Lent 3 | Psalm 19:7-14 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:

O Lord, open our lips and our mouths will declare Your praise.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end,
Amen.

The Scripture for today is Ps 19:7-14.

Let’s prepare our hearts to hear from God’s word as we listen to Psalm 19 by Jess Ray. This quiet arrangement relies solely on the guitar’s accompaniment patterns and the soloist’s phrasing to carry the song’s message. The simplicity allows us to focus on the text and presents a musical depiction of the words “purify my heart.”
Lyrics:

Purify my heart!
May every word, every thought!
Every motive, every intention!
Be pleasing in your sight, O God!

For Your voice refreshes my soul!
Brings joy to my heart!
And light to my eyes!
Your words more precious than gold!

Sweeter than honey!
Better than life!
Purify my heart!
May every word, every thought!

Every motive, and every intention!
Be pleasing in your sight, O God!
For Your voice refreshes my soul!
Brings joy to my heart!
And light to my eyes!
Your words more precious than gold!
Sweeter than honey!
Better than life!

Purify my heart!
May every word, every thought!
Every motive, every intention!
Be pleasing in your sight, O God!
Be pleasing in your sight, O God!

Passage:

7 The instruction of the Lord is perfect,
renewing one’s life;
the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy,
making the inexperienced wise.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
making the heart glad;
the command of the Lord is radiant,
making the eyes light up.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are reliable
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more desirable than gold —
than an abundance of pure gold;
and sweeter than honey
dripping from a honeycomb.
11 In addition, your servant is warned by them,
and in keeping them there is an abundant reward.
12 Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
13 Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.
Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
-- Psalms 19:7-20:14 (CSB)
Musical Reflection:

Jesus Loves Me by Anna Bartlett Warner and William Bradbury
Reflection Notes:

The text for this simple, beloved children’s song was originally published in Anna Bartlett Warner’s 1860 novel Say and Seal. In the book’s context, a church Sunday school teacher sings the words to a dying little boy. The tune was written shortly after by Bradbury and became popular with missionaries in the nineteenth century as an evangelistic tool due to its simplicity.
Prayer:
Almighty God, bestow on us the meaning of words, the light of understanding, nobility of diction and faith in the truth. And grant that what we believe we may also speak. Amen.
-Hilary of Poitiers