PSALM 51

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PSALM 51

• The Miserere

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PSALM 51 Introduction

• This psalm is traditionally known as The
  Miserere because its opening words in Latin are
  Miserere mei, Deus
  
• It is attributed to David with the title
• To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan
  the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to
  Bathsheba.
  
• It is believed to be a psalm of repentance for
  Davids sins

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PSALM 51 Psalm Type

• There are five types of psalms
• Entrance liturgy
• Lament
• Hymn
• Thanksgiving
• Royal Psalm
• To determine the type of psalm we must look for
  key words in the text

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PSALM 51 Psalm Type

• We see certain words that give clues to the type
  of psalm
  
• The word sin appears in v. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11
  15
  
• Other words also express having sinned
• Guilt, offense, evil
• There are also a number of words asking for
  forgiveness
  
• Mercy, cleanse, clean, restore, rescue, sacrifice

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PSALM 51 Psalm Type

• It is dominated by petition and is a prayer for
  forgiveness
  
• This identifies Psalm 51 as a Psalm of Lament

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PSALM 51 Theology

• In Penitential Psalms one acknowledges their
  guilt and asks for forgiveness.
  
• Psalm 51 is one of seven Penitential Psalms
• The other Penitential Psalms are 6 32 102
  130 143
  
• The Penitential Psalms stand out in stark relief
  to other psalms because of their plea for mercy

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PSALM 51 Theology

• This psalm is an intensely personal expression of
  penitence

• Davids transgression of sin and his deep remorse
  are very evident
  
• We see him express an extravagant descriptions of
  his distress in order to move God to pity
  

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PSALM 51 Structure

• The psalm is divided into 2 main sections
• Psalm 513-10 asks deliverance from sin
• The second part, Psalm 5111-19 seeks restoration

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PSALM 51 Structure

• Psalm 513-10 asks deliverance from sin
• The psalm is a supplication for Divine
  Forgiveness
  
• The prayer is not just act of sin but its
  emotional, physical, and social consequences.

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PSALM 51 Structure

• The second part, Psalm 5111-19 seeks restoration
  
  
• Yet, the prayer is for something more profound
  than wiping the slate clean nearness to God
  
• It prays for living by the spirit of God (The
  Sacrifice of Praise) (Psalm 5112-13)

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PSALM 51 Structure

• The last two verses ask for the rebuilding of
  Jerusalem (Psalm 5119 20-21).
  
• This section is thought to be an addition from
  the Persian age, just before the reconstruction
  of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah.

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PSALM 51 Poetics

• There is a particular literary structure to the
  psalms
  
• Figures of speech, parallelisms and other
  structures appear in all psalms
  
• Psalm 51 is no different and we find a number of
  these elements

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PSALM 51 Poetics

• In the first 2 verses we see two examples of
  synoptic parallelism

In your compassion blot out my offense. wash me
more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from
my sin

• David makes his request with three synonyms for
  forgiveness and three synonyms for sin
  
• Blot out, wash me and cleanse
• Offenses, guilt and sin

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PSALM 51 Poetics

• We also see an example of chiasmus structure in
  these first verses
  
• A chiasmus structure is an inversion of two
  parallel colas

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.In your
compassion blot out my offense

• David acknowledges his need for mercy because of
  his offenses have mercy on me blot out my
  offense
  
• He also recognizes the love of God in your
  kindness in your compassion

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PSALM 51 Poetics

• We also see an example of a tautology in verse
  5
  
• Tautology refers to the needless repetition of
  the same idea in different words

O see, in guilt I was born,a sinner was I
conceived
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PSALM 51 Christology

• We interpret the psalms as the prayers to Christ,
  to the Father in Christ.
  
• We try to put the psalms into 3 categories
  Christologically
  
• The psalm can be used as a prayer to Christ.
• It can be expressed as a prayer to the Father
  about Christ in praise or adoration.
  
• It also can be seen as a sharing about Christ or
  as an instruction about Christ.

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PSALM 51 Christology

• O wash me more and more from my guilt and
  cleanse me from my sin . (4)
  
• By suffering and dying on the cross we were
  washed clean in the blood of the Lamb offered in
  sacrifice upon the altar of sacrifice, upon the
  cross. He sacrificed his own life for the
  forgiveness of our sins.
• but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
  and immediately blood and water flowed out. (Jn
  1934)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• That you may be justified when you give
  sentence and be without reproach when you judge.
  (6)
  
• Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to
  pass definitive judgment on the works and hearts
  of men belongs to him as redeemer of the world.
  He acquired this right by his cross. The
  Father has given all judgment to the Son (Jn
  522) Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to
  save and to give the life he has in himself.
  (Cf. Jn 317 526). (CCC 679)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I
  conceived (7)
  
• How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all
  his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam
  "as one body of one man".293 By this "unity of
  the human race" all men are implicated in Adam's
  sin, as all are implicated in Christ's justice.
  (CCC 404)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. (9) A
  clean heart create for me (12)
  
• The Christian must enter into this mystery of
  humble self-abasement and repentance, go down
  into the water with Jesus in order to rise with
  him, be reborn of water and Spirit so as to
  become the Fathers beloved son in the Son and
  walk in newness of life. (Rom 64) (CCC 537)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. (9) A
  clean heart create for me (12)
  
• You have become a new creation, and have clothed
  yourselves in Christ. See in this white garment
  the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With
  your family and friends to help you by word and
  example, bring that dignity unstained into the
  everlasting life of heaven. (Rite of Baptism, 63)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• that I may teach transgressors your waysand
  sinners may return to you . (15)
  
• After his resurrection Christ gives this mission
  to his apostles Go therefore and make disciples
  of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
  teaching them to observe all that I have
  commanded you. (Mt 2829-20) (CCC 1223)

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PSALM 51 Christology

• For in sacrifice you take no delight (18)
  Then you will be pleased with lawful
  sacrifice(21)
  
• Jesus recalls the words of the prophet Hosea "I
  desire mercy, and not sacrifice."19 The only
  perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered
  on the cross as a total offering to the Father's
  love and for our salvation.20 By uniting
  ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our
  lives a sacrifice to God. (CCC 2100)

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PSALM 51 Worship

• With its penitential theme, this psalm introduces
  the Season of Lent
  
• Psalm 51 the responsorial psalm for Ash
  Wednesday
  
• The liturgy guide also recommends selecting music
  for Ash Wednesday in which this psalm is the theme

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PSALM 51 Worship

• The psalm continues to appear throughout Lent
• Specifically, Psalm 51 is used as a responsorial
  pslam on the 5th Sunday of Lent in Year B
  
• The responsorial focuses on v. 3 15
• The refrain is Be merciful, O Lord, for we have
  sinned

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PSALM 51 Worship

• This psalm is used by the Church in
  reconciliation services
  
• Its focus on pardon and cleansing make it a
  perfect prayer prior to the Sacrament of Penance
  
• Typically, the phrase Have mercy, Lord cleanse
  me from all my sins is used as a responsorial

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PSALM 51 Worship

• The optional sprinkling rite at the beginning of
  the Mass can also include this psalm
  
• Outside of the Easter season, if this option is
  used, the suggested antiphon is verse 9
  
• O purify me, then I shall be clean O wash me, I
  shall be whiter than snow

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PSALM 51 Worship

• In the Tridentine Mass there is the asperge
  permitted only on a Sunday with Solemn Mass
  
• This is very similar to the sprinkling rite
  option in the Novus Ordo
  
• In the Tridentine Mass, the priest blessed the
  water, put on a cope and sprinkled the altar and
  people while Psalm 51 was chanted by the choir

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PSALM 51 Worship

• The Orthodox use verse 7 of this psalm in its
  funeral liturgy
  
• the priest anoints the body in the sign of the
  Cross with oil and earth.  As the priest anoints
  with the oil he says Sprinkle me with hyssop
  and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be
  whiter than snow (http//www.goarch.org)

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PSALM 51 Psalmody

• Psalm 51 is found on all Fridays of Morning
  Prayer
  
• It is classified as a Penitential Psalm and so is
  fitting to pray on Friday, which is a penitential
  day, the day Christ suffered and died on the
  cross.
• It is especially emphasized in the Good Friday
  Morning Prayer
  
• Ant. 1 God did not spare his own Son, but gave
  him up to suffer for our sake. (Rom 832)

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PSALM 51 Psalmody

• It is also found in the Morning Prayer for the
  Office for the Dead.
  
• This is fitting because in the Liturgy it is
  considered a communal prayer for repentance, even
  for the souls in Purgatory, due to the communal
  effects of sin.
• Ant. 1 The bones that were crushed shall leap
  for joy before the Lord. (cf. Ps 5110)

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PSALM 51 Conclusion

• Psalm 51 is a deeply penitential psalm that
  emphasizes sin, mercy and petition for
  forgiveness
  
• The theme of repentance is evident throughout the
  psalm
  
• Its literary structure repeatedly compares and
  contrasts sin and cleansing for sin

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PSALM 51 Conclusion

• The psalm has such a strongly penitential nature
  that it is easy to connect with Christ
  
• This is especially true in recognizing that God,
  in His mercy, sent Christ to suffer for our sins
  
• Baptism and reconciliation are just two Christian
  themes expressed

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PSALM 51 Conclusion

• Lastly, Psalm 51 has such a rich and descriptive
  nature to it
  
• The psalm invokes physical images
• White as snow
• Burnt offering
• Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
• There are also vivid imagery
• Wash me from my sins
• Create a clean heart for me
• Open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise

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PSALM 51 Conclusion

• With its penitential theme and its highly
  descriptive text filled with deep imagery, it is
  not difficult to see why it is central in
  Christian worship
• Baptism, sprinkling rites, funeral liturgies
• Friday Morning prayer, especially Good Friday
• Ash Wednesday and numerous Masses in Lent

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PSALM 51 Class Project

• Illustrate the deep and rich imagery of Psalm 51
  
  
• Pick out a few verses from the psalm and create a
  presentation that express these verses using
  imagery
  
• For example

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PSALM 51 Class Project
v. 1 Have mercy on me, God

• v. 4 Wash away all my guilt