Today, Selwyn starts a new study – ‘Being Real in the Pslams’, in particular, he will be looking at the ‘uncomfortable’ psalms; those psalms, in which, you ‘findexpressions of rage, loneliness, despair, fear, confusion, anger, contempt, envy , shame and many other negative emotions’.
As Mick Brooks (Consulting Editor, CWR), mentions in his introduction – Selwyn uses these psalms to demonstrate a ‘proper integration of thinking and feeling, … The psalmists share their feelings and invite us to empathise with them but they never allow themselves to be swept away by emotionalism.’
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV; we read : ” … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We are transformed, by the Holy Spirit, during our journey to become more like Jesus – but we never reach that point, during our life-time. Consequently, there will be times when we are flooded by negative emotions – the answer is not to deny that these emotions exist within our heart – but to take them, to God, in prayer – that is, to be ‘real with God’.
Selwyn starts today, with the first six verses from Psalm 51, for reading and meditation; but, it’s worthwhile inserting the whole Psalm.
Psalm 51 A psalm of David, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (New Living Translation)
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, [Or, 'from the heart'; the Hebrew reads, 'in the inward parts'] teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit – with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.”
Don’t you agree, that this is one great Psalm? (Some of the verses I’ve highlighted, are numbered amongst my most loved verses.)
Besides restless waters
Today, Selwyn starts a new study – ‘Being Real in the Pslams’, in particular, he will be looking at the ‘uncomfortable’ psalms; those psalms, in which, you ‘find expressions of rage, loneliness, despair, fear, confusion, anger, contempt, envy , shame and many other negative emotions’.
As Mick Brooks (Consulting Editor, CWR), mentions in his introduction – Selwyn uses these psalms to demonstrate a ‘proper integration of thinking and feeling, … The psalmists share their feelings and invite us to empathise with them but they never allow themselves to be swept away by emotionalism.’
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV; we read : ” … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We are transformed, by the Holy Spirit, during our journey to become more like Jesus – but we never reach that point, during our life-time. Consequently, there will be times when we are flooded by negative emotions – the answer is not to deny that these emotions exist within our heart – but to take them, to God, in prayer – that is, to be ‘real with God’.
Selwyn starts today, with the first six verses from Psalm 51, for reading and meditation; but, it’s worthwhile inserting the whole Psalm.
Psalm 51 A psalm of David, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (New Living Translation)
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, [Or, 'from the heart'; the Hebrew reads, 'in the inward parts'] teaching me wisdom even there.
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit – with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.”
Don’t you agree, that this is one great Psalm? (Some of the verses I’ve highlighted, are numbered amongst my most loved verses.)