Tag: Psalms

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When God shows up.

Reading Time: 4 minutes

“Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This short Psalm was written when the first temple was being dedicated and the ark of the covenant was being brought into it’s new home. I’m not sure we even have words to describe the moment. This relief, excitement and sense of well being when the physical presence of God, purposely and symbolically represented in this elaborate gold, hand-crafted container, is in its place. As Ezra describes Solomon’s extraordinary opulent, abundance of decorum and cost of this celebration, no wonder it’s so grand! In 2 Chronicles 7, “Solomon offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats.” And so the king and all the people dedicated the Temple of God. Chronicles records that God showed up in spectacular glory, “The priests could not enter the Temple of the LORD because the glorious presence of the LORD filled it.”

God was so pleased with the unity, worship and massive display of gratefulness that he came to Solomon with a durable promise. The promise we often quote as though we, in our current situation, as citizens of the United States, could claim for ourselves. Even though it is not ours to claim. 2 Chronicles 7:12 “Then one night the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices.” Then it says, “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.”

WARNING: NSFC (not safe for church)!

Wait, wait, wait… Am I saying that this promise, made to Solomon is not ours to claim. Yes, it is not specifically. Promises, especially these contractual promises are NOT ours to personally or corporately claim. Don’t throw stones at me yet. I do believe there are principles within the context of these circumstances that are applicable and can be emulated. Like the unity, the humble attitude, the outpouring of real worship and rejection of selfishness and evil – these postures are ALWAYS good and acceptable before God. In those moments I am positive that his presence is supernaturally present in abundance. Even in those completely unified efforts of humility and sacrifice of praise, I am sure that God would show up in forgiveness, mercy and possibly even new promises of restoration. The promises may even be better than Solomon’s promise. But this one was to Solomon and the people of God in that place and that time of history. I believe similarly about Jeremiah 29:11. Of course God has plans for us and they ARE good. But that contractual promise was for Jeremiah and again the people of God a that time. Principles can be applied but I do not take those promises as our own.

It’s kind of like, put in the work yourself! Spend the time with God. Press in and humble yourself. Repent and worship him yourself individually or as a community. Then maybe God will move, speak and give you (or us) our own promise, personally, even contractually! I don’t need to take Solomon’s, Jeremiah’s or even Abraham’s, Isaac’s or Joseph’s promises for myself (or our community) – I can go, we can go and get our own. Agree or not, this is a proper way to not only interpret scripture, it’s the better way to apply it!

These days of celebration and community commitments to God were beautiful. God’s response is miraculously amazing. We can even celebrate what God did then. However, we need to have our own experience and not just try to draft off of theirs. God is living and present now, not just in the past.

Prayer

Dad,
I love reading stories of the past and how you worked and moved among people back in time (history for me, present for you). However, I didn’t live, I don’t live back there. I am here now, today. And since I truly believe you are the same yesterday, today and forever (because you’re eternal), I would really like to have our own experiences now. In fact, I would love for us to practice the same posture that prompted your amazing promises back then! I want to practice humility, mercy, confession, worship and wonder before you today. I want us (our community of faith) to do the same. Not to get something from you but to experience an outpouring of Shekinah glory, your presence together! Because we want and need your presence more than just your promises. They needed you then, we need you now.

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Coming home.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Oh, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you who serve at night in the house of the Lord. Lift your hands toward the sanctuary, and praise the Lord. May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem.” Psalms‬ ‭134‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Seventy years of serving under a foreign king, in a foreign land, as forced refugees. If anyone understands being homeless, displaced and living as strangers, it’s Israel. And you and I both know it was intentional. The golden deal made with God and his people were well known. The blessings were clear, the consequences were clear. Yet, that did not stop millions of people from doing what they wanted to do. It didn’t stop an entire nation from jealously pursuing the cultures of its neighbors – it’s enemy neighbors. They had a king, we want one. They had flashy… fill in the blanks – clothes, riches, palacious palaces. Israel wanted all that and more. They wanted clout, power and significance that reflected their appetites. And, they had that under Solomon. But it wasn’t enough. The one thing that finally caused them to break their contract with God was the one thing that still breaks God’s heart. They wanted another lover, another God.

None of their deep generational lessons would stick. None of ours will either. God let them chase after another, and another and another. Then out of love, God put them in several generational time-outs. By the way, living, serving and existing under the Babylonian kings wasn’t all bad. God had placed some undercover high-level operatives in the upper echelons of leadership. Yet, it wasn’t home and a remnant still ached to return to their first love, their God.

You can wander, you can search, you can party with friends and pursue the life you think will fulfill you, but it’s all a mirage with no lasting substance. Ezra writes this Psalm on the way home! Back to their homeland, way of life and their now broken down temple where God no longer visited. Yet, there was hope that this time the people were serious and there would be forgiveness, reconciliation and most importantly a restoration of the contract. Israel would, once again, be God’s favorite. This theme runs the length of our human story. In some way or another we are always longing to come home – and stay home. I’m not talking about a location, I’m talking about a way of life. I don’t know what has kidnapped or enticed you away from home, from a life filled with God. But I do know that at anytime, you are welcome to come home.

Prayer

Dad,
I was born a refugee, in terms of family and any sense of home. I did not know of, nor have a sense of belonging or of home – not with You. I felt lost and I wandered because I didn’t know any better. Even in those dark and blurry days, I had a tiny little sense that someone, something was watching over me. Then I found out it was you. And when you called me to yourself and offered me a forever home, I gladly said YES. I still feel the tug of other loves and other lovers, but none of them could possibly fulfill that place in my life of being home with you. Thank you for giving me that permanence! I pray that others who search will find, others who ache will turn and come home.

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What can people do to me?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Psalm 118 opens with David’s bold declaration of trust – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” He had decided to center on who God is and what God wanted to accomplish, not the whirlwind of threats, intentions and plans of his enemies.

After the prophet Nathan had blown up David’s life, confronting him for his triple atrocities – rape, murder and coverup. God then deconstructed his faith, judging him and stripping him of the promises God had made to him when he was a younger man. These Psalms are the rebuilding and reconstruction of a whole new life. Yet, even with this fresh start there were consequences that followed David until the end of his life.

Along with this declaration, came the familiar sense of how powerful God’s will is and how weak are the constant veiled threats of people. Why do we listen to people compared to listening to God? It’s a common, flawed theme, in our lives! David writes out his process that is worth emulating. “In my distress I prayed to the Lord.” Again, how many times do I need to be reminded to go to God FIRST? We hear it, we are quick to encourage others to do it. But why do we wallow and wander in our hearts and ruminate in our minds when it looks like bad things may be heading our way?

David’s answer came quickly, “the Lord answered and set me free.” Wait? Did the threats stop? Did his enemies stop mocking? Did his own family situation just suddenly resolve? No, no and no. Circumstances did not change. David’s perspective, conviction and confidence changed! “The Lord is with me, so I will have no fear.” Then David scripts one of the most powerful narratives in the Bible, “what can man do to me?” NIV translates it, “what can mere mortals do to me?” The Hebrew text says, “What can adam (mankind) do?” Yahweh (Yhvh) is on my side! It is better to take refuge in and trust in Yahweh than people or princes.

David in his very natural, normal process of being confronted by his own sin and failures as a man, a husband and a global leader, decided to receive both consequences AND forgiveness. He begins the slow progress of reconstructing his faith and his life. This is extremely hard to do, right? If you don’t think so then maybe you have not blown your life up and watched the shattered pieces of friends and families have to rebuild their trust in you. David didn’t stay down, he didn’t continue to roll around in the gutter of his past. When God offered a hand to pull him out of the pit of despair, discouragement and depression, David took that hand and let God lift him. No, God didn’t not let him off easy for his sins. David paid dearly through massive loss of his sons and family integrity. Yet, God gave him a chance, a do-over. Psalm 118 is a great model of active repentance and rebuilding a life with God.

Prayer

Dad,
Whew. What a rough read. To go from a happy, singing shepherd boy to giant killer to a global leader. Then, with all that power, wealth and opportunity, to see David cave to his long-battled, selfish lust and desires is so gut-wrenching. He knew better, he should have behaved better, but he didn’t and I’m not beyond making those stupid, selfish mistakes myself. Yet, in your mercy and massive long-suffering, you gave him another chance to get it right. Even then, David had to go through the consequences and climb out of his own darkness and depression to let you forgive and help rebuild his life. Thank your for your mercy and patience over me. I never want to take it for granted.

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Delayed judgment gratification.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me. May those who try to kill me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace. Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭70‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

David wrote this Psalm while running from his own son, Absalom, who wanted to take the throne by force. Yet, in David’s fear and desperation, he writes a prophetic/messianic Psalm projecting the future moments leading up to Jesus, on trial for blasphemy, and eventual judgment of death on a cross like a common criminal.

The prayer of Jesus, in the garden, asking that this “cup” may pass. Maybe not the cup of suffering alone, but the cup of wrath, the moment God, the Father, would turn away, not able to look at His only son. The one and only time, EVER, the intimate presence of the Father, His full and complete love, would not be felt on the cross. Yes, this Psalm was most likely on the lips of Jesus in the garden and in his thoughts while hanging on the cross. “Please God, rescue me!” The rest of David’s Psalm though, would not be uttered by Jesus on the cross. All the judgment, shame and disgrace that you and I deserve would be stored up and poured upon Jesus that one very dark afternoon around 3:00 pm. The cursing of shame and disgrace would not be wished upon the crowd that jeered. All the hatred of humanity being shouted at Jesus, masking their own culpability of lies and murder, would be quietly confronted by a different prayer, a whole different ending to David’s desire for justice and revenge.

Jesus’ prayer was, “Father forgive them,” they just don’t know any better. Jesus’ rewriting Psalm 70 asked that all the retribution of judgment be redirected on him and He asked that they (all of humanity) be forgiven. Are you mad at God? He’s forgiven you. Do you hate God for something that happened to you, something you blame Him for? He’s forgiven you. Why? Because the perfection and blamelessness of Jesus, took your gripes and grief and paid the price for you to even hold those feelings of ill-will towards God and others. This Easter, drop your charges against God! He’s not who you think He is. He loves and forgives you.

Prayer

Dad,
Even with all the crummy things that happened in my life as a child and through youth, I never held you responsible for it. I didn’t carry a grudge, thinking you had cursed my family and that I was just stuck with it. I knew my moms and dads were broken. I knew the way they chose to live out their lives was not healthy nor helpful to me. But I also knew that without some kind of massive miracle and change in my own ways, I would end up just like them! You were that miracle. You reaching out to me and offering life would be my one chance to get out of generational cycles of pain, addictions and dysfunction. Yet still, I knew that I needed forgiveness for my own decisions that could never be blamed on my origin story. Thank you for permanently not just delaying judgment that I deserved, but removing it completely through Jesus death on the cross.

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Family frustrations and fate.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All of us, at some point in life, have family issues that tear at us. Family disagreements, conflicts and explosive physical violence rock our peace and safety to the core. I mean, where do you go when your home is not safe? How do you sleep, eat and live? A disruptive home rattles everyone and everything.

This Psalm was written while David’s son, Absalom, was not only laying claim to the throne, he also put out the order to kill David! This caused David to run for his own life – again. In this gritty prayer David shows us by example of what and how to pray. Read the whole Psalm. This is recorded for all of Israel and all of us today to know that things can go awry even in a king’s household.

David’s family was no where near perfect, unless you’re describing a perfectly dysfunctional family. David let’s it all out. He’s desperate. He’s depressed. He’s trapped with nowhere to go. He tells God, “you’re all I’ve got!” Ever feel like that? We read the pleas for daily connection with God, “let me hear of your unfailing love each morning.” And he is asking God where to go, what to do next. “Show me. Teach me. Lead me.” Ah, in the abandonment of all hope is the beautiful cry seeking the right way out. What does rock bottom, the floor, eating humble-pie look like? It looks like there is no where left but up and out with God.

Soon after this prayer, Samuel tells us that things very quickly turned around. “When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi son of Nahash, who came from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and by Makir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and by Barzillai of Gilead from Rogelim. They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sadly, but necessary Absalom was killed by Joab, David’s general. ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬. And when David finally received word that his son was dead, he wept and wished he had been killed instead. “The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” ‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬.

Prayer

Dad,
Reading these stories about David, from the humble beginnings to his eventual rise to power and the throne, fascinated me. From the giant-killer moment, to victory in battle, and running from Saul. Then sitting on the throne as king and peace in the land. Either boredom, pride or greed then drives David to becoming a rapist and murderer. I read all about the family dynamics inside the beloved house of David. I did not want to be like him! Sure, I wanted to be a giant killer, but never a king. All that came with being hunted down several times, having multiple wives and the entire mess of his own sons, I didn’t want that at all. David’s whole life was such a paradox! He went down in history as being the most beloved king of Israel but also had the most dysfunctional family ever. And still, through his lineage, through his legacy came the messiah! What a wonderful, messy heritage. Thank you for the recorded insights of what went on in David’s life through the Psalms. It is a gift to anyone who comes from nothing, has a horrible, chaotic path, and still experiences your mercy, your forgiveness. And still becomes a big part in your grand story of saving humanity. Great job God!

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God’s spiritual agenda.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭146‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ezra writes about what people have when they trust in and depend on the God of Jacob. They have a helper. Ezra uses a unique form of the word “blessed” here. They are blessed (esher), but it’s the Hebrew root word that becomes interesting. They are “ashar” to go straight, go on, advance. People who have the same God that rescued Jacob from his own bad decisions, his own manipulative, self-serving, grab-what-you-can and can-all-you-grab lifestyle are given the blessing of a pass.

When our hope, our tested and examined look at our future, is placed in God we are shown a way through, even when we can’t quite see it at the time. Ezra pens this beautifully, restorative phrase. It is timeless and worth remembering and repeating – even if it’s just to ourselves. God “keeps every promise forever.” Then Ezra lists off the kind of work that God is constantly up to.

He gives justice to the oppressed and hungry. He frees prisoners. He opens blind eyes. He LIFTS those weighed down. He loves the godly and protects foreigners. God cares for orphans and widows. Lastly, God frustrates the plans of the wicked.

Do you ever hear about that God in social media, shows, movies or podcasts? No. God is depicted as old, disconnected and for sure hates people just having fun. What a bunch of Shhhhhaving Cream!

God has been seriously misrepresented. Look carefully at that list of what God cares about and how He makes a way, makes a pass for people. You should see what the Church, followers of Jesus should be about as well. It’s what we should stand up for, not against.

Our responsibility to be involved in the things God cares about are listed in this and many other Psalms. We too should be about justice, about food, about prisoners. We too should be opening the eyes of the blind, lifting those weighed down, protecting foreigners among us and caring for widows and orphans! We can be way makers, opening a pass, helping advance the underserved. When we do, we reflect God’s goodness and put hope into the hearts that need it the most. Ezra’s words still challenge me today.

Prayer

Dad,
In this inspiring and challenging Psalm, I see what we (The Church) can and should be about. I see how we should be tending to the same needs that you care about and constantly work on to bring joy through hope – a pass, a way out to those who struggle. Please help us, as your called ones, to figure out how to not only serve people in these situations, but to flip the narrative from being politically motivated to be spiritually motivated because this is what you are about. This is a big ask God! Help us get there together.

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Benefits of unity in community.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

““But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭81‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Asaph pens this Psalm at the time of the second temple dedication. Israel had been through 70 years of captivity with little or no national coherence or cohesion. And worse, some Israelites somehow stayed in the Jerusalem area and intermarried with the locals which caused a major racial and cultural rift within their humiliated country.

We know Babylon was discipline and correction from God, but what is much more difficult to sort out is these psalmic promises from God. If… big if, Israel had stayed true to God, it is likely that none of their national conflicts would have happened. There are many writings in Psalms and the Prophetic books like Isaiah and Jeremiah where God BEGS His chosen people to stay on track and quit chasing after other loves! Crystal clear message, follow God and He will fight the big fights for you.

My question and dilemma is… is that still true today. Is there a possibility that following God, staying on the straight and definitely narrow yields a certain amount of protection, even blessing? Before you answer, “of course it does,” remember Jesus and the leaders of the first century church outright told us, in this world we would have tribulation, and to be of good cheer. Jesus straight told us that believers would be hated for the message He brought, specifically because of Him. Yet, it still makes me think about this whole idea of sticking close to God and letting Him fight the big battles.

Are these promises for us as individuals or are they for us as communities of believers? Because if the promises of subduing enemies and God’s hands being on our foes is for the community of faith MORE than just on us as individuals, I would think we would be far more attentive to sticking together! If, for one moment, we behaved with a sense of unity and care for one another, I wonder if we would have a greater sense of God’s presence and protection? You realize that God disrupted the ancient city of Babel specifically because they were completely unified? Of course they were unified in godless pursuits, but Genesis 11 tells us it that unity in and of itself is powerful! ““Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.””

I imagine that unity in and for Godly pursuits would not only be unstoppable, it would also be far easier to see God’s Kingdom come and His will be done! I absolutely believe that God would bless our unity in the Church. And as long as we are fractured, divided and continue to treat one another with horrible religious contempt, we will not accomplish what God has for the Church. Yet, even in our flawed self-serving, divisive zealousness, God will have His way. I trust Him. I just wish believers would all get along and quit thrashing each other, especially in the cultural courts of social media. I am sick of it!

Prayer

Dad,
Our present state of unity in the Church just makes me sick to my stomach! I see the promises in the Psalms and I long for the protection you would provide, but I long for a unified community far more than just a lack of attacks on our faith. Maybe that’s why you pour out your Spirit at specific times, just to bring about our sense of being together. Together in praise and worship. Together in mission of making disciples. Together in the flow of your will, your desires. Help us Oh Lord.

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The lost art of confession.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude” Psalms‬ ‭32‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We, as believers, as the Church, are a reactionary bunch. The Church practically ruined the process of confession by tying it to a sacrament involving a booth of secret exchanges between the sinner and a priest behind a veil. Confession was meant to be given to God and each other, not some mysterious sin eater. Then we bounced to the extreme of never having confession as a normal part of our fellowship and following Jesus in community.

Confession and repentance are not only threaded through the entire fabric of the Bible, they are clearly necessary starting from the beginning of our human existence. If Adam and Even had not blame-shifted responsibility off themselves, and just confessed who knows maybe the consequences or corrections wouldn’t have been as severe. Oh, sin would still be the death sentence that it is. But maybe the burden of labor and provision would be different for men and labor and delivery would be less painful for women?

Obviously David, after committing his heinous crimes, should have come clean before Nathan called him out. Was this refusal to confess before or after the confrontation? I’ve always had the theory that anyone who takes a life or commits violence against another human has to deal with a raging fire of guilt and the fear of getting caught. I imagined that the guilt eats the soul within and turns one into a beast, searing conscience and sucking out all emotion like love or compassion.

This Psalm carries a truth no matter the severity of sin or shame. We are not designed to carry guilt. And, it makes it paradoxically ridiculous when we have such a clear solution and simple option beckoning before us – confess and quit trying to hide it! To whom should we confess? First to God, then to one another.

It’s interesting that David, upon realization, confesses rebellion. Here we thought it was all about lust, objectification of a woman, lying, plotting and executing a murder, then trying to cover it all up. But rebellion? This is what the Bible has been trying to tell us all along. All sin is rebellion against God. It’s us, wanting our own way, not his. It’s yielding to cravings and what Augustine calls our “disordered desires” of what WE want, when we want it and won’t listen to anyone trying to dissuade us. The seven deadly fruits of sin are born from the roots of rebellion.

Whether it was before getting caught or after, David faces his sin, his guilt and the cancer lodged in his soul and vacates it to God. And in that, David finds forgiveness, freedom and a renewed spirit within. It’s not at all formulaic, but it is a process that yields both humility and a fresh start. Of course today, believers are supposed to assume that they are forgiven by Christ’s own permanent payment for sin – and we are. Have we come to believe the humiliation of confession is not necessary. That is not what the New Testament teaches is it? So we just skip the penitence, the humbling of ourselves, the constant admission that we are STILL sinners, saved by grace? Oh, that’s right, we want to heap upon ourselves a whole new layer of religion. The religion of perfection. You may want the perception of sinlessness and the right to judge the world because you are better than others. Not me brother, I know my own heart and it is quite ugly still. Psalm 32 is the perfect psalm for me. I will confess my rebellion to the Lord. And God will forgive me.

Prayer

Dad,
How dare I even for one moment think that Your righteous, Your mercy, Your forgiveness extends to me any privileges of pretense that I would be qualified to judge another, especially deciding who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. I am far too busy dealing with my own sin! I am thankful for confession, repentance and forgiveness as a regular process of keeping my heart and soul clean and clear before you.

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The epitome of penitence.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Welcome to Ash Wednesday.

Yes, David sinned, egregiously. Yes, David got caught, Nathan had to confront the king. Yes he repented, and he was punished by God. And yes, he deserved to die for what he did, but God forgave him.

The story was written for all to see and wrestle with what David did. And yes, this Psalm captures the model, the template for repentance and owning up to our sin. It is difficult to hold the story of what happened in 2 Samuel 11 & 12 while holding the confession of written words in Psalm 51. One could read the heinous acts and think, “I could never do what David did,” but forced to face the stark reality that I am, you are, capable of it and worse!

Then we read the Psalm and feel the deep pain of realization, of recognition that comes with absolute truth – we too are really broken. David called it when he wrote, “For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.” So much for innocence of a child.

Why is it so hard for us to admit it when we’re wrong, we’ve blown it, sinned, made a mistake, even hurt people? Oh, the arrogance of excuses! This is why Psalm 51 isn’t just an old passage from an ancient text written thousands of years ago. It’s timeless because I am still a sinner! It’s beautiful because there is a freedom and a joy in coming to God in filth and him cleaning us with forgiveness and renewing our spirit. This Psalm can be sung as a regular process of resetting our soul, power-cycling our mind, “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord my God. And renew a right spirit within me.” Who God sets free is free indeed!

Prayer

Dad,
It hurts my heart to read about what David did and how far he took it to destroy the lives of so many involved in that story. Then, as I read David’s psalm of penance, I also am saddened in solidarity – this is who I am as well. Today is Ash Wednesday, Lent. I reminded of who I am, what I am without you. So I spend this day walking humbly before you and being thankful for your forgiveness.

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Breaking Bad Brain Ruts.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Purity isn’t just a young man’s dilemma. It’s a human quandary at all ages. The Palmist’s request is in searching for God and asking Him not to let him wander from His commands. How can one “shamar: watch, preserve” and be “zakah: to be clear, clean or pure.” Hmmm, preserve purity.

Even though the idea of youth and purity bring up a specific kind of purity, that is sexual purity, I am positive there are a so many different impure impulses that race through our brains. There are plenty of opportunities to obsess on anger, jealousy, comparison, manipulation and of course lust. John Mark Comer, in his book, Live No Lies asks if you have ever had thoughts that seem to have a will, a drive and intention all on their own, like they are not just beckoning, but wooing and taking control of our thoughts. Lying thoughts are where the Devil makes his move and takes advantage of our “disordered desires.” These lies, coming in as thoughts, match our inner desires to get something we want but should not have. And, we should not want them because outside of God’s intent and proper place for these expressions they bring DEATH.

The Psalmist’s weapon to fight back is the same spiritual sword Jesus brought to the showdown in the desert – God’s Word. The hidden, stored away like a treasure, Word of God pulled from our memories for quick access to the constant war of thoughts that fly though our brains. This can effectively shutting down the “what if…” or “if I just…” or “I could…” ideas. Ideas that rummage through our desires and ruminate into plans and manipulations to get something we know is wrong.

The timely interruption is to intercept those thoughts with scripture and not allowing them to freely move on to plans. We must remember, this is NOT easy because we want to, we desire to follow through and make plans to sin! For me, these thoughts are not like dreaming up a plate of brussel sprouts. It’s like dreaming of burritos or chips with guacamole. Not that veggies are heavenly and Mexican food is sin, but you get the idea.

I can’t just have scriptures committed to memory, I must also desire to access them MORE than the desire to access my own plans to get what I want, when I want it. First there’s the thought, then the plan to act on it, then if that plan is not interrupted or thwarted, it continues on to acting it out. Jesus warning us about lusting after an adulterous affair, or “setting the heart upon,” in Matthew 5:28 is talking about these plans to follow through with a plan that has already taken place in our mind. We’ve mapped it out and set about doing it! The sin is absolutely sure to follow because it is already a reality in our mind.

The time to intervene is before the plan can be made. Our brains develop “ruts” or common everyday shortcuts or routes to accomplish tasks. Think of where you put your toothbrush, your brain has stored this memory placement so you do not have to see or even think about where it can be found. This means the thought, sin-disruption, must be quick and repetitive or the brain rut will just take over. This defines a breaking a bad habit! It’s brain retraining.

Replacing the sin-plan with another action plan is exactly what the Psalmist did. He writes “I praise you, I have recited aloud, I have rejoiced in your laws, I study, reflect and delight in your decrees.” Look at the list of action plans he makes AFTER he access God’s Word! It’s not just about interrupting a thought, with God’s Word, it’s making a new plan to keep our brains from “rutting” onto the shortcut behavior it is used to. Memorize a scripture to have ready to interrupt the thought, then make and follow a plan that takes you away from the behavior you would have normally followed through with.

Prayer

Dad,
Help me hide your Word, help me make godly plans that change my sinful behaviors! Give me new brain ruts to please you. Amen.