It is impossible to understand who God is by our limited language. But this limited language that God has given us is enough to understand who He is and what He wants from us. Even tho the language is enough we must correctly interpret the bible. God is "other" because we cannot understand who He is unless He reveals Himself to us. God must set us apart unto Himself and give us divine knowledge. If God did not make the first move towards us we would not understand who He is. But God is not completely other because through observation of creation we can make some logical inferences about Him.
God is three in persons yet one in substance. God has shown Himself by what He has made to bring Himself glory and pleasure. Since God has revealed Himself in creation then our purpose is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Since God has put His stamp on creation then we know as His creatures that He is working through us. Even tho we are sinful and corrupted , yet we can glorify Him because He is pleased with His creatures. As God has revealed Himself so we are able to understand who we are.
God gave us a mind will and emotion in making us in His image.When sin entered into the world God had to begin the process of the renewal of all things. He is also renewing our faculties so that we are able to please Him and enjoy Him forever. The God who created all things is proving who He is by what He has made. So God takes special care in renewing us back in the image that He made us. Because He is always showing who He is by working to renew creation it is important for us to know Him so that we might bring Him glory and pleasure. He relates to us by working through all things.
We struggle with sin lacking faith to understand all that God is doing. When we lack faith our tendencies to be distant from Him hardens our hearts. In order to increase our faith we need Gods vision.We grow in faith as we read and understand His word. We must mediate on the word until we see clearly. Until we get Gods vision. Through the word God breaths new life into our souls. He in-grafts this word by the process of illumination. We must experience vivification in order to be converted. Through meditation we must seek to go through many conversions. Our affections must be revived so we develop spiritual eyes and an eternal mindset.
But we find ourselves wrestling to free ourselves from our own natural disciplines. Through many hours of meditation we learn to develop a thirst to heighten our spiritual senses. The enjoyment of meditation will replace our natural comforts in the love of our own way. In become familiar with the reviving of our souls we will not be satisfied until we have fellowship-ed with God Himself. We will find that the more we are illuminated the more we will face resistance. But if we fight that resistance we will grow to meditate by the discipline of meditating.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
In our culture we divide everything up in order to make it easy to explain. We have all kinds of names for the maladies or the spiritual conditions that we encounter.We will make a diagnosis of a problem or a condition and put a label on it. Because we are satisfied with the diagnosis we look for an emotional reaction from people in order to feel loved. We are scientific people who get comfort from the emotion of love and kindness shown to us.
But in the OT culture it was not like this. The question is God like this? When the Psalmist ask for God to search him is he asking for God to make a diagnosis of his sin? Is the Psalmist drawn to God because he experiences a deep affection? Well if we read the Psalmist one time we may think the searching and the love of God is affectionate. But if you meditate on these Psalms for years the repetition itself will convince you that it is much deeper than a mere affection. And if you study the Psalms and they way he expresses himself you would be surprised. In the jewish culture when a person had a malady or condition he expressed it in words and actions. He would tell God exactly what he was experiencing. He would tear his clothes, wear clothes that showed he was suffering, or throw dirty on the head. Why does the bible describe the condition rather than label that condition? Why does God seem unaffectionate to the condition?
Here we are suffering from a disease or a emotional condition and when we go to the bible instead of finding the label we read about the suffering of the sufferer? After thinking over this difference I would like to pose a question. Do we want God to make us feel good when we are suffering or do we want a God who acts to correct the suffering. What good does it do to understand our condition by finding the label for it? Why not act and explain to God our suffering? So we see that the bible is focused on acting and not feeling.
Too often we think the answer is in the label. We do not think there needs to be further actions to correct our condition. If we lose our focus then we may not act to correct our condition. But if God does not focus on affection but action then we know that when we go to Him we are gonna do something to correct the condition. We find in the Psalms that God loves us by proving it in action. We find that the reason that men are not like God is because they show feeling and not action. If God simply drew us to Himself by affection then nothing would be corrected in the world.
This is why we are encouraged to tell God exactly what we are going through. God knows more than we do but He wants to hear our complaints. Its hard for us because when we complain to other people they do not like to hear our complaints. But God is never weary of hearing us tell Him exactly what we are going through. If we approached God on the level of feeling then He at some point would be offended for having to endure the sorrow and our description of pain. But God Himself is all action. The Psalmist teaches us that in the end the help of man is worthless. Think about this. A trust based upon affection is not really secure. But a trust based upon action is very secure. So why do we trust the feeling?
If we believed that God was all action then the only thing that needs to be done is for God to act. This is why the Psalmist over and over described his condition. He was not depending upon Gods affection. He was persistent because God is all action. He was persuasive with arguments because God is a bottom line God. He did not want God to make everybody feel sorry or show affection. He wants God to move the people so there is an action. The feeling only slowed down the action. What is better. To feel loved after being loved. Or to feel love after God acted to correct the problem? We must do as the Psalms and become a pest to God. Other people will complain and lose patience with us but God promises to listen to us.
But in the OT culture it was not like this. The question is God like this? When the Psalmist ask for God to search him is he asking for God to make a diagnosis of his sin? Is the Psalmist drawn to God because he experiences a deep affection? Well if we read the Psalmist one time we may think the searching and the love of God is affectionate. But if you meditate on these Psalms for years the repetition itself will convince you that it is much deeper than a mere affection. And if you study the Psalms and they way he expresses himself you would be surprised. In the jewish culture when a person had a malady or condition he expressed it in words and actions. He would tell God exactly what he was experiencing. He would tear his clothes, wear clothes that showed he was suffering, or throw dirty on the head. Why does the bible describe the condition rather than label that condition? Why does God seem unaffectionate to the condition?
Here we are suffering from a disease or a emotional condition and when we go to the bible instead of finding the label we read about the suffering of the sufferer? After thinking over this difference I would like to pose a question. Do we want God to make us feel good when we are suffering or do we want a God who acts to correct the suffering. What good does it do to understand our condition by finding the label for it? Why not act and explain to God our suffering? So we see that the bible is focused on acting and not feeling.
Too often we think the answer is in the label. We do not think there needs to be further actions to correct our condition. If we lose our focus then we may not act to correct our condition. But if God does not focus on affection but action then we know that when we go to Him we are gonna do something to correct the condition. We find in the Psalms that God loves us by proving it in action. We find that the reason that men are not like God is because they show feeling and not action. If God simply drew us to Himself by affection then nothing would be corrected in the world.
This is why we are encouraged to tell God exactly what we are going through. God knows more than we do but He wants to hear our complaints. Its hard for us because when we complain to other people they do not like to hear our complaints. But God is never weary of hearing us tell Him exactly what we are going through. If we approached God on the level of feeling then He at some point would be offended for having to endure the sorrow and our description of pain. But God Himself is all action. The Psalmist teaches us that in the end the help of man is worthless. Think about this. A trust based upon affection is not really secure. But a trust based upon action is very secure. So why do we trust the feeling?
If we believed that God was all action then the only thing that needs to be done is for God to act. This is why the Psalmist over and over described his condition. He was not depending upon Gods affection. He was persistent because God is all action. He was persuasive with arguments because God is a bottom line God. He did not want God to make everybody feel sorry or show affection. He wants God to move the people so there is an action. The feeling only slowed down the action. What is better. To feel loved after being loved. Or to feel love after God acted to correct the problem? We must do as the Psalms and become a pest to God. Other people will complain and lose patience with us but God promises to listen to us.
Ps 10
The Psalmist is asking why because he wants an answer from God. The society is going into great tribulation. When the nation experiences this kind of tribulation the there is great lawlessness and abuse of the poor. The Psalmist is teaching as the society declines the equity of Gods law is replaced by laws that help the person profit off of the poor. The changing of the law is a result of the increased godlessness in the nation. The Psalmist is applying the law, covenants, curses, statutes, promises, and decrees in making the judgement that the nation has become godless. He is acting as the prosecutor bringing a case against the people who have taken away the equity in the law. God never views law as civil and religious. Gods law is spiritual. It goes beyond the conditions in the society to the heart of man. The Psalmist complains that these godless men are blaspheming Jehovah.
God is Elohim. The God who created man and made a covenant of creation that man should rule the earth. Part of mans responsibility in governing the earth is to obey the law of God that was given to establish all nations. But because of sin and rebellion the natural man who does not have Gods law in his all of thoughts forms another god by redefining Gods law. God spoke creation into existence through law, covenants, statutes etc. The axioms are the bones and flesh of all things. When the natural man attempts to change Gods law, he violently attacks his neighbor. When a society is godless then physical and spiritual death define it.
God created the earth in perfect unity. He created diversity that works in unity. When the wicked redefine it they create disorder by theft and injustice. When a man uses the law to protect and profit himself the Psalmist says that he sneers at his enemies. He is puffed up with pride. In thinking that he is god, he says to himself I cannot be moved. But he does not understand that he has offended a God who judges the thoughts and the intents of the heart. Gods axioms are never abrogated or changed.The godless man is bringing judgement and cursing upon himself.
Psalm 10 is an argument on behalf of Gods poor people in the perfect argument in applying the axioms. Gods words go farther than an argument. The axioms are creative.The Psalmist is speaking the recreation of a nation that is in tribulation. The axioms work when there is no one to investigate. When the generation of abuse has passed and the new generation is adding to the tribulation. This plea is not bound to time or space. This is an eternal plea to investigate all of the abuses from the beginning of time. God who is the King of the earth never judges on a scale. His judgments are based upon His decrees from eternity past. God has given us this Psalm for us. We are simply pronouncing the judgement that was made in the counsel of God and will be adjudicated in the future judgement.As God demands to be worshiped as the eternal judge, by pronouncing this Psalm we are honoring God as He is.
The Psalmist is asking why because he wants an answer from God. The society is going into great tribulation. When the nation experiences this kind of tribulation the there is great lawlessness and abuse of the poor. The Psalmist is teaching as the society declines the equity of Gods law is replaced by laws that help the person profit off of the poor. The changing of the law is a result of the increased godlessness in the nation. The Psalmist is applying the law, covenants, curses, statutes, promises, and decrees in making the judgement that the nation has become godless. He is acting as the prosecutor bringing a case against the people who have taken away the equity in the law. God never views law as civil and religious. Gods law is spiritual. It goes beyond the conditions in the society to the heart of man. The Psalmist complains that these godless men are blaspheming Jehovah.
God is Elohim. The God who created man and made a covenant of creation that man should rule the earth. Part of mans responsibility in governing the earth is to obey the law of God that was given to establish all nations. But because of sin and rebellion the natural man who does not have Gods law in his all of thoughts forms another god by redefining Gods law. God spoke creation into existence through law, covenants, statutes etc. The axioms are the bones and flesh of all things. When the natural man attempts to change Gods law, he violently attacks his neighbor. When a society is godless then physical and spiritual death define it.
God created the earth in perfect unity. He created diversity that works in unity. When the wicked redefine it they create disorder by theft and injustice. When a man uses the law to protect and profit himself the Psalmist says that he sneers at his enemies. He is puffed up with pride. In thinking that he is god, he says to himself I cannot be moved. But he does not understand that he has offended a God who judges the thoughts and the intents of the heart. Gods axioms are never abrogated or changed.The godless man is bringing judgement and cursing upon himself.
Psalm 10 is an argument on behalf of Gods poor people in the perfect argument in applying the axioms. Gods words go farther than an argument. The axioms are creative.The Psalmist is speaking the recreation of a nation that is in tribulation. The axioms work when there is no one to investigate. When the generation of abuse has passed and the new generation is adding to the tribulation. This plea is not bound to time or space. This is an eternal plea to investigate all of the abuses from the beginning of time. God who is the King of the earth never judges on a scale. His judgments are based upon His decrees from eternity past. God has given us this Psalm for us. We are simply pronouncing the judgement that was made in the counsel of God and will be adjudicated in the future judgement.As God demands to be worshiped as the eternal judge, by pronouncing this Psalm we are honoring God as He is.
We must understand that as long as we still practice sin, we will face the curse of shame. So we must become wise in how to attack this problem. The Psalmist teaches that even tho the law points out our sin God has reversed the way we think in our guilty conscience. We must be very clear when we are describing the effects of the curse. When Adam and Eve sinned God pronounced a curse upon the entire creation. But God provided a sacrifice. Most people think that the sacrifice led to the death of the animal as an atonement for sin. But the Psalmist teaches a further component in the sacrifice. The Psalmist teaches that the first sin was not just act of defiance against God. It was also a violent act that was performed to kill God. This is why God warns that if they did not trust in the animal sacrifice as an atonement that He would tear them to pieces. So that animal sacrifice was more than the satisfaction from blood and death. It was a violent act of tearing the animal to pieces.Ps 50 "Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue:"
In essence God was saying that the animal sacrifice was violent to show that the curse was the was the violence that was performed on the animal. Christ took the curse upon Himself so that we could curse those who are cursed. The apostle says that if any one preaches another God let him be cursed. This is why the Psalmist is so passionate about dealing with the shame. Because it is a violent attempt of the enemies to place the believer back under the curse of the law. Most people only teach that the curse of the law is the only curse taught in the bible but the Psalmist curses those who love to curse.In fact the ultimate reason that nations go to war is to curse the enemies of God.Ps 109 They may curse, but you will bless; when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice". He is saying the enemies of God curse the righteous but they will be put to shame or cursed.
You see the Psalmist using the concept of shame interchangeably with the curse of the wicked. Ps 102 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse." In other words the Psalmist enemies are trying to shame him in public by bringing shame to his name.Ps 62 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse." They are speaking evil of the Psalmist bringing shame or the curse to him.
The Psalmist uses the word shame in reference to the image of God. Ps 4 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ? <Selah> In other words anytime we describe God as lesser than He is we create an idol. We curse God. But here the Psalmist distinguishes between the elect miss using the image and the wicked. He is saying that the wicked miss interpreted the image in a violent act.The Psalmist is acting as the prosecutor. He is teaching there is s difference between our slipping into the sin of idolatry and the violent attempt of the wicked to kill God attacking His image. Ps 25 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. " We slip and take refuge in God but the wicked act in treachery when they create idols. Again the sin of the wicked is violence or cursing God. In the same Psalm he hides from the wicked who are violently cursing God in taking refuge in God. Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you." Let me not be put to shame..or let me not be cursed.
God reverses the curse in order to create growth through blessing. The law that points out sin is not a pronouncement in order to curse the wicked. When we are saved we become aware that we are sinners. The apostle teaches that the law shows us sin and it revives and we die.So we are given the grace of the knowledge of personal sin. Why would God need to continue to point to our sin if He gave us an understanding that we are sinners? We can only be reminded of our sin. In reversing the curse of the law, God gave us the pronouncement of the law in order to know we are sinners. The Psalmist uses the law as it is turned away from Him in the pronouncement Ps 35.May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.35 26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.40 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 70 2 May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
In reversing the curse God has given us real freedom. We grow as we pronounce the law as a way to command the command. In pronouncing the law we are warring with the enemies from within and without. Some people argue that we are already seen as completely righteous as we are in heaven but on this earth we must face sin and corruption. They teach that this is not a contradiction. But the doctrine of the curse shows us that the law has been turned away from us so that we use it in our true identity.
In essence God was saying that the animal sacrifice was violent to show that the curse was the was the violence that was performed on the animal. Christ took the curse upon Himself so that we could curse those who are cursed. The apostle says that if any one preaches another God let him be cursed. This is why the Psalmist is so passionate about dealing with the shame. Because it is a violent attempt of the enemies to place the believer back under the curse of the law. Most people only teach that the curse of the law is the only curse taught in the bible but the Psalmist curses those who love to curse.In fact the ultimate reason that nations go to war is to curse the enemies of God.Ps 109 They may curse, but you will bless; when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice". He is saying the enemies of God curse the righteous but they will be put to shame or cursed.
You see the Psalmist using the concept of shame interchangeably with the curse of the wicked. Ps 102 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse." In other words the Psalmist enemies are trying to shame him in public by bringing shame to his name.Ps 62 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse." They are speaking evil of the Psalmist bringing shame or the curse to him.
The Psalmist uses the word shame in reference to the image of God. Ps 4 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ? <Selah> In other words anytime we describe God as lesser than He is we create an idol. We curse God. But here the Psalmist distinguishes between the elect miss using the image and the wicked. He is saying that the wicked miss interpreted the image in a violent act.The Psalmist is acting as the prosecutor. He is teaching there is s difference between our slipping into the sin of idolatry and the violent attempt of the wicked to kill God attacking His image. Ps 25 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. " We slip and take refuge in God but the wicked act in treachery when they create idols. Again the sin of the wicked is violence or cursing God. In the same Psalm he hides from the wicked who are violently cursing God in taking refuge in God. Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you." Let me not be put to shame..or let me not be cursed.
God reverses the curse in order to create growth through blessing. The law that points out sin is not a pronouncement in order to curse the wicked. When we are saved we become aware that we are sinners. The apostle teaches that the law shows us sin and it revives and we die.So we are given the grace of the knowledge of personal sin. Why would God need to continue to point to our sin if He gave us an understanding that we are sinners? We can only be reminded of our sin. In reversing the curse of the law, God gave us the pronouncement of the law in order to know we are sinners. The Psalmist uses the law as it is turned away from Him in the pronouncement Ps 35.May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.35 26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.40 14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. 70 2 May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
In reversing the curse God has given us real freedom. We grow as we pronounce the law as a way to command the command. In pronouncing the law we are warring with the enemies from within and without. Some people argue that we are already seen as completely righteous as we are in heaven but on this earth we must face sin and corruption. They teach that this is not a contradiction. But the doctrine of the curse shows us that the law has been turned away from us so that we use it in our true identity.
Ps 31 1 In you, O LORD , I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Our salvation has many enemies from within and without. When we are saved we must fight a battle with our enemies. Our salvation is described as an ongoing deliverance from our enemies.From within we face our own corruption, sin,and the curse . From without we face the cursed earth, Satan, the self righteous and the wicked. From the beginning of our salvation we enter a war.
When we were saved we were set free from our sin and the law. We were definitively sanctified, and made whole. We were set apart unto God so that He looks on us as complete in Christ. Our sin was imputed to Christ account and His righteousness was imputed to our account. We were completely accepted by God. Since our sin has not completely been eradicated we still facing the accusations that come from Satan and the enemies of God.
The Psalmist teaches that our biggest fight is not directly with Satan and the wicked. Our fight starts with experiencing shame We are no longer bound by the curse since Christ took it upon Himself in His death. Since we are identified with Christ we died to sin and the curse. If we are set free from the law, then in Christ we are no longer under the curse of shame. This is why throughout the Psalms we are taught that the shame we experience is not from God it is from the enemy.
This is very confusing to some people because the law points to our sin. If we dont make some distinctions here we will continually face the curse of shame. I did not learn how to distinguish the difference between the law pointing out my sin and my grief of experiencing shame until I meditated on the Psalms and the curse I faced in experiencing shame. We are taught throughout the Psalms that shame is the sting in the curse. The question what is the difference between contrition and shame?
Some people teach that when the law points out our sin that we should understand that Christ took our sin upon Himself so that we are forgiven. We should not let the guilt of our sin condemn us. But the Psalmist teaches that in this world our battle with shame will not just be an inward battle. Satan and the wicked will use the shame in order to destroy our faith. So we must see that we are attacked at the point of our sin and shame. So the Psalmist personifies shame as a person. The Psalmist curses those who use our sin and shame to destroy our faith.
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
Our salvation has many enemies from within and without. When we are saved we must fight a battle with our enemies. Our salvation is described as an ongoing deliverance from our enemies.From within we face our own corruption, sin,and the curse . From without we face the cursed earth, Satan, the self righteous and the wicked. From the beginning of our salvation we enter a war.
When we were saved we were set free from our sin and the law. We were definitively sanctified, and made whole. We were set apart unto God so that He looks on us as complete in Christ. Our sin was imputed to Christ account and His righteousness was imputed to our account. We were completely accepted by God. Since our sin has not completely been eradicated we still facing the accusations that come from Satan and the enemies of God.
The Psalmist teaches that our biggest fight is not directly with Satan and the wicked. Our fight starts with experiencing shame We are no longer bound by the curse since Christ took it upon Himself in His death. Since we are identified with Christ we died to sin and the curse. If we are set free from the law, then in Christ we are no longer under the curse of shame. This is why throughout the Psalms we are taught that the shame we experience is not from God it is from the enemy.
This is very confusing to some people because the law points to our sin. If we dont make some distinctions here we will continually face the curse of shame. I did not learn how to distinguish the difference between the law pointing out my sin and my grief of experiencing shame until I meditated on the Psalms and the curse I faced in experiencing shame. We are taught throughout the Psalms that shame is the sting in the curse. The question what is the difference between contrition and shame?
Some people teach that when the law points out our sin that we should understand that Christ took our sin upon Himself so that we are forgiven. We should not let the guilt of our sin condemn us. But the Psalmist teaches that in this world our battle with shame will not just be an inward battle. Satan and the wicked will use the shame in order to destroy our faith. So we must see that we are attacked at the point of our sin and shame. So the Psalmist personifies shame as a person. The Psalmist curses those who use our sin and shame to destroy our faith.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
PS 65 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions
This is the normal way the Psalmist sees himself. So you will find that other people who know you are more concerned than you are about your sin. Most people do not see the gravity of their sin before God so in thinking they are better than they are they harsher toward others than themselves. But look at the Psalmist argument. He is saying that being overwhelmed by our sins is as normal as Gods work on a daily basis to uphold creation. 8Those living far away fear your wonders;where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.He is teaching that just as Gods daily works to sustain the creation demands our praise so we should praise God for daily atonement because our sins are great. He is teaching us that it is better to be as honest to God about His sustaining creation as He covers all of our sins of rebellion. Our normal confessions is that we are overwhelmed by our sins. Then we can be confident that we are more lenient toward others. In this sense Gods faithfulness is magnified by the greatness of His atonement. This should give us less confidence about our strength and more confidence in Gods faithfulness. So when we are looking at the beauty in creation just thank God that He atones for our many rebellious sins. Then other peoples weaknesses wont be that big of a deal to you.
you forgave our transgressions
This is the normal way the Psalmist sees himself. So you will find that other people who know you are more concerned than you are about your sin. Most people do not see the gravity of their sin before God so in thinking they are better than they are they harsher toward others than themselves. But look at the Psalmist argument. He is saying that being overwhelmed by our sins is as normal as Gods work on a daily basis to uphold creation. 8Those living far away fear your wonders;where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.He is teaching that just as Gods daily works to sustain the creation demands our praise so we should praise God for daily atonement because our sins are great. He is teaching us that it is better to be as honest to God about His sustaining creation as He covers all of our sins of rebellion. Our normal confessions is that we are overwhelmed by our sins. Then we can be confident that we are more lenient toward others. In this sense Gods faithfulness is magnified by the greatness of His atonement. This should give us less confidence about our strength and more confidence in Gods faithfulness. So when we are looking at the beauty in creation just thank God that He atones for our many rebellious sins. Then other peoples weaknesses wont be that big of a deal to you.
Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
God is a covenant keeping God to a people who are crooked and rebellious. The Psalmist is teaching that God is always consistent in sustaining creation and forgiving His covenant people. Even tho God is always faithful in upholding His word and covenant we cannot claim that we fulfill our vows without atonement. The Psalmist is teaching that all men live before this faithful God and they are required to come to Him for atonement. All men will come to Him in confession. Not only does God atone for our sins but just like He sustains the creation so He has chosen us in so that as He is faithful so we are faithful. If we were not faithful then there would be no unity and faithfulness in the nation.So we must have continuous atonement in order to sustain the unity of the nation.God had to chose us before the foundation of the world so that we would not become covenant breakers and destroy the nation.He chose weak and dependent people who are overwhelmed by their rebellious hearts and sustains us by His eternal covering of sin.Just like God sustains the creation on a daily basis so we can recite this Psalm with confidence that God is sustaining us. We should know the God who is more ready to cover over our rebellion than to hold us to the perfect standard.
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
God is a covenant keeping God to a people who are crooked and rebellious. The Psalmist is teaching that God is always consistent in sustaining creation and forgiving His covenant people. Even tho God is always faithful in upholding His word and covenant we cannot claim that we fulfill our vows without atonement. The Psalmist is teaching that all men live before this faithful God and they are required to come to Him for atonement. All men will come to Him in confession. Not only does God atone for our sins but just like He sustains the creation so He has chosen us in so that as He is faithful so we are faithful. If we were not faithful then there would be no unity and faithfulness in the nation.So we must have continuous atonement in order to sustain the unity of the nation.God had to chose us before the foundation of the world so that we would not become covenant breakers and destroy the nation.He chose weak and dependent people who are overwhelmed by their rebellious hearts and sustains us by His eternal covering of sin.Just like God sustains the creation on a daily basis so we can recite this Psalm with confidence that God is sustaining us. We should know the God who is more ready to cover over our rebellion than to hold us to the perfect standard.
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