Prayer: Dear God, cleanse us and pardon our sins; those we know ourselves and those that have been pointed out to us. This is not always easy. Thank you for an example in David’s Psalm. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 51: 1-12 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: O.k., I admit it. I watched a VeggieTale video for inspiration. Psalm 51 is titled Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon. The subheading reads: To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Well, anyone who knows VeggieTales would immediately think of King George and the Ducky, right? If you haven’t seen it, here is a link: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x26tky0_veggietales-king-george-and-the-ducky_school. Enjoy. But back to writing. Psalm 51 is David’s reaction when he was caught in sin. Granted, it took the prophet Nathan to point out to David his tale of adultery and murder, but then David confessed and this poem was one result. (VeggieTale version: Melvin points out King George’s selfishness.) Psalm 51 is an example of confession for us, too. Just in case you did not click on the link above – for the scripture reading, not the video – read this: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free spirit. Psalm 51: 10-12 Sound familiar? You may even be singing it. Thousands of years later, David’s confession is a guide for us, too. When you fail, what is your response – to cover up your failure, or to publicize your confession? --Ruth Gates, Camp Mount Luther Family Camper
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