Lent Meditation on the Seven Penitential Psalms

The seven penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143) are traditionally read at the beginning of Lent. In the depth of our struggle with sin, we find the glorious grace of God.

The grouping of the seven psalms is traced to the sixth century Latin father, Cassiodorus, but Augustine probably had a hand behind the choice of these psalms. Scholars point out that Augustine connected God’s wrath against the unrepentant in Rom 2:5 with Psalms 6, 38, and 102 where God’s wrath is mentioned. In fact, Romans also refer to the other four penitential psalms in its exposition on God’s universal wrath (H. Nasuti, Defining the Sacred Songs, 1999). Modern scholarship has pointed out that only Psalms 38 and 51 are directly confessional. Nonetheless, these seven psalms are still fruitful for our reflection during Lent.

At the start of each set of devotions, I will provide a more literal Hebrew translation of the respective psalms. The devotions, written by the participants of my 2019 Penitential Psalms class, will be posted daily from Monday to Friday for the Lenten season. We hope that these meditations will draw you closer to God.

Rev Dr Maggie Low