David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 draws on God’s self-description of his glory.
Exodus 34:6 וַיַּעֲבֹ֙ר יְהוָ֥ה׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֘ וַיִּקְרָא֒ יְהוָ֣ה׀ יְהוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃
Exodus 34:6 “The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,”
Psalm 51:3 חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱלֹהִ֣ים כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ כְּרֹ֥ב רַ֜חֲמֶ֗יךָ מְחֵ֣ה פְשָׁעָֽי׃
Psalm 51:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”
David’s plea for forgiveness is thus rooted in the firm foundation of God’s declaration of his glory.
mejohnso says
Hey Brian, that’s kind of like what Pastor Minnick has been saying recently–pray Bible, and we know that our prayers will be accomplished because we know that it is God’s will. I’m also wondering if the psalms are inspired examples of that–the psalmist praising and praying the words of the Law.
Brian says
I’m sure many of them are. That would be a profitable study—reading the Psalms looking for connections back to the Torah.