Coming to the End of Ourselves (The Way to a Fresh New Beginning)

 

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Worship in Word 

Ps 32 Of David. A maskil. Title: Probably a literary or musical term 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. NIV (2011)	Ps 32 A Maskil of David. 3     For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4     For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah ESV (2016)
Ps 32 A Psalm of David, Mas'-chil. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. KJV	Ps 32 A psalm of David. 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude Holy Bible: New Living Translation Tyndale House Publishers. (2015).

I. Covered – vv. 1-2 II. Conviction – vv. 3-4 III. Confession – v. 5 IV. Call – v. 6 V. Confidence – v. 7 V. Counsel – vv. 8-9 VI. Contrast – v. 10 VII. Celebrate! – v. 11

Blessed – vv. 1-2 Lament/Languish – vv. 3-4 Exonerate – v. 5 Seek – v. 6 Shelter/security – v. 7 Educate – v. 8-10 Delight – v. 11

 

I. Conviction/ Lament/Languish – vv. 3-4

 

David began Psalm 32 on a high note of celebration centered around a person blessed with forgiveness – whose sins have been covered and no longer held against them. But he has not answered the question, “David are you speaking only in generalities, or do you have someone specific in mind?” In verses 3-4, he answers that question. In doing so, the celebratory tone gives way to somber reflection. That is because the person David has in mind is himself.

Yes, the first two verses can and do address anyone rescued and restored from a life marked by sin—the common plight of all humanity after the fall of  Adam. And he wants to highlight the joy found when the Lord forgives one’s transgressions. I believe that is why instead of starting at the beginning, David begins with the results and then recounts what led up to this state of blessedness.

The blessed one, therefore, in the first two verses does not just refer to a hypothetical person but also to David himself. Through his own experience, David hoped others would also enter into the communion of the forgiven. To do this, he first recounts his agony when he kept silent about his sin. Let us start in verses 3-4  and follow David on the path that ends in a state of blessed joy. That end is found in verse 5, but before David arrives, he must first come to the end of himself.

Worship in Witness

“What we have here is a failure to communicate” is a memorable line from an iconic movie that debuted in 1967 (Cool Hand Luke). If you allow me, may I borrow this phrase and rip it entirely from its original context? In verses 3-4, David confesses that he was guilty of a “failure to communicate?” I will go into this a little deeper in my next journal entry.

But first, may I also apply it to myself concerning God and my wife? When my wife left me eight years ago, I was crushed. Not wanting to be alone and in a surrounding that reminded me of her, I moved in with my mother for several months as I sought help through counseling and time in God’s word. My journey began in the Psalms during this time, which ultimately led to this blog you are reading.

During that time, it would have been easy to cast all the blame on my wife. Instead, I came to the end of myself and recognized the sin in my own life that was part of the problem. The idolatry of placing God in a secondary place in my life behind my wife and financial concerns. The physical before the spiritual, which in reality, sputtered throughout our marriage. I failed to include her in some of the most critical decisions that affected our marriage and family (I assumed that she and I were on the same page).

Did recognizing and confessing these things fix everything? No, and if we look at David’s life, it did not fix everything for him either. But while my wife has not come home, God has been restoring and blessing me. But I had to come to the end of myself first.

Am I perfect? By no means! Anyone who has kept up with my blog knows that is not so. Do I experience times of sadness and depression? Certainly! But my Shepherd is the same One that led David through both green fields and the shadows.

David testifies that through it all, God’s “goodness and mercy” followed him “all the days” of his life. And the LORD’s “goodness and mercy” also follow me – but it is still my earnest prayer that my precious wife would join me again in following our great Shepherd.

 

Worship in Promise, Prayer, Poem, and Praise 

Source: Logos Media Collections

 

We Will

Ours is not just a “pie in the sky by and by” religion.

For we know...

We “will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

We will travel the wilderness and also rest in verdant fields of green and waters serene.

We will traverse valleys that are dark, gloomy, and stark

We will relax at tables of plenty though surrounded by enmity.

 

And in all this...

We will be pursued by God’s goodness and mercy. (Psalm 23:2-6)

Goodness, which protects us from the enemy who seeks our ill

Mercy, when the winds of sorrow and pain bring a chill

Goodness, not bought with money nor healed by a pill

Mercy that was shown and supplied on Calvary’s Hill

 

To My Father’s House, I Go

Over the hills and through the valleys

To my Father’s house, I go

My Shepherd knows the way

And leads me all the day

Be they bright or a stormy fray

 

Over the hills and through the valleys

To my Father’s house, I go

My Good Shepherd, I will follow

In pastures green, by still waters to swallow

In dark vales and deepest grotto

 

And when at last Your mansion, I see

With goodness and mercy following me

I will enter its gates with praise to Thee

And thankfulness, for I am happy and free

Because in Your presence forever I’ll be!

 

The Goodness of God, as sung by We the Kingdom

I love You, Lord, oh, Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

And all my life, You have been faithful
And all my life, You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice; You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights, You are close like no other
I've known You as a father; I've known You as a friend
And I have lived in the goodnеss of God, oh

And all my life, You have been faithful
And all my life, You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Your goodness is running after; it's running after me
Your goodness is running after; it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now; I give You everything
Your goodness is running after; it's running after me
Your goodness is running after; it's running after me
Your goodness is running after; it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now; I give You everything
Your goodness is running after; it's running after me

And all my life, You have been faithful
And all my life, You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I sing of Your love, God, oh

And all my life, You have been faithful
And all my life, You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

 

Lyrics: https://genius.com/Lifeway-worship-goodness-of-god-lyrics

Video: https://youtu.be/qVEOJzAYIW4

Is Your Confession Sincere or Out of Fear?

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Worship in Word:

 

Ps 32 Of David. A maskil. Title: Probably a literary or musical term 1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. NIV (2011)	Ps 32 A Maskil of David. 32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. ESV
Ps 32 A Psalm of David, Mas'-chil. 32 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. KJV	Ps 32 A psalm of David. 32 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, 1996, 2004

 

I. Covered – vv. 1-2 II. Conviction – vv. 3-4 III. Confession – v. 5 IV. Call – v. 6 V. Confidence – v. 7 V. Counsel – vv. 8-9 VI. Contrast – v. 10 VII. Celebrate! – v. 11

Blessed – vv. 1-2 Lament/Languish – vv. 3-4 Exonerate – v 5 Seek – v. 6 Shelter/security – v. 7 Educate – v. 8-10 Delight – v. 11

 

I. Covered/ Blessed – vv. 1-2

Previously I discussed the meaning of the word “blessed” as well as the meaning of the three words used for sin in verses 1-2. I made the point that these three terms for “sin” were not listed in verses 1 and 2 for us to make fine distinctions about different kinds of sin. Instead, they were there to point out sin's utter depravity.

By contrast, God had provided complete and free forgiveness for sin, resulting in a person being called “blessed.” However, this forgiveness was not accomplished by simply pardoning the offender despite their guilt. That would be unjust. But so that God would be both “just and the justifier” (see further Rom 3:21-26 ESV), God forgave them through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This was an objective work of God. Subjectively, we will also see in the coming verses the crushing weight of sin upon those who have come under the convicting work of the Holy Spirit.

However, before I move on to this, let me point out one more sin mentioned in this passage which will also connect us to these coming verses. It is the Hebrew word “remiyah,” translated as “deceit” in English. However, this word was not included in the list of sins that are forgiven. Why? Because David uses this word to qualify the terms by which a person’s sins may be forgiven, covered, and not held to account for.

David speaks of the lack of the presence of the sin of deceit. By emphasizing the absence of deceit, he is making the point that the person pardoned must repent with sincerity, honesty, and integrity.

Craigie points this out in his commentary on this Psalm:

The relevance of the term is to be seen in the means by which forgiveness is granted; the forgiveness implied in the first three lines presupposes repentance and confession (cf. v 5), and only when that repentance and confession are honest, devoid of deceit, will the happy estate of forgiveness be experienced.

Craigie, P. C. (2004). Psalms 1–50 (2nd ed., Vol. 19, p. 266). Nelson Reference & Electronic.

 

Worship in Witness:

Any public confession given with deceitful motives in order to gain favor is empty and self-serving. Consider the person that confesses their transgression(s) to God out of fear of punishment. They give the appearance of remorse, but there is no repentance in their heart, and they do not care that they have offended Him and besmirched His name. They have “the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” ( 2 Tim 3:5 ESV). They “honor [God] with their lips, but their hearts are far from [Him]” (Matt 15:8 NIV). Will they not hear from the lips of our Lord “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt 7:21 ESV).

 

The parable told by our Lord of the Pharisee and the tax collector found in Luke 18:9-14 comes to my mind. I realize Jesus did not tell this parable to address deceitfulness and integrity. In fact, we are given the reason why He told it in verse 9:

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt...

ESV

The Lord concluded the parable with these words in verse 14:

all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” TNIV

I know what you are thinking, “what does all this have to do with deceitfulness and integrity?”

Well, as you think of the Pharisee and his pride, think: dishonest and deceived because he was lying to himself and perhaps trying to cover up his sin with a pile of steaming self-righteous manure (see Phil. 3:1-9 especially verse 8, where most modern translations are too polite to call “rubbish” what it is: “dung” KJV).

But, for the tax collector in his torment, think of honesty and integrity; he was honest before God and others about himself and had the integrity not to hide it.

I back up this reading between the lines with two verses in 1 John.

⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:8-9

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

David will address the issue of confession in the verses to follow in Psalm 32. Suffice it to say that the word “confess” points to this matter of honesty and integrity. In most English translations, a more literal rendering of the Greek word  translated as “confess” in 1 John 1:9 is: “to say the same thing.” Thus, in 1 John 1:9 (and Psalm 32, as we shall see), this would mean “to see and say what God says.” That is, to agree with God that we have sinned. I remember visiting a man with my friend who was pastoring a small church in Mississippi. This man would not admit he was a sinner but boasted of his good deeds instead. I also seem to remember that he claimed he had documentation to that effect!

The point is that if we don’t sincerely confess that we are sinners, we lie to ourselves and others and call God a liar!

If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1 John 1:10

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

However, when we see our sins as God sees them (defiling, disgracing, and debasing) and confess them to Him, we have this promise:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Then we can declare with joy,

 

“I am blessed because my sins are forgiven!”

 

 

Worship in Promise, Prayer, Poem, and Praise

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A Prayer for Salvation

Lord, save me I cried

As I looked into the mirror
And with horror, I saw myself
My sinful ways became clearer

Save me from my selfishness

Save me from my pride

Save me from my iniquities

The sins I try to hide

 

Save me from my doubts

Save me from my fears

Save me from my sorrows

The trials that bring me tears

 

Save me from my anger

Save me from my fury

Save me from my angst

The stuff that makes me worry

 

Save me from self-righteousness

Save me from cheap grace

Save me from vain religion

The paths I like to chase

 

Save me from destruction

Save me from the past

Save me from the inferno

The torture that will last

 

As I turned to walk away

I heard Christ beckon me

Come to Me and find rest

And salvation, you will see

 

Mercy Was Applied (Poem based on Luke 18:9-14)

 

Thought the Pharisee, “God, I am better than that he!”

Pointing at a tax collector with disdain in his eyes

But hear what the tax collector says in a woeful plea

“God, have mercy on me, a sinner,” with lowered eyes

 

The Pharisee thumped his chest

He thought he was the best

The tax collector beat his chest

And pleaded to be blest

 

The Pharisee stood alone from the crowd

He stood alone and proud

The tax collector stood afar with head bowed

Imploring to be wrapped in Mercy’s shroud

 

For the Pharisee, no Mercy, only “woe betide!”

As he walked away with unrepentant pride

For the tax collector, Mercy was applied

As he walked away justified

 

 

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1 Timothy 1:15 – KJV

 

Put In Me (Psalm 51) by Enter the Worship CVircle

Oh, Mercy, fall on me

Like a warm blanket

On my cold, cold heart

Clean me with Your blood

That turns me white...on the inside

I'm on my knees again

'Cause I'm breaking Your heart

 

Put in me what I cannot buy with gold

Put in me, oh God, come restore my broken soul

Put in me what I cannot give myself

Put in me...a clean heart...a clean heart

 

I know all my broken places

Like the back of my hand

That slapped Your face again

Wash me in Your love

And hold me tight like a baby

'Till I have no memory

Of ever breaking Your heart...Your heart

 

Put in me what I cannot buy with gold

Put in me, oh God, come restore my broken soul

Put in me what I cannot give myself

Put in me...

 

BRIDGE

And in the joy when You restore me

I will stand and walk again

I will run into this world

I will call them to come in

But I will not point my finger or grow that wicked skin

That cannot remember what I will not forget

How I broke You, or how I'm broken

 

Put in me what I cannot buy with gold

Put in me, oh God, come restore my broken soul

Put in me what I cannot give myself

Put in me...a clean heart...a clean heart

 

Video: https://youtu.be/BCITymuaJOU

Lyrics: Adapted from – https://www.flashlyrics.com/lyrics/enter-the-worship-circle/put-in-me-22