These psalms include the Bible's greatest prayer of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” They plead from the depths (“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”), wonder whether God has forgotten (“Will the Lord cast off for ever?”), and then remember His works and testify: “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
Psalm
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Study guide
These psalms cover repentance, longing, doubt and testimony. These notes help you pray through them and see where they point to Christ.
How to read this week
Linger on Psalm 51. Read it slowly as a model of repentance: confession, a plea for cleansing, a request for a new heart, and a promise to teach others (51:13).
Look for turning points. Several psalms turn from despair to hope. In Psalm 77 the turn comes when the psalmist decides to remember (77:10–11).
Use Psalm 78 as a family-history model. It retells the past “that the generation to come might know them” (78:6). Sharing God's works with children is a sacred duty.
Notice the psalms quoted of Christ. Psalm 69 appears at the cleansing of the temple and the crucifixion; Psalm 72 describes a perfect King.
Write your own declaration. Psalm 66:16 invites testimony. What has the Lord done for your soul?
The journey of this week's psalms
Ps 49–50 — Riches can't save; God wants thankful hearts
Ps 51 — Repentance and a clean heart
Ps 61–65 — Longing and trust in God
Ps 66 — Testimony: what He hath done for my soul
Ps 69–72 — Suffering, help, and a righteous King
Ps 77–78 — Remembering God's works
Ps 85–86 — Mercy, truth and a united heart
Images and ideas to recognize
Passage
Image
What it means
Ps 51:7
Hyssop
Purification (used at Passover and for cleansing lepers).
Ps 51:7
Whiter than snow
Complete cleansing through God's mercy.
Ps 51:17
Broken and contrite heart
The offering God desires.
Ps 61:2
Rock higher than I
Christ, a refuge beyond our own strength.
Ps 69:21
Gall and vinegar
The Savior's suffering on the cross.
Ps 85:10
Mercy and truth meeting
Justice and mercy reconciled in Christ.
Restoration connections
3 Nephi 9:19–20 — The Savior asks for a broken heart and a contrite spirit instead of sacrifices.
Moses 7:62 — “Righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth.”
Alma 36:17–21 — Alma's conversion: from pain to “exquisite” joy.
Mosiah 4:2–3 — King Benjamin's people pray for mercy and receive joy.
Questions for the week
Which verse in Psalm 51 best expresses what you want from repentance?
When has remembering the Lord's past help carried you through a hard time (77:11)?
What has the Lord done for your soul that you could declare to someone this week (66:16)?
How can you pass on God's works to the next generation (78:4–7)?
What would it mean for your heart to be “united” to fear God's name (86:11)?
Conference talks & Church resources
Talks the Church's lesson points to this week, plus other Church resources that teach from these chapters.
Scholarly papers
Faithful scholarship from BYU and related publishers, tagged with the chapters each one discusses.
Podcasts & video
Come, Follow Me shows and episodes covering this week's reading.