Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 6 Psalms 102–119:32

Psalm 102 with Augustine – The Promise of Forgiveness The title is, A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the LORD. Let us hear and recognise ourselves in these words. Why do you call? In what trouble? With what need? O poor one, from what destitution do you ask relief? From what need do you knock, that it may be opened for you? In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones (v. 5). I also groan because many groan for the wrong reason. If someone loses money, they groan; but do not groan if they lose faith. I find more cause for groaning for the loss of faith than the loss of money. Someone commits fraud and rejoices. But with what gain, and with what loss? They have gained money and lost righteousness. We wish to reform them, and when we cannot, we groan. Because God gives people room for repentance, and because he promises forgiveness, people do evil deeds.

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