Friday Devo
Scripture:
Psalm 51
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
that my mouth may praise you.
16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Commentary:
51:13 As usual in the Psalms, the transgressors and sinners are members of the covenant people who do not faithfully embrace the provisions of God’s covenant; the faithful call them to embrace God’s grace, from the perspective of those who themselves deserve to be cast out.
51:14–17 Then I Will Worship Truly. The terms in this section, such as sing aloud (v. 14), declare (v. 15), and sacrifice (vv. 16–17), all point to activities of public worship. The person who has used this psalm to confess his sins and to receive God’s assurance of pardon is the one who can genuinely worship the gracious God of the covenant.
51:14 bloodguiltiness. Probably a reference to the slaying of Uriah (cf. 2 Sam. 12:9). The faithful may not have committed this particular sin, but should instead take heart: if God can forgive David this evil, he can certainly forgive all else!
51:16–17 These verses seem to make sacrifice and burnt offering relatively unimportant for the faithful, even replacing them with the inner disposition (a broken and contrite heart). However, since v. 19 goes on to speak of offering physical sacrifices, it is better to take these verses as implying that the animal sacrifices look to the worshiper offering himself to God (cf. notes on vv. 1–2 and v. 7) as “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1), and without this they forfeit significance.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1000–1001.
51:14–17 Then I Will Worship Truly. The terms in this section, such as sing aloud (v. 14), declare (v. 15), and sacrifice (vv. 16–17), all point to activities of public worship. The person who has used this psalm to confess his sins and to receive God’s assurance of pardon is the one who can genuinely worship the gracious God of the covenant.
51:14 bloodguiltiness. Probably a reference to the slaying of Uriah (cf. 2 Sam. 12:9). The faithful may not have committed this particular sin, but should instead take heart: if God can forgive David this evil, he can certainly forgive all else!
51:16–17 These verses seem to make sacrifice and burnt offering relatively unimportant for the faithful, even replacing them with the inner disposition (a broken and contrite heart). However, since v. 19 goes on to speak of offering physical sacrifices, it is better to take these verses as implying that the animal sacrifices look to the worshiper offering himself to God (cf. notes on vv. 1–2 and v. 7) as “a living sacrifice” (Rom. 12:1), and without this they forfeit significance.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1000–1001.
Questions:
- A. heart of REPENTANCE results in REJOICING. It is the natural overflow of a renewed heart. When God changes your heart, you rejoice and want to tell someone about it. But when we stay locked in secrecy and shame, we hide and our lives aren't a testimony of God's faithfulness. Is there something you are hiding in your life that needs to be dragged out into the light? Who can you share the difficult things with?
- The big idea from Sunday was that a heart of REPENTANCE puts you in the arms of the REDEEMER. When you come to God with a humble and repentant heart, you aren't looked down upon or shunned... you are met with open arms. What has God been speaking to you this week? What do you need to do or change?
Pray:
- That God would give you the courage to confess when you struggle with secret sin.
- That you would make a habit of running TO God, not FROM Him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
4. Can a person be good enough to go to heaven? No. Because Jesus rose from the dead, proving He is God, I believe a person is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
(John 1:12, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 4:1-25, 5:1-2, 6-11, 6:23, 10:1-4, 10:9; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:1-9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Titus 3:4-7)
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