On pride and immorality... and just going through the motions...

From the Psalms of David…

Psalm 50:16 Next, God calls up the wicked: "What are you up to, quoting my laws, talking like we are good friends? 50:17 You never answer the door when I call; you treat my words like garbage. 50:18 If you find a thief, you make him your buddy; adulterers are your friends of choice. 50:19 Your mouth drools filth; lying is a serious art form with you. 50:20 You stab your own brother in the back, rip off your little sister. 50:21 I kept a quiet patience while you did these things; you thought I went along with your game. I’m calling you on the carpet, now, laying your wickedness out in plain sight.

50:22 "Time’s up for playing fast and loose with me. I’m ready to pass sentence, and there’s no help in sight! 50:23 It’s the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I’ll show you my salvation."

A David Psalm, After He Was Confronted by Nathan About the Affair with Bathsheba

51:1 Generous in love-God, give grace! Huge in mercy-wipe out my bad record. 51:2 Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. 51:3 I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down.

51:4 You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. 51:5 I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. 51:6 What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.

51:7 Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life. 51:8 Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. 51:9 Don’t look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. 51:10 God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. 51:11 Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. 51:12 Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! 51:13 Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. 51:14 Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. 51:15 Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise.

51:16 Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. 51:17 I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

51:18 Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem’s broken-down walls. 51:19 Then you’ll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, Including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!

(Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group)

Marinating on this today, Jesus. Thank You!

~maribel

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