face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. Restore to us the joy of your salvation.