Sunday School:
Psalm 119:57-72 HETH and TETH
HETH: The psalmist speaks of a very deep seated committment to follow God's law, but acknowledges that he couldn't do that until he examined his ways (prompted first by the Law) and realized his need for help. He is not superficial about it. He knows his sin, and the need to live by God's Word. Deep thinking and examining his ways against God's precepts resulted in a need to obey quickly. His ways changed as a result of his mind being renewed.
Even in times of overwhelming trouble, he will not forget God's law. "At midnight" indicates an all-encompassing attitude of praise and submission to God.....It is not just at set times or places. His whole life is involved....all the time, in all realms. His primary contacts are those who are like minded.
TETH: God is good.He teaches us good judgement and knowledge through His law. His promises are good....all the time. The Psalmist recognizes God's goodness and teaching even through affliction. He uses trials to bring us back to good standing when we have gone astray, and He uses affliction to appropriate His law in our lives. Seeing this, he calls on God to teach him.
The insolent and arrogant have seared consciences that do not fear God. But the writer delights in God's law. He sees the good hand of God in the trials he has faced, for through them God teaches him to obey His law.
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Worship: Henry Beaulieu, Psalm 130
The cry of one whose heart is broken before God. Not due to uncomfortable circumstances that he wishes to escape, but a heart that knows it's sinful state and helpless and hopeless condition apart from God's forgiveness.
He realizes his position and cries out from a desperate state. There is no hope, no forgiveness, apart from God's mercy, and without forgiveness, he is doomed.
One of my favorite passages: "If you, O Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
but with you, there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning, more than the watchmen for the morning."
God's love is steadfast, constant, and true.....never wavering. And there is no limit to the forgiveness He offers. He will redeem His own.
How easy it is for me to lose sight of my own depravity.....to become puffed up and arrogant about my knowledge, good works, heritage, etc; to begin to feel self sufficient to a degree, even regarding my salvation. Oh God.....help me to never lose sight of my true state before You without your mercy and grace! My my heart ever cry to you for mercy because I know my true state without it. May I long for You like one longs for the dawn during a long, dark night,. And may I rejoice with the Psalmist in Your redemption and steadfast love.
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Afternoon spend reading/studying Kevin DeYoung: The Hole in our Holiness, chapter 2....the reason for redemption.
He redeemed us to make us holy. "The Bible could not be any clearer. The reason for your entire salvation, the design behind your deliverance, the purpose for which God chose you in the first place is holiness." (page 25-26)
While holiness is required for redemption. But he warns about a works based faith. Faith is the root from which the fruit of holiness springs. "The faith that joins you to Christ and makes you right with God is a faith that works itself out in love. On the last day, God will not acquit us because our works were good enough, but he will look for evidence that our good confession was not phony." We are saved to be transformed.
"we are commanded to be holy, saved to be holy, and in face, we must be holy if we are to inherit eternal life."
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