Scripture Reading for Sunday, January 19, 2025
Psalms 51 (ESV)
1 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.
Reflections on Psalm 51
In verse six of this psalm, King David declares that God teaches him wisdom in the secret heart. But is there any indication of what that wisdom might entail in this psalm? I believe that there is. Look closely at the text before you. David has just been confronted by Nathan the prophet after he had the affair with Bathsheba. David’s thoughts are on what he needs most, mercy from God: have mercy on me, O God (v1); blot out my transgressions (v1); wash me thoroughly from my iniquity (v2); cleanse me from my sin (v2).
David knows that he has sinned against God. His thoughts are on the mercy and forgiveness of God and His steadfast love and abundant mercy (v1). David then turns his eyes inward and declares to God how sinful he his–even from being brought forth in inquiry and conceived in sin (as we all are). He knows his sin is against God and only against God. He then turns his gaze toward heaven and sees God as He is–justified in your words and blameless in your judgement. Davis understands the situation. In the midst of all of this he declares that the Lord teaches him wisdom in the secret heart. I believe that wisdom is Christ–even here in the book of Psalms.
Look at what flows from this secret heart of wisdom: purge me and I shall be clean (v7); wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow (v7); hide your face from my sins and blot out my iniquities (v9); create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me (v10); cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me (v11); restore to me the joy of your salvation (v12). The wisdom God gives David is Christ Jesus. For God’s wisdom demands that David understand the riches of mercy that are his in the work of the savior (forgiveness, washing away of sin, renewing of the heart, joy of salvation, presence of the Holy Spirit). What God has taught David, He has whispered into the innermost secret place of our hearts as well–Christ died for you. Confess your sins and turn to Christ. In Him you will find the joy of salvation. His Holy Spirit will come to dwell in you.
And it does not end there. Once David has expressed the wisdom he has found in God, he proclaims how this is demonstrated in his life: then I will teach transgressors your ways (v13); my tongue will sing aloud your righteousness ((v14); open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise (v15). When we have been transformed by the renewing power of Christ in us, we will be eager to sing His praise and to share this good news of Christ to sinners. This is the essence of the gospel and the very wisdom of God in Christ. He is holy. We are sinners. We need Him to save us from our transgressions and create in us a clean heart. If you know Him today, pray that He will open up your mouth to declare His praise. Give glory to your great God and Saviour! Share the news with those around you. Jesus is wisdom.
Song Selection for Sunday, January 12, 2025
Be Thou My Vision
This song expresses our deep dependence on God to lead us through this world and into the next. It is a prayer that He would be our light to guide us in this dark world and our wisdom. May we seek His light and His presence at all times as we walk through this dark world.
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
This song echoes that of the first, that we need our great God and Savior to guide us through this barren land because the truth of the matter is that we are weak, but He is mighty. May he be our wisdom and our strength.
In Christ Alone
There is salvation in no other name. Christ is our wisdom and our hope is found in no other. Turn your eyes on Jesus and know that through His death and resurrection you have been made new. Open my mouth to declare Your endless praises O GOD!
Song for Consideration
Psalm 51 (Wisdom in the Secret Heart) by Shane and Shane
No comments:
Post a Comment