The Prodigal Son
Read some poetry connected to the story of the prodigal son and reflect on its meaning.
This poems are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
Psalms 51
Reflect on Psalms 51 and its connection to the main story.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;
build up the walls of Jerusalem;
19 then will you delight in right sacrifices,
in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Discussion Questions
Compare the story to Psalms 51. What themes and ideas do you see in common?
Think about God in this poem in comparison with the father in the story. What connections do you see?
How does the the first two verses set the tone for the whole poem?
The author wants God to create in them a clean heart. What is a clean heart? Where else does it mention the word heart in the poem.
In ancient Judaism, remorse for sin would often be expressed through a ritual of animal sacrifice to God. How does the idea of sin and sacrifice play out in this poem?
The word spirit is repeated in the poem. How is it used?
What does the relationship between God and the author of the poem look like?