Prayers of Repentance in The Bible

Prayers of Repentance in The Bible: A Christian journey is one that involves repentance of sins done knowingly and unknowingly. Many things are said about true repentance but what can we learn or understand from Prayers of Repentance in The Bible? There are several illustrations in the bible that we have looked at that show how different bible characters prayed in repentance.

Prayers of Repentance in The Bible

1. The Prayer of Sinful Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)

Luke 18: 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a humble tax collector. The tax collector could not even raise his eyes to heaven because of his sins, standing afar off in the temple, he beats his breast and prays for forgiveness, acknowledging his sinfulness. This prayer demonstrates a repentant heart.

Read: Confession Prayer Forgive Me Father

2. David’s Prayer of Repentance (Psalm 51)

Psalms 51: 1-2

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

In 2 Samuel 11 David sins with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife.  Afterward, he plots how Uriah will be killed. Eventually, he marries Bathsheba, and the whole act displeased the Lord. God sent Nathan to David who condemned him. In Psalms 51, David repents and asks the Lord to cleanse him.

Read: Short Opening Prayer for Worship Service

3. The Prodigal Son’s Prayer (Luke 15:17-24)

Luke 15: 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Another simple prayer of repentance is one said by the prodigal son. When he returned to his father he said” “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” After the prodigal son squanders his inheritance he returns to his father in repentance. He acknowledges his misconduct and seeks reconciliation.

4. Moses Intercedes and repents on behalf of the People (Numbers 14: 19-20)

Numbers 14: 19-20

9 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” 20 Then the Lord said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;

In chapter 13, the 10 spies who had been sent to the promised land gave a bad report to the people. The Israelites doubted God and they wanted to elect a leader who would lead them back to Egypt. God was so angry that he wanted to destroy them but Moses intercedes and God had mercy upon them.

Read: Back To School Prayer For Students

5. The Prayer of the Ninevites (Jonah 3:8-9)

Jonah 3:8-9

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?

After Jonah warns the people of Nineveh of coming destruction, they repented. The repentance was from the king to the commoners and they asked for God’s mercy. As a result, God prevented their destruction

Read: Short Opening Prayer for Bible Study

6. The Prayer of Ezra (Ezra 9:6-15)

Ezra 9:15

15 O Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!”

After God had warned the Israelites against intermarrying with pagans, they went ahead and did the exact thing they were warned. Ezra, the priest prays on behalf of the Israelites, acknowledging the people’s sins of intermarriage with foreign nations. He pleads for God’s mercy and forgiveness for the nation.

Read: Prayers for Someone Having Surgery

7. Moses Prayer of Repentance for the Israelites {Exodus 32:30-32}

Exodus 32:30-32

“The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ So Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘Alas, this people have sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.’

Read: Revival Topics for Preaching

Conclusion: Prayers of Repentance in The Bible

The above Prayers of Repentance in The Bible offer some lessons we can learn from. Lessons such as how repentance prayer should be conducted, character change after repentance, and many others