Day 165 – A Year in the Bible – Psalms 51-55
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PSALMS 51 – TAKE NOT THY HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME
Then I Will Teach Transgressors Thy Ways
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. – Psalms 51:1-4
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Psalm 51:5-12
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. – Psalms 51:13-19
I broke this passage up because I saw it broken down interestingly, and I wanted to share it. Unfortunately, the author was not documented, so I couldn’t either.
Come Clean
1. I have sinned against God (verses 1-4)
We will never see sin rightly until we see that our sin (all of our sin) is against God.
2. God must cleanse me (verses 5-12)
I can’t do anything to cleanse myself. Only God can!
3. God must restore me (verses 13-19)
I can’t do anything to restore me. Only God can!
Then I will teachUse your past sin to teach and encourage others that there is an escape and His Name is Jesus!
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PSALM 52 – WHY BOASTEST THOU THYSELF IN MISCHIEF
Evil Words
Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. – Psalm 52:1-5
Boasting, mischievous, deceitful, lying, devouring words lead to destruction.
I Trust in the Mercy of God For Ever and Ever
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: And I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. – Psalm 52:8-9
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PSALM 53 – GOD LOOKED DOWN
To See if Any Did Understand, Any Did Seek Him
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. – Psalm 53:2
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PSALM 54 – THE LORD IS WITH THEM THAT UPHOLD MY SOUL
My Helper
Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. – Psalm 54:4
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PSALM 55 – OH THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE!
The Safety of the Wilderness
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. – Psalms 55:5-7
The psalmist is hurting and overwhelmed by so much going on in his world and his mind. He wants to fly far, far away to the wilderness to rest. To fly to a wilderness says to me he wants to be in a rugged and lonely place. A hard place. Haven’t we all been there?
Why the wilderness? Maybe because you are pretty sure others won’t follow you there. They might follow and come against you when you are sitting comfortably, but no one much fights to go to the wilderness…except those who want to go deeper with God. Those will find that in the wilderness, there is a great safety. That the Presence of the Lord, though sometimes hard found, is always there. It is a place where you can rest, and if the enemy arrives to take you down, you will likely see him coming.
If anyone knows Melissa... 