Broken

Psalm 51:16-17 

For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

The Sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 

This verse is often quoted and it would be surprising if none had heard it before. Most Christians would even recognize that this comes from the Psalm David wrote after his adultery with Bathsheba and Murder of Uriah. Yet the depth of this statement is lacking in the majority of Christian hearts.  

As mentioned above, David has come to see his sin as the heinous sin that it is. In so doing he see's that no amount of money or the blood of bulls could possible atone for what he has done. Yet, he knows that God is gracious and will atone for what he had done. If the payment is not in blood of bulls or in the giving of tithe what possibly bring joy to his maker and judge. To this end, David is given inspiration from God. That it is brokenness that he desires in us. For the penitent to understand some small measure of his own depravity. In this attitude, the one who would truly seek God would be able to please and delight his creator. 

The gravity of this is that often times we as Christians like to put up the Sin/Good deed" balance and put our own giving on the scales, or our own "sacrifices" (of any nature). When we do this we once again make salvation a matter of works. Using Christ as a type of Chapter 11 bankruptcy rather than ourselves as his complete dependents until the end of time. No one likes to say they are completely dependent on someone else, but for the Christian to please and delight his creator he must understand that he is completely bankrupt but also that if he was to start over afresh he would be completely bankrupt again. Only by staying broken and contrite are we able to give rightly what pleases our Master and Lord. 

Even though I have not murdered or committed adultery, my sin is every bit as heinous as David's. Yet because mine are more "socially acceptable" they don't break my heart as his did. This is when Christians must break from culture and recognize that EVERY SIN deserves the wrath and curse of God. That every "little white lie" is as large as the Milky Way and as dark as the bottomless pit. We must cry out to God to make the depth and gravity of our sin known to us that we may worship him appropriately. That we might serve him well. That we would be broken and humble, instead of proud and self-righteous. That we might trust the cross. 

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO

Hope in God

Psalm 42:5,11 ; 43:5  ESV 

Why are you cast down, O my Soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. 

When an idea or text is repeated by the biblical author it is important. This is a rule that any and every student of the bible needs to understand and remember. Two Psalms have used this line, Psalm 42 using it twice, once in the middle once at the end, and Psalm 43 using it as the conclusion of it as well. The conflict between what a person "knows" and what a person "feels" is accentuated here for the biblical reader. 

The conflict is one that every person has had to wrestle with. Which is more powerful? How this question is answered can mean the difference between divorce and fifty years of marital bliss. Does a person give way to the whims of emotion or hold to the rock of knowledge? 

As God inspires the Psalmist the reader feels the pain of the writer. His soul panting for God "as the deer", this is not a pretty picture this is one of agony, longing, tremendous desire, that if not quenched death is at the door! The picture builds as the reader continues through the text, My soul thirsts for God" (vs 2), "My tears have been my food" (vs 3), "I pour out my soul" (vs 4). The reader is drawn into this utter helps feeling of longing for what is not forthcoming. When will the agony of longing finally be realized? When will God finally ease the pain of "unanswered desire"? 

The Psalmist answers all of these questions with rhetorical questions, (How like God to answer questions with a question!) followed by advice and cold hard facts. "Hope in God" the direction to continue in hope because the one hoped in is always faithful! The reality that the one hoped in is only salvation from the "realities" that have overwhelmed us, and the savior is GOD.  

Do you find the endless battle for your heart to be exhausting? As the grind of the "realities" of this life wear against your hope. Find your Hope in God, he is your only salvation from the struggle. In Jesus we will be clothed in white and praise him in the sanctuary. For those who hope in him will with David say "As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness." (Psalm 17:5) 

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO

Sabbath Rest

Exodus 34:21 ESV  

"Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest."  

The mirror of God's word is such a frightening thing. To look into this perfect mirror and see more and more of my deficiencies. That is a nice way to put it. The truth is to look into this perfect mirror and see more and more of my wretchedness and complete unworthiness. The recognition of our sin and seeing it for what it is helps to put the scandalous nature of the cross in perspective. The perfection of humanity traded places and died for the most reprobate person on earth.  

As we read through Exodus we like to hit the high points and forget the rest of the book. We review the Ten Commandments but skip the laws that clarify different aspects of it. This is where we find Exodus 34:21. Apparently farmers don't change. They are as stable as the dirt they work. I say this simply because God felt the need to clarify that plowing and harvest were not reason to break the Sabbath. I am well acquainted with "the harvest has to come in," "It is going to rain tomorrow,"… I enjoy the timeless nature of the law as it comes head on with the realities of life.  I am sure everyone listening has heard (or given) those reasons for why the Farmer can't make it to Church today.  

Yet, it would be wrong to leave it here. Farmers are not the only ones that use good quality reasons on why breaking the ten commandments is legitimate. How many images of Christ do we find in churches? The bible did not give a description for Christ, probably for a reason, and yet it gives firm command about making images of God. No matter what aesthetic appeal it may have you don't have to visit to many Christian sights to see those images worshiped and this is sin. No matter the intent of the individual they all eventually be come like Gideon's Ephod, and become a hindrance to those coming up behind us.   

As I reflect on the Sabbath I have to wonder if I am resting? It is easy to leave it with farmers, but the command is to rest. How often do I do that? Instead I fill the day with countless activities and rushing from place to place. Things that "have" to get done. Just like a quality farmer anxious about his livelihood. Do we really use the day to stop, rest, and be refreshed in the lord? Knowing my Sunday is different than most others, I take Monday as a day of "rest" yet is not the community ascpect of the command also important? The community resting together, Fathers separated from work to play with their children. (I say this as my daughter is praying we would move and get a dishwasher so we could play with them more!) Leftovers being served (also part of the clarifications of the law)  that mothers and servants might rest and enjoy the community. Can I really say Monday is my day of rest if I do so alone? 

What does a Sabbath's Rest look like for you? Maybe all those activities that have to get done refresh you and leave you praising God, if not I think you might need to re-evaluate your Sabbath. Remember Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, not you. Those ways I break the Sabbath are not so small as rolling some grain in my hands for a snack, nor so large as to free men from demonic possession. Are yours? 

Every Sunday we celebrate the fact that Christ rose. He paid for every commandment we broke and will break. That includes the Sabbath but should we rejoice in our sin? "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, Jesus washed it white as snow."   

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO