Lent 44

Lord and God,

Faithful and true are you who made a slayer of a shepherd boy and a fallen warrior over one who defied the armies of the living God. You save not through kings and spears; you speak truth not through great learning and human authority. By your name alone, Lord, you gave victory to swordless David.

And an uneducated man, thought to have no claim to David’s name, spoke the truth from God the Father. You, Christ, the sent one, came in the name and truth of your Father, and found a divided people. We cited the law to stop our ears to it’s proclamation in you. For the blessing has fallen to you: you have kept every precept. The indignation of David filled you at the sight of faithless Israel. Fill us with a repentance that turns us to you. Let us find comfort in our sin and weakness: your promise fills us with life. Let us cite the law against ourselves, not Christ. And in him, let us find the God who saves not the mighty, but lifts up the humble.