Colossians 1:4

because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—

(v4, NIV)

It's not just their faith that is being heard of, but their love. Paul is hearing of this love that they have for all God's people. This is a love that is so evident that news is even brought to Paul about it. When I think about people who are known for loving, I think of people like Mother Theresa. In addition, I think of mothers in general, who are known for the love and care they show their family. It makes me think of how people know you and identify you. What characteristics would people use to describe you? What will they write about you on your tombstone? Will you be known for your faith in Jesus and the love you have for God's people?

Colossians 1:3-4

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—

(v3-4, NIV)

Why is Paul thankful to God when praying for them? In the next verse, we see that it is related to their faith. They have faith in Jesus Christ, which is reason enough to be thankful. When one comes to trust and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is another welcomed into the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells a few different parables in Luke 15 about this very thing. There is a shepherd with one lost sheep, a woman with one lost coin and a father with a wayward son. There is much effort invested in finding that which was lost and much rejoicing when finding what was lost.

An interesting characteristic of their faith is that they have heard about it. News is reaching Paul about their faith in Jesus. Perhaps the effects of their faith have affected others in such a way that the news is spread to Paul. Perhaps news was brought to them through Epaphras. Either way, their faith was such a faith that Paul even received word about it. This makes me think about my own faith. Is it one that is so apparent that others would hear of in a good way? Of course the idea is not to do things so that other men may see it. However, it is humbling and important to examine and think about whether I am truly living a life worthy of this gospel to which I've been called to. This living up to is not something that would merit salvation, but a natural response to the wonderful, loving gift of grace that comes from him.

Colossians 1:3

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

(v3, NIV)

It's interesting when Paul is thankful for those who he is writing to. In our human nature, it seems odd to be thankful for these people who are somehow messing up or doing something bad. These people aren't following Jesus as they should and Paul often needs to write these letters to help deal with these situations. For example, writing to the Corinthian church, he is thankful for them, but they have so many issues that Paul has to address so you wonder why Paul is thankful for these people who are simply messing up. He is includes thankfulness for those he is writing to in Romans and Philippians. Then again, we need to be reminded that we are all sinners and all fall short of the glory of God. It is also a beautiful thing the way God works in people and the encouragement and fellowship among believers is cause to be thankful for one another. In this particular instance, Paul is directing his thanks to God when praying for them. We can be thankful for one another and complement one another. These are good things and we should be building each other up. However, in the end, the thanks is to God. He is the one who deserves our praise. Be thankful to God and lift up your praises to him.

Colossians 1:2

To God’s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father.

(v2, NIV)

This church in Colossae had in it followers of Jesus Christ. These are the people whom Paul addresses. Though there were a number of issues that were present at this church, there were still some that were true servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is encouraging that though these people were surrounded by such opposition and false teaching, they still remained faithful as Paul describes them.

Grace and peace was a common greeting of Paul. This is in fact Paul's standard greeting and found in all thirteen of his epistles.

Colossians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,

(v1, NIV)

I decided to start with Colossians. This letter was written by Paul to the church at Colosse. This letter was also read in the neighboring church at Laodicea. Paul was apparently in prison at the time, but Timothy was able to be with him as well. There seems to be many issues in this church that Paul has to deal with, like false teachings. I'm sure as this letter is explored; it will unveil more and more. The bible is so good.

1 Corinthians 3:6

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

(v6, NIV)

This morning at church, Pastor Kai preached a sermon entitled "How Small is your Church?". It sprung from the initial question most people ask about a person's church, which is typically "how big is your church?". In addition, there are a few misconceptions people have about what church really is. So, he talked about what church is. The passage was Matthew 16:13-20 and one interesting point was about who owns the church or to whom does the church belong to. It is God's church. It made me think about this passage in 1 Corinthians 3. This may be something touched upon in the next sermon, about our personal growth. It is God's church, and it is God who causes it to grow. This passage is not talking about the church as a whole, but even if referring to individuals, it still affects the church since the growth of an individual will affect the entire church. Regardless, it's not really you or me who causes the growth, but it is God. The church is owned by God and he is free to choose what he wants to do with it. Whether he chooses to grow it or not is up to him, and if we allows us to take part in that process, that would be a blessed opportunity for us. Let us remember who causes the growth and give him the glory for the work he does.

Philippians 2:5-8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

(v5-8, NIV)

This was one of the verses read at service this morning. I was once again reminded of this awesome passage about Jesus and his humble servant attitude. The sermon was about Jesus, the humble king. I can't even grasp what it was like for Jesus to humble himself to come down to earth as a human. I mean, you can try to compare it to a human becoming an ant, but that doesn't even come close to describe what Jesus did. On top of that, Jesus was doing this according to instruction given to him. It's not like Jesus was simply doing what he wanted on his own accord, but rather, following instruction given to him by the Father. Like, I'm ashamed to say this, but I sometimes have trouble listening to my parents. It's quite a shame being disobedient to my parents, especially when the disobedience is over the smallest things. Yet Jesus shows us his obedience and his humility in extreme measures. I wish I could have his obedience and have his humility. I must simply look to him and hope for his help and strength to obey like him and be humble like him.

Psalms 51:19

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

in burnt offerings offered whole;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

(v19, NIV)

We get to see another aspect of sacrifices. God will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous. This is of course dependent on what was mentioned previously. However, it specifies that the sacrifice is of the righteous. Therefore, the unrighteous are not included in this description. I guess you shouldn't even bother to bring a sacrifice if you're unrighteous. However, that begs the question of how does on become righteous? We look at our lives and the lives of others and we can confirm that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Being righteous does not merely mean being a "good person". Typically, people are deemed a "good person" relative to everyone else and based upon a narrow view of a person's conduct and behavior. Even if it's a very detailed view of a person's conduct and behavior, this still leaves out their secret thoughts, which are unknown to all except God. It is only through Jesus and his work on the cross that anyone is ever declared righteous. Those declared righteous are those whose sacrifices God delights in.

Psalms 51:18-19

May it please you to prosper Zion,

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

in burnt offerings offered whole;

then bulls will be offered on your altar.

(v18-19, NIV)

It's not until God is pleased to prosper and build up the walls of Jerusalem that he will delight in sacrifices. These aren't sacrifices from anyone, but these are sacrifices of the righteous. If they are righteous, why wouldn't God be delighted in sacrifices from them? This continues to point to the futility of sacrifices depending on other factors. If God isn't pleased to prosper, why would he be pleased with a sacrifice? The focus is on God. It doesn't matter what you bring to God or how good you are, what matters is whether God is willing to accept it or not. If you don't want and don't like relish on your hot dog, you're not going to accept it on your hot dog. Sure, maybe you're willing to bear with it if it's already been placed on it. However, it may be the case that you simply don't like the taste of relish and aren't willing to bear eating a hot dog that has relish on it. It doesn't matter who gives it to you or in what way, it doesn't change the fact that you simply don't like relish. Similarly, if God is unwilling to accept a sacrifice, it doesn't matter how you do it, God isn't going to like it. It's all about God and it isn't really about you and your hokey pokey dance to please God.

Psalms 51:18b

May it please you to prosper Zion,

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

(18, NIV)

There are a few times when Jerusalem needed to rebuild its walls. They were torn down by their enemies. Without walls, the town is vulnerable and defenseless. If Jerusalem is prosperous, without walls it may easily lose what it gains. Walls would then be to keep it safe and hope to help it continue to prosper. It makes me think about precautions. As someone who struggles with laziness, I have a hard time getting off my butt to take necessary precautions. I'm often defaulting to the lazy and easier solution. However, necessary precautions are important for the future. Putting security measures or building towards the future is important for investing in the future and thinking long term. Short term solutions only help in the short term. Building walls takes a long time and their effects may not be seen immediately. However, when they are needed, you'll be glad you prepared for them. However, let us remember that this is about God and his desire to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Psalms 51:18

May it please you to prosper Zion,

to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

(v18, NIV)

Zion typically refers to Jerusalem. The second phrase in this verse even refers to Jerusalem. This is God's promised land, promised to Abraham. By asking to prosper Jerusalem, David is asking God to prosper the Israelites. These are God's chosen people and as God's chosen people David hopes that God would want to prosper them. The alternative will be famine and plague and death and destruction. Those things may be punishment as a result of sin. Prosperity often coincided with Israel turning back to God and away from sin. David in seeing the error of his ways is repentant and turning away from his sin. We see his brokenness about the wrong he has done. David hopes for prosperity in tandem with God's delight in his broken and contrite heart.

Psalms 51:17b

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.

(v17, NIV)

This is the sacrifice that God will not despise. You can know and be sure that if you offer to him a broken and contrite heart, God will not turn it away or dislike it. It is something God will want and enjoy. With Christmas coming, I often think of getting the right presents for people. You don't want to get someone something that they wont want or like. Fortunately, God will certainly like a broken spirit if you offer it to him. Bring that to him and continue to bring that to him

Psalms 51:17

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise.

(v17, NIV)

What is it that God delights in? It is not the burnt offering itself, but a broken spirit. David is bringing forth his sacrifice and it is a broken spirit. David is broken over his sin. He is repentant and wishing he could take it back. He regrets what he did and sees the poor choices he has made. This is his sacrifice and offering to God. He could if he wanted to continue self-righteously living in his ways, ignoring the sin in his life. Instead, he accepts it and is broken about it. This is the offering God desires, not the burnt offerings itself. Be broken about your sin and come to God in that manner. Offer it to him and he will not despise it. There are so many times when I come to God with a list of demands, expecting God to owe me something. This is wrong, I am in the wrong, not justified or deserving of anything in it of myself. It is all him and looking at myself I should continue to realize and be reminded of how sinful I am. I should turn away from it and be broken by it. Be broken and bring it before God.

Psalms 51:16

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

(v16, NIV)

Why wouldn't God delight in sacrifice? David is certainly willing to offer it, but he seems to know that God would not be pleased with a burnt offering. God certainly instructs and teaches about burnt offerings in the Old Testament. If they were described and instructed in the Old Testament, why and for what reason would they be there if God does not delight in them? God doesn't even take pleasure in them. What is the purpose of it then? Whether God delights in it or not, there must be a reason behind him instructing it. You may not like lighters, but you may use one to light a candle on a birthday cake to celebrate someone's birthday. In the same way, we get an insight into God and his purposes, seeing that it isn't the sacrifice but something else that God cares about. Therefore, we can't just go around offering sacrifices to God aimlessly and purposelessly expecting God to be pleased with what we're doing.

Psalms 51:15

Open my lips, Lord,

and my mouth will declare your praise.

(v15, NIV)

David says something else that is dependent on God. He requires God to open his lips in order for him to declare his praise. It's interesting that he needs God's intervention in order to declare his praise. Why can't he just praise God without God's opening of his lips? Perhaps we are incapable of praising God without his working in us. Without God, we will continue in sin and continue to sin. I guess we simply do not utter any praise to God, even though he is most deserving of all our praise.

Psalms 51:14b

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

you who are God my Savior,

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

(v14, NIV)

God is the one who delivers. He is the savior. David needs saving and deliverance from the guilt of bloodshed. He is perhaps so overwhelmed by the weight of his sin. God is the one who saves and the deliverer. When he is delivered, David will sing of God's righteousness. God certainly is righteous. Especially when you compare the two you can see how unrighteous David is and how righteous God is. However, how is God righteous if he delivers David? Certainly we read in the bible about how one who justifies the wicked is an abomination. If God saves David, is he an abomination to himself? How can God even do such a thing? Certainly this is shown and answered in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross; though at the same time, the gospel is never really fully understood. It is such a wealth of truth that is so great. It remains that David will sing of God's righteousness. This certainly makes sense because those who are saved may show gratitude and praise to their savior. This makes me think of how we show our gratitude to God. Are you saved and have you been delivered by God our savior? If you are, do you show your gratitude?

Psalms 51:14

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

you who are God my Savior,

and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

(v14, NIV)

David certainly has blood to be guilty for. He feels guilty for the blood of Uriah. He murdered him and he is at fault even though it was not his sword that delivered death to Uriah. When Nathan is speaking his rebuke to David, he plainly describes David as the one who is guilty and responsible for the death of Uriah. David is not hiding behind others, claiming to have not dealt the final blow. Yet it shames me to think of times when I try to do that. There are times when I play word games trying to weasel my way out of the guilt of sin. I try to shift the blame, claiming not to be the one who offered the answers even though I was the one who copied it. Perhaps I would suggest its okay because others are doing it, thus I feel less guilty. This is wrong and we are guilty for the blood we shed and the sins we commit. David knows this well and he is struck with the full weight of his sin by the guilt he feels.

Psalms 51:13b

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

so that sinners will turn back to you.

(v13, NIV)

When God's ways are taught to transgressors, sinners will turn back to God. We can see this in the events surrounding this Psalm. Nathan approached David and rebuked him for that sin he had committed. He spoke the word of the Lord and David turned back to God. How can anyone turn back to God if they are not taught the ways of God? This goes the same for us. Not only do we need to teach others, but we need to be taught. When a "Nathan" approaches you about sin in your life, will you turn back to God? Learn his ways and see from David's example how we are to act when our sins are revealed.

Psalms 51:13

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

so that sinners will turn back to you.

(v13, NIV)

Why is it not until "then" that David will teach transgressors God's ways? Why is the teaching of God's ways dependent on other things? David seems to need a pure heart, joy of God's salvation and a willing spirit in order to teach the ways of God. Perhaps it is because David needs to be clean himself before he can teach those who are unclean. If I were a well known thief who continued in that, how could I convince other thieves to stop stealing? I would be a hypocrite if I did that. Instead, I would need to turn from my ways before I could even reach out to them in that manner. David first needs to be clean before he can begin to teach others. In the same way, we need to begin in our cleansing process. We can't tell others about God when our lives look no different than theirs. Sure, we are all sinners and we all fall short. Even as a follower of Jesus Christ we will continue to fall short of his glory. But there needs to be a cleansing or a progression of some sort. Teach others and tell others about his ways.

Psalms 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

(v12, NIV)

Why would David want the joy of God's salvation restored? If God's salvation is so great, why would he ever lose his joy for it? We would do best to look at our own lives and think of times when we've lost the joy for something. It could be something as simple as a toy. Perhaps you may have played with it very much when you first received it, but after a while you may get bored of it and stop playing with it. If you are saved, were you ever weakened in your excitement about salvation? There are times when we forget or seem to drift away, clinging to the things of this world. David seems to know that cleansing is not enough. He does ask for cleansing, but if that's all you got, it'd be pointless. We would be cleansed and then go back to sinning. Something needs to change. To fix an old, broken down, rusted car, it isn't enough to just wash and clean the exterior. It may look nice, but maybe the engine would need to be fixed. We need internal cleansing and we need our attitudes and desires changed. David asks for a renewal of joy for God's salvation, and that's what we need as well.

Psalms 51:3-11

So, way back on the weekend of November 20, 2010, I was really busy. Too lazy and not wanting to use a computer, I simply decided to write it down in some old notebook I found in my room. So, ever since then I've either written it down or typed it up, but I haven't posted it. So, here's what I've compiled since then and hopefully I'll keep up to date with actually posting from now on.

Psalms 51:3

Friday, November 19, 2010

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

(v3, NIV)

David outright says that he knows his transgression. What does he mean by this? Don't we typically know our transgressions? Why wouldn't he know? I think typically we don't know our transgressions, or we'd trick ourselves into ignoring them. When Nathan rebuked David, we see his anger burning against the man in the story, but it turns out to be himself. Now it is made plain to him. Before he didn't know, or it wasn't clear to him. Knowing your transgressions can be the first and biggest step sometimes. If you don't know what can you repent of? How do you even know what to repent of?

Psalms 51:3b

Saturday, November 20, 2010

For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

(v3, NIV)

How is my sin ever before me? Some looser translations refer to sin haunting or unforgettable. What does it mean for something to be before you? It is in front of you. You can't look away from it because if you look in another direction, it is still in front of you. It is something you can't ignore or avoid. This is the way David feels about his sin. Though we ignore or hideaway our sin, sometimes it is so brought to light in such a way that we cannot ignore it. Our dirty sin can stick out in an unavoidable way that we feel the weight of it all. David has been living for a while seemingly ignoring and not addressing this sin, but it is not until Nathan's rebuke that he says that his sins is ever before him. It seems like it's not till now that he grasps the truth about his sin. I recall a PJC video about stepping on dog poo. His analogy was about a guy stepping in dog poo and pretending it didn't happen. That doesn't make sense; the smart thing to do would be to act like you stepped in poo and act accordingly (by perhaps cleaning your shoes). It is not until the full truth of the poo is acknowledged and acted upon that anything is solved. Similarly, sin needs to be acknowledged and treated as sin, as David shows he is feeling in this verse. It shows the acceptance of the truth about the sin he committed. We would be good to do the same. Admit you stepped in dog poo.

Psalms 51:4

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

Who did David sin against? Who do we sin against when we commit various sins? When I steal a stick of gum from the convenience store, am I sinning against the store owner? Or when I insult someone or hit them, am I not sinning against them? Looking at David's example, I can point to a few people who I would've initially guessed that David sinned against. Was he not sinning against Uriah for sleeping with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba? Or maybe would this be a sin against David's wives for unfaithfulness in his marriage (or marriages? Actually, it seems complicated since he had multiple wives)? Who did he sin against for the death of Uriah? Was this sin against Uriah? Perhaps it was a sin against Bathsheba, for murdering her husband. All these options seem plausible to me, yet David says that he sins against God. Apparently, David's sin is against God even though these sins seem to be directed towards people like Uriah and Bathsheba. This seems to provide a glimpse into the nature of sin. Sin is against God, even if we feel we are directing our anger towards another human being.

Psalms 51:4b

Monday, November 22, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

David has sinned against God. What's interesting is that David didn't sin against God and someone else. He says "you only" when referring to who he sins against. Though it may seem to be directed towards others or mainly affecting others, it is only against God. When we sin, it may affect or seem to be directed towards others, but we are sinning against God and God alone.

Psalms 51:4c

Tuesday, NOvember 23, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

How has David sinned against God? Sin is in direct opposition to God. God is holy, righteous and pure. However, sin is disobedience to God. David knew the commandments of God, but he consciously chose to disobey. When we sin, we sin against God because sin is in direct opposition to God and what he has commanded us. We can't plead ignorance either, because his law is written on our hearts, and our conscience bears witness to our evil deeds. David has grasped a better understanding of sin and I hope we all (myself included)continue to have our eyes opened more and more to the truth about sin; and as a result, are broken about it as David is and was.

Psalms 51:4d

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

To sin is to do what is evil. It is also in the sight of God because God is all knowing. So you can't really fool God or do something without him knowing. This also applies to our sin. When we sin in secret, we still sin in the sight of God. God knows it even when we sin in our thoughts. Nothing is hidden from God.

Psalms 51:4e

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

How is God justified in his words? How does David's sin and the fact that he has sinned against God lead to God being justified in his words? God speaks judgment on us for what we have done. He declares what is and is not sin. He knows, sees and declares our sin for what it is. He is justified in his judgment upon us, judging our sin and rightly so.

Psalms 51:4f

November 26, 2010

Against you, you only, have I sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

and justified when you judge.

(v4, NIV)

How is God blameless in his judgment? When he judges, he is without blame. It isn't God's fault that his judgment rightly falls upon who it falls. Those for whom his judgment falls upon cannot blame God. Instead, it is their fault and their fault alone. David sins against God alone in his wrongdoing. He doesn't sin against others and God doesn't have a hand in David's sin against others. Instead, it is against God and God isn't to blame for something committed against him. Instead, God is holy, perfect and pure. God is without blame in the sin that David committed. When we sin it is the same, we cannot blame God in his judgment upon us.

Psalms 51:5

Friday, November 27, 2010

Surely I was sinful at birth,

sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

(v5, NIV)

We are all sinners. We all sin and we all fall short of the glory of God. It's not too hard to prove that all have sinned. I mean, you can't search the entirety of your life without easily finding something bad or wrong you've done. However, David takes it one step further. Not only do we all sin, but we are all sinners from birth. We're brought into this world in sin. Even those "innocent" pure babies in the nursery are born into this world in sin. This is how bleak the situation is. Now I'm sure this brings forth questions of whether babies are saved or not and stuff like that. I simply don't know, but I hope to continue to trust in a God who does know.

Psalms 51:6

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

(v6, NIV)

There is a contrast with this and what is mentioned before. Before this verse, there is much about sin and transgressions. David's sin is clearly wrong and he is a filthy sinner. Though we sin and are dirtied by it, God delights in the truth. This may not seem like a direct contrast, but David's sin had a lot to do with concealment and lies. After committing adultery with Bathsheba, he tried to cover up his sin. God delights in the truth and so we should live by the truth. Not only do we live not telling lies, but we live lives according to his truth that he has taught us. This isn't just outward, but it comes from inside. Not only are they merely outward appearances of truth, but truth that comes from within. By that I mean the motives, intentions and thoughts matter, not just how you look on the outside. Our God is a God who delights in truth, not in lies and secrecy.

Psalms 51:6b

Monday, November 29, 2010

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

(v6, NIV)

God teaches us wisdom. God is wise and gives wisdom. Not only does he teach it to us as a teacher in school would, but it is taught in the secret heart. That phrase seems oddly confusing. It makes me think of times when I am alone with God and am taught something by him. It is secret in the sense that is just between me and God. It is in the heart because it is internal and not something I need to internalize to remember. God's wisdom to me is great and greatly treasured.

Psalms 51:7

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

(v7, NIV)

God is the one we need cleansing from. It's not like we are capable of cleansing ourselves. David knew this well. We can try and so many do try to clean themselves. People try by doing "good works". The mentality is to pour on enough "good deeds" so that it outweighs the "bad deeds". The problem is that "good deeds" will never be enough to cleanse us as we need. We need a cleansing that makes us "whiter than snow" in a purity sense. Only God can clean that way that well.

Psalms 51:7b

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

(v7, NIV)

Hyssop is found in a few places in the Old Testament. My Google search brought me to Wikipedia, first pointing to Exodus. When the Israelites were instructed to point their doorposts with the blood of a young lamb, hyssop was used as the brush in Exodus 12. Also, there are a few passages in Leviticus (chapters 14, 18 and 19) where priests use hyssop for purification rites. Hyssop seems to be strongly associated with purification. It makes sense why David uses it here. David wishes to be cleansed by God and the use of hyssop is as the symbolism of the cleansing he needs from God.

Psalms 51:8

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

(v8, ESV)

Why does he ask to hear joy and gladness? Typically you ask for something you do not have or want more of. Perhaps you may ask for some food if you're hungry or some food looks tasty. Maybe you might ask for a hug or for one's hand in marriage. You might even ask for help to hold the door or to carry something. David here is asking for joy and gladness. He is broken over his sin and this asking for joy and gladness seems to be contrasted by how he must feel. He must feel the opposite and is dearly asking for relief. Who do we turn to when we're feeling down? I don't always turn to God when I'm feeling down. However, it is God who we should be turning to.

Psalms 51:8b

Friday, December 3, 2010

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

(v8, NIV)

David asks to hear joy and gladness. Why does he ask for these things? Why can't he cheer himself up? Why can't he just bring himself joy and gladness? Why doesn't he ask for joy and gladness elsewhere? People seek for joy in many different things. We spend ourselves and our lives chasing after that which is temporary. Are these things that which satisfy? I would argue that this joy and gladness only comes from God. This is why David asks God for joy and gladness. David is lacking in those areas, and who better to ask than God? Who else is there to ask? Only God can satisfy. True joy and gladness only comes from God, and we all should go to him.

Psalms 51:8c

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Let me hear joy and gladness;

let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

(v8, NIV)

Apparently, there are bones that God has crushed. I'm assuming that these are David's bones. Why does he want them to rejoice? For some reason, he wants broken bones to rejoice. I don't know first hand, but I don't think a broken leg often brings rejoicing. Instead, I'm sure it's painful and quite a hindrance. However, these bones should rejoice. More importantly, why would God crush his bones? God wouldn't do it for no reason and he certainly wouldn't do it just as a bother. We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and we read about this in Romans 8. It may seem like God is doing harm and it's probably hard to rejoice in that type of situation, but God really intends for our good. It probably is difficult for David to rejoice for broken bones, but these broken bones should rejoice. His bones probably weren't physically broken and it is probably just symbolically referring to God's punishment upon him as a result of his sin. In the same way, we should learn to rejoice in the trials and tribulations. Rejoice for them and continue to put hope and trust in God. We may not know what's coming at the end, but he certainly does.

Psalms 51:9

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

(v9, NIV)

David apparently doesn't want God to even look at his sins. He wishes God to look away. His sins are terribly dirty and God's eyes shouldn't even look upon one so impure. God is pure and holy and righteous. How can one so pure even look upon one as sinful as David? How can God even look at any of us, since we have all sinned and fallen short of his glory? This shows David's understanding of God. If He were physically present, how would you feel keeping in mind your filthy sinfulness? You wouldn't want him to know or see these things, but he does know. Similarly, you wouldn't want your parents or the police present as you commit murder or theft, would you? It's not exactly the same, but you don't want them to see or know. David isn't simply talking about living in continual deception and hiding of his sins. We read of his repentance and wish for real cleaning from God, so this isn't about trying to continue in sin while hiding it.

Psalms 51:9b

Monday, December 6, 2010

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

(v9, NIV)

Why does David ask to blot out his iniquity? Is it not enough for God to cover his face from David's sins? David doesn't just want this sin to remain hidden. He wishes it to be purged from it. More specifically, he wishes for record of it to be removed. There is record of his sinful actions written down, and David asks for that record to be erased. If it is erased, it's as if it didn't happen and David can move on with a clean slate. David wants forgiveness and he is repentant over his sins. When we wrong someone, don't we wish that they could act as if it never happened? We often wish for that kind of forgiveness, a forgiveness that in love treats you as if you never did such a thing. I am simply reminded of how nothing but the blood of Jesus is able to wash away all our sin.

Psalms 51:9c

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquity.

(v9, NIV)

David asks for his iniquity to be blotted out. This is what so many of us desperately desire. Sure, you may not acknowledge or believe in God, but you certainly desire it from others. There are times when you wrong someone else and really wish that you hadn't done that crime. Seeking forgiveness is difficult and is not always granted. When it is granted, does the other person forget it ever happened, or do they remind you of it from time to time? If we desperately desire the forgiveness of others, shouldn't we show it to others as well? I am reminded of the parable Jesus told of the unmerciful servant. He had an outstanding debt to pay to the king, but he could not pay. However, the king decided to forgive him his debt. However, the servant turned to his fellow servant who owed him money and demanded it. When the fellow servant begged similarly to how the unmerciful servant begged the king, the unmerciful servant was unwilling to forgive the debt. The king found out and dealt harshly towards the unmerciful servant. If you want to read it, it's at the end of Matthew 18. David asks God for his slate to be wiped clean as many of us ask. However, are we willing to show the same forgiveness to others? Sure, this passage isn't talking about that, but some may be tempted to simply ask for forgiveness without showing the same kindness to others. Forgive one another.

Psalms 51:10

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(v10, NIV)

David asks God to create in him a clean heart. This implies that David's heart is unclean. We all have unclean hearts. Sure, you may look at other people and label them as a "good person", but in reality, their hearts are unclean. David's heart was unclean; your heart is unclean and so is mine.

Psalms 51:10b

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(v10, NIV)

God is the one David asks for joy and gladness. God is the one David asks for his iniquity to be blotted out. God is also the one who David asks to create a clean heart in him. This among other things comes from God. Our hearts are unclean and we need them to be clean. It's not just a clean heart but a pure heart. I am reminded of how Jesus talked about what makes one unclean. It's not what goes into the body, but what comes out of the body. Upon further explanation, Jesus tells of how what comes out is from the heart. From the heart come all sorts of filthy sinfulness, defiling a person. This passage can be found in Matthew 7. Be careful of what defiles you and we need God to create in us a pure heart.

Psalms 51:10c

Friday, December 10, 2010

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(v10, NIV)

David asks for a steadfast spirit. What does steadfast mean? I looked it up and it means fixed or unchanging. David wants a spirit that doesn't change. He has changed and he used to be all for God, but then he screwed up. He doesn't want it to change and he wants it to be constantly good between him and God. In the same way, our lives are always up and down. We experience good times and we experience bad times. Sometimes we're close to God but sometimes we're so in love with our sin that we end up so far from him. Let us be the same and fixed on God. We should be unchanging and God can provide.

Psalms 51:11

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

(v11, NIV)

God certainly has the power and ability to cast us from his presence. If he so chooses, we wouldn't be granted such a grace. It is quite a valuable gift to be able to be in his presence. He is not distant, but nearby. David knew and must have tasted what it was like to be in the presence of God. God certainly blessed him and directed him in the past. God gave David's enemies into his hands on numerous occasions. David was instructed by God and he listened. David knew what it was like to be near to God, but he didn't want that to be taken away. I heard recently that E5 was closed for cleaning. Apparently, some people made a mess of the study area there. Because of this, the privilege of studying there has been taken away from all the students. You can debate all you like whether God can do this or not and to what degree. However, what God has done for us is so amazing and valuable beyond compare. This grace and privilege we have should not be taken lightly.

Crazy idea on Christmas Gifts

Many of you probably already start thinking of all these crazy Christmas gift shopping for your dearest friends and family. Every Christmas you probably spent hundreds to thousands or some of you like me even millions or dollars on gifts. You brought the gift but probably also worry if they already have the material at home or if they like what you brought.

Instead of all the headache, why not put all your money on gifts to support non-profit organization or even to missionaries? To people who ACTUALLY need a gifts. And then write your friends or family a Merry Christian card and say stuff like this:

"Dear you,

This year instead of buying you a tie, or a helicopter as Christmas gift, I spent that much money on this organization. As a Christian Canadian, I think we should begin the change and should breakthrough our tradition. Hope you like my brave action to you as your Christmas gift. Wish you a Merry Christmas!

p.s. I wasn't joking. Receipts is attached.

from dear me"

I was kinda joking, but deep down I think we really should do that instead. I dare you, challenge you and encourage you to do it! =D

.

Jon Lam