The only acceptable sacrifices

After Psalm 51 

Not animals slain, nor

birds plucked, nor bowls

of blood, nor fragrant

incense burned. No,

none of these are

acceptable sacrifices. 

What the Lord demands:

a broken spirit,

a contrite heart.

That’s it.

That’s the list.

That’s what’s needed.

That’s what’s expected.

That’s what’s required.

 

Photograph by Remi Clinton via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

Rebellion – Kyle Borg at Gentle Reformation.

 

Don’t Overthink Your Problems – Wyatt Graham.

 

“Half-Light,” poem by Sarah Rossiter – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Hibernation – poem by Joy Lenton at Poetry Joy.

 

“I to the Hills Will Lift Mine Eyes,” hymn in the Scottish Psalter – Anthony Esolen at Word & Song.

 

Just the thing – poem by Seth Lewis.

A plea

After Psalm 51 

He pleads to hear

God’s joy and gladness,

the rejoining of broken

bones, hiding his face,

blotting out iniquities,

creation of a clean heart,

renewing a right spirit

within, returning home

from exile and 

abandonment, restoring

to joy, upholding him

willingly, delivering

him from judgment, 

a tongue to sing

of righteousness,

opening his lips

to praise.

 

Photograph by Buse Doga Ay via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Why does he ask?

After Psalm 51 

Why dies he ask

for a clean heart

to be created within?

Because the friend,

the prophet, had

confronted the sin.

He was a man known

for being after God’s

own heart, and here

he is, asking for

a clean heart. He lays

out the process: 

a request for mercy,

a blotting out of sins,

a cleansing, knowledge

of what he’d done,

purging with hyssop,

washing to cleanness.

 

Photograph by Fabrizio Conti via Unsplash. Used with permission.

Some Friday Readings

 

“The Hymn of Ceylon,” poem by W.S. Senior – D.S. Martin at Kingdom Poets.

 

Reject the Religion of Efficiency – Samuel D. James at Digital Liturgies.