Daily Worship

A Plea for Mercy

April 23, 2013 0 0

Psalm 41 : 4 - 12

I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”
When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely,
while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around.
All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,
“A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them.
I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

My every prayer must begin with a plea for your mercy O Lord,
for without that I could have no right to seek your presence.

The only integrity I have comes from my readiness to honestly confess the truth
about who I am
and how I live,
to recognise my failings and bring them out into your light.

When I begin there, difficult though it may be, I know that I stand on firm ground.

People may make life difficult for me,
neighbours may criticise me
and even my friends may turn against me,
but your faithful love is deeper and stronger than any of these trials.

So I thank you for your mercy, which you never withhold,
your mercy, which matters so much more than the opinions of those around me,
your mercy, which is always on offer to me.

May I always remember my need of your mercy, even when I am hearing words of praise,
and may I always rejoice in your great generosity, even when I am surrounded by harsher words.

-

Written by  Ian Manson
Church of Scotland Geneva