CHONENI ELOHIM (Be Gracious to me, O God)
A Cry of Repentance, Based on Psalm 51:3-4, 11-12, 14, 17
Christene Jackman, (c) Elul 5771, September 2011
Are you struggling with sin and ready to shuv--return to God and repent (stop sinning)? This song is for you.
The lyrics of Choneni Elohim are taken directly from Psalm 51 and sung in Biblical Hebrew. Psalm 51 contains the words of King David that he wrote after his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and complicity in the murder of her husband.
As I was trying to find the melody and chords that would reflect his state of mind so many centuries ago, I thought of how David had a such a tender heart towards God. When he came to himself through the mirror of Nathan the prophet, he would have been devastated. He had betrayed his King, his Elohim, his Faithful One, the Holy One of Israel. In my mind's eye, I can see him weeping, heart-broken on the cold stone floor.
Then I thought of my own horrible sins. And the melody came.
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"Choneni Elohim, choneni!"
A broken and contrite heart You will not despise.
Todah rabbah, Abba. Todah rabbah, Yeshua, my Tzaddik, Who took my 'avonot (consequences for iniquities)--the curses of the Torah I deserved--upon Himself.
"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." +Yeshua (Yochannen/John 15:13)
Shuv.
Dust off The Book. Read it. Do it.
Walk in His Ways out of love and gratitude.
* Interesting note: I started writing this around the time of the Shoftim and Ki Teitzei Parshah Readings. The traditional haftarah readings (Prophets) for these two weeks are:
Shoftim: Isaiah 51:12-52:12
Ki Teitzei: Isaiah 54:1-54:10
Where's Isaiah 53?
Why is it excluded?
Read it and you'll see.
CHONENI ELOHIM (Be Gracious to me, O God)
A Cry of Repentance, Based on Psalm 51:3-4, 11-12, 14, 17
Christene Jackman, (c) Elul 5771, September 3, 2011
cHo-NEH-ni, Elohim ~ cHo-NEH-ni, Elohim
3 Be gracious to me, O God ~ Be gracious to me, O God
ke-cHas-DEH-cha ~ ke-cHas-DEH-cha
according to your loving kindness ~ according to your loving kindness
(REPEAT)
ke-ROV ra-cHa-MEH-cha meh-cHEY feh-sha-AI
according to the multitude of your mercies blot out my transgressions
cHo-NEH-ni, Elohim (repeat)
Be gracious to me, O God
Lev ta-HOR be-RA—li Elohim ~ Lev ta-HOR be-RA—li (repeat)
12 Create in me a clean heart, O God ~ Create in me a clean heart
ve-ROO-ach na-CHON cHa-DESH beh-kir-BI (repeat)
and renew a constant spirit inside me
Ha-SHIva li s'SONE yish-EH-cha ~ Ha-SHIva li s'SONE (repeat)
14 Restore to me the joy of your salvation ~ Restore to me the joy
ve-ROO-ach n'di-VAH tis-meh-CHAY-ni (repeat)
and uphold me with a willing spirit
ENDING:
Ado - nai, s'fa-TAI tif-TACH; oo-FI ya-GID te-HI-la-TEH-cha
17 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall declare your praise
