Nicknames

(Psa 46:1 KJV)  To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

(Proverbs 30 also read)

This is a verse that tends to warm our hearts and encourage our minds.  As I was looking over the Strong’s numbers that go with it I noticed that the Hebrew word for “help” (5833) was transliterated in English as [ezrah].  Does that look familiar?  It should.  It is the root word that the name Ezra comes from.  Ezra had a name that meant “helper”.

Do you know what your name means?  One of my names means “great protector” or at least that is the version I like.  For some of us our nickname might be a better indicator of how people see us.

So?  May your nickname reflect the glory of God in some way. 

Speak Freely

(Heb 4:16 KJV)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

God is holy.  Coming into His presence is intimidating.  Think of the words of Isaiah as he had a vision, which was obviously from the Lord, and thought of himself as being face to face with the Most High God,

(Isa 6:5 KJV)  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

This is the witness of the Old Testament.  God is holy.  We are human.  It is presumptuous to come into His presence.

While I was thinking about that this verse came to mind.  Instead of fearing the face of God it tells us that, in Jesus, we can come and pour out our hearts to Him, without fear.  That term, “confidence” (3954) in the NASB and “boldly” in the KJV seems to have the idea of speaking freely.  I can pour out my heart to Him and know His compassion.  The emphasis is not on His holiness but on our attitude as we come before Him.

So?  Rejoice.  Think of the Christmas carol that says, “O come let us adore Him.”  He waits to meet with you.

Correction

(Pro 28:23 KJV)  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

I don’t like correcting others.  I also do not like being corrected.  Might I suggest that we change that kind of thinking.  We have been so brainwashed by the concept of “seeker friendly” and trying to win people by being like them that we forget we are not to be conformed to this world.  Part of that picture is rebuking, and being rebuked.  Let me respond to the second part.

We, or should I say “I”, need to learn to be thankful when someone cares enough to tell us we are wrong or misguided.  We need to practice the discipline of listening and hearing.  Take what is said and run it through some prayer time, reading and contemplation.  It may be just noise or gaslighting.  It may be a word from the Lord.

So?  Only you can decide if the word you hear is needed.  Make it a habit to seriously consider it.

Face It

(Pro 27:23 KJV)  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.

My eyes were drawn to the marginal readings of this verse.  The word “condition” (6440) seems pretty straightforward but the margin says it literally means “face”.  We have run into this before.  

(Pro 24:23 KJV)  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons (6440) in judgment.

In the other references it is a negative application.  We are not to give special preference because of class or income.  Here it is a positive instruction.  It is the personal touch in managing our life.  This might be a caution in the age of working from home, social media and attending church on zoom.  Those activities in themselves are not evil.  The caution is that we are not to lose the personal touch that is best done face to face.

So?  Keep thinking and applying God’s principles.  Stay involved with family, friends, neighbors and other contacts.

Fear the Right Things

(1Pe 3:14 KJV)  But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

(Proverbs 26 also read)

If you are using the NASB and see all the capital letters it should tell you something:  This is an Old Testament quote.  The KJV does not make that clear.  Compare it to this,

(Isa 8:12 KJV)  Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

I would imagine that you are aware the world is unsettled.  The phrase “wars and rumors of wars” seems like a headline for our times.  The government wants you to panic so they can take more power away from the citizens so they can control us.  The media wants us to cower in fear so they can sell more advertising.  Even the weatherman gets into the act.

God tells us we are to fear Him not all the imagined problems we are inundated with.  

So?  Relax and rejoice.  Even if God allows you to go through some difficulty, He has this.  Rejoice in the hope that is in you.

Routine Worship

(Psa 42:4 KJV)  When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

Here we read the testimony of someone who not only went to worship but was a leader.  If you look at the surrounding verses you will see that in spite of this he was not up spiritually.  That is a lesson for us.  Just because we have been at a worship service we are not automatically lifted into the presence of the Lord.

It is so easy for us to get into the ritual instead of worship.  Although worship may have elements of ritual, it is really supposed to be a time where we reach out to God and listen for Him reaching out to us.  We can make substitutions but we will eventually miss what God has to say to us.

Ritual also allows us to go into automatic mode.  God is not impressed.  Your mother may get excited when you send her a card on her birthday but God would know you wife actually got it on its way.

So?  Focus.  Listen.  God will make your worship worthwhile.

Current Events

(Pro 24:23 KJV)  These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

It seems like I have reflected on this topic recently.  It would not surprise me for two reasons.  The first is that this theme is common in the Bible.  We are to be guided by truth and God’s standards, not by our feelings.

The second is that our culture is going crazy about giving people advantages based on superficial attributes from race to political party.  We need to keep reminding ourselves that God does not judge people on those qualities.  The political agenda behind such things as Critical Race Theory and Black Lives Matter have nothing to do with improving the lot of any group.  They are simply ways to try to brainwash our society away from the impartial standards of God.

So?  Be altert and do not show partiality. 

Attitude Makes a Difference

(Pro 23:23 KJV)  Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.

At my age I am not sure I know how to get “instruction” (4148).  In basic knowledge I am ahead of the curve.  I don’t know everything by a long shot.  It is more a case of ignorance in so many people’s lives.  How can someone who never opens their Bible give me instruction on Biblical “truth” (571)?  

I think most of it is a matter of attitude.  Do I have a willingness to learn?  Am I a regular listener?  Do I just write people off?  I do not like the answers I hear coming from the back of my mind.  If the sermon is “boring” then spend some time reading the text and context.  Ask yourself what you would have said in this place.  Learning and growing require our buy in.

So?  Apply yourself.  If nothing else try to learn by the mistakes of others. 

Is That a Promise or a Threat

(Pro 22:23 KJV)  For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

As I read this verse, Hamas is again guilty of murdering Israeli women and children.  The enemies of God are attacking the people chosen by God.  That is not to say that at this day and time the people living in Israel are great examples of living righteous lives or even acknowledging the Almighty, but they are still descendants of David and Solomon who wrote this verse.  As such, I would see reason to be concerned if I were a Muslim associated with the jihad.  

The promise of God is a bit stronger than the NASB’s “take the life”.  The KJV comes closer with “spoil (6906) the “soul” (5315) [nephesh].  The NASB margin is the most literal.  It says, “rob the soul”.  I think of a Dracula moment where the monster sucks the blood out of the victim.  There are so many ways you could take this but rest assured of two things:  It is not good, it is a promise.

So?  We could spiritualize and talk about people attacking the church but just be satisfied with the knowledge that God is watching and the outcome will not be pleasant for those who try to destroy God’s people. 

Lecture Time

(Pro 21:23 KJV)  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

There are times when I think that God crafted the Bible just to slap me up side the head.  This is one of those ideas that is presented so many ways that it is hard to avoid.  We still try, or at least I do.  I heard lately that I was considered a talker.  I was shocked until I considered the steps that information had gone through to get to my ears.  I suspect a bit of editing to achieve the desired aura about the original statement.  

On the other hand, it is always good to listen to criticism and comments we don’t like.  We go through different stages from depressed belief to indignant rejection.  Somewhere in between is the right balance.  The Holy Spirit can’t talk to us if we don’t listen.

So?  Listen and stop talking.  Let people finish.  Think about what they say before you respond.  I know, you have heard it all before.  The lecture will help me when I am proof-reading. 

Danger of Diversity

(Pro 20:23 KJV)  Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

I first noticed that this concept is used twice in this chapter.  On the surface it is a statement about business ethics.  Pay attention to that.  As I read it I first thought of other places where the Bible condemns partiality.  In those places it is literally regarding the face.  That made me think of what we are going through with the embracing of relative truth in the woke culture of our day.  Then when I looked at the KJV I saw that it used “diverse” instead of “different”.  

Diverse.  Diversity.  The concept here is rejected because it means looking at qualities that have nothing to do with a decision.  It means using a different measure in a place where the balance should be the same.  It is an “abomination” (8441).

So?  Be careful about using the words that the woke culture has been redefining.  When you are working on the chords of a song, diversity may be an asset.  When you are boring out the cylinders of an engine they all need to be the same.  Only discernment and a knowledge of unchanging truth will get you through our current cultural compromises. 

Is Repentance Works?

(Psa 38:18 KJV)  For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

(Proverbs 19 also read)

Many people lump the Old Testament into the age of law as opposed to the age of grace.  That is a mistake in my opinion.  What troubles me even more is a friend who says that even the idea of repentance is part of the law.  Everything is grace and faith and to him repentance is an act of the law.  I can just shake my head.  Even David, a man after God’s own heart, felt it necessary to “confess” (5046) his “sin” (5771).  I have a hard time setting aside this part of life.

God wants to forgive.  The question we must answer is what are His conditions.  It is totally grace.  That is not an issue.  We cannot save ourselves any more than your car can change its own flat tire.  Faith is required but the question becomes what does that faith mean.  Remember the words of James,

(Jas 2:19 KJV)  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

If repentance is a matter of Old Testament works to you then I suggest you spend a bit more time reading the entire Bible and see what it says.

So?  God is waiting.  God is patient.  God knows our hearts.

Pointing to the Cross

(Psa 31:5 KJV)  Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

(Proverbs 18, also read)

I know how glorious this message is to those of us who have the benefit of the cross.  We have been “ransomed” (6299) (NASB) or as the KJV says, “redeemed”.  Our benefit is having the full picture of the incarnation and the price paid by Jesus to pay for our sins.  We know how and when.  In the days of David they also had the assurance of deliverance but they tended to get distracted by the sacrificial system.  Most probably thought the ritual had some mystical property.  They often missed the teaching that it was their faith in the Creator and His grace that brought about the salvation.  

So?  Rejoice that we live in a day and age where the Old Testament became clear and fulfilled in the New Testament.  What a time to be alive. 

Hearing Test

(Psa 17:6 KJV)  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

(Proverbs 17 also read)

Here we are in the midst of David’s prayer time.  Notice the confidence that David has.  He believes that God will “answer” (6030a).  His confidence is not just based on the nature of God, although we find that also.  If you read the first part of the chapter you find that he has been living a life based on obedience.  In verse 3 it says that God has “tried” and “tested” his heart.  He comes to God in confidence.

We can be at that spot in our prayer life but we need to understand that God is not a fool, nor does he turn a blind eye to rebellion.  God does not play games and He does not join in when we want to be the banker.  Notice the comment in Proverbs on this,

(Pro 1:28 KJV)  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

So?  God will answer.  He wants to answer.  He also knows when your cry is sincere and when it is based on an attitude of obedience. 

Read It All

(Psa 119:1 KJV)  ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

As I read this beginning to Psalm 119 I was again reminded of the different view of the law that we have in Psalms from the writings of Paul.  It is almost like they were writing about two different things.  The reason for that is they were writing about two different things.  When David referred to the law his major focus was on the Decalogue.  When Paul is talking about the law he is living in the oral law which fills over 30 volumes of fine print, most of it was written by rabbis hundreds and thousands of years after Moses listened to God on Mount Sinai.

Take Paul’s warnings to heart.  Do not get caught up in thinking you can earn your way to heaven with empty ritual.  Also absorb David’s joy in the law.  For David it would be like a Christian meditating on a verse like

(2Co 5:21 KJV)  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

So?  Take the Bible as a whole and let it speak to your heart and mind. 

Get a Joy Face

(Pro 15:23 KJV)  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

Attitude is so important.  I am sure you have noticed in others how their response can vary depending on their mood.  If we are honest we would also see the same tendency in ourselves.  It may be that the base line of the comment is the same.  If typed out and printed up both would convey the same idea.  Tone of voice and facial expression can totally block communication.

It isn’t easy to by joyful all the time, probably impossible, but we can increase the good quotient by making sure we are in contact with the Lord on a regular basis.  I know that after a time with my grandchildren I find myself smiling a lot more.  Believe it or not, God can do the same thing.

So?  Again I urge you to find a way to start your day with meaningful contact with Almighty God. 

The Sifting Comes

(Psa 28:3 KJV)  Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.

(Proverbs 14 also read)

David is asking here to be left behind.  It is the second mention in three verses.  In verse one he is concerned about being sent down to the pit.  Here we see a concern about being dragged off with those that God has decided to finally deal with.  I pray for the godless heathen that seem to be trying to destroy America.  This concerns me, not because I think America is God’s chosen people but because I live here.  I want the “wicked” (7563), those who “work” (6466) “iniquity” (205), and who talk “peace” (7965) [shalom] while “evil” (7463a) in their “hearts” (3824) to be dealt with.  I don’t want to be caught in the sweep.

A good point for us here is to make sure that we don’t belong with them.  God wants righteous people.  He expects to be able to tell the sheep from the goats.  We should be able to tell where we stand also.  If we are living righteous lives and are right with Him through the blood of Jesus, we don’t need to worry about the time of winnowing.

So?  Believe.  Obey.  Rejoice. 

Joy or Bondage

(Psa 27:6 KJV)  And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

I am part of a men’s Bible study that is working through Galatians.  We are expected to use only the KJV.  I am cooperating.  I have a friend who loves the KJV who has been quoting Galatians to me.  What they have in common, and why I bring them up, is that they keep taking the comments of Paul about the law and using it in a way that I think insults the rest of the Bible.  Here we have a clear statement about how the Jews of David’s time, who were serious about serving the Lord, viewed the law.  

Look at the second part of this verse.  “Sacrifices” (2077) are being “offered” (2076).  The attitude is not, “O how terrible to be under the bondage of the law” but “joy” (8643) and a bursting out in song.  The two pictures seem antithetical but both are in the Bible.  Our job is to read them both and put them together into a Biblical truth.  Our job is not to ignore one because it fits our theology.

So?  Study and think for yourself.  Read widely in the Bible.  Do not confine yourself to the one book or short sections that teachers like to go over.  Be leery of isolated proof texts.  Seek truth and while you are doing it expect joy and moments of celebration to creep up on you. 

Too Many Words

(Pro 12:23 KJV)  A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

I was informed recently that some people consider me a talker.  It was not offered as a compliment.  It surprised me.  I can talk when it is required.  I can click my inner switch from introvert to extrovert, lift my head, look people in the eye and initiate conversations.  I do it when I am out of the house but I would prefer to stay in the house and not talk to anyone.  

Still, I look at it as a rumble strip warning me about what is ahead.  Everyone does not want to hear what I have to say.  The number of people out in the cold world who need to talk outnumbers those who listen.  

So?  This is a good wake up call.  I have a fair amount of knowledge but I need to understand that usually, no one wants to hear it.  I will keep storing it up and not presume on the patience of others. 

Well?

(Jos 24:14-15 KJV)  Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

If you think about it this is a strange moment.  Joshua is talking to the nation of Israel.  Forty years before they had left Egypt and followed Moses out into the desert.  They followed him around for that entire period until the elders died off.  Now they are being asked whom they will serve.  It would seem that the question had already been answered.

Maybe not.

Maybe this is an indication of how often we get into the right crowd but do not embrace their core beliefs.  Look around you at church.  How many people in the congregation actually know what the church believes?  I would guess it is a low percentage.  Many were raised in the church.  Most consider themselves Christians.  In reality they have still not made the choice of whom they will serve.

So?  I guess the question of the day is, “Whom do you serve?”  Have you made the conscious decision?  I have.  I trust you will take a moment to consider it for yourself. 

Check Your Report Card

(Pro 10:23 KJV)  It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

I find that as I grow older I am less interested in “sport” (7814).  My interest has declined as I played less.  About the only sport I participate in is golf and I have never spent time watching it.  If you consider Candyland a sport then I would say I will soon be a part of the team again.  Personally I would consider that closer to the “fool” (3684) than “wisdom” (2451).  

What does take my time and focus is things that I am interesting in.  I heard a sermon once where the pastor said you could tell a persons passion by looking at their check book.  Today that would need to be revised to your monthly debit card report.  The concept applies to other areas of life.  Have you ever known someone who was too tired to get to church but was willing to go out to lunch or go shopping on the same day?  Priorities and first loves.

So?  So often it isn’t the words we use but the actions we perform that define who we are.  If our family can see it you might as well assume that God also notices. 

Fear that Is Foundational

(Pro 9:10 KJV)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

I spent some time thinking about situations in life where fear has been a key to personal growth.  What situations does a proper fear improve?  The first thing that came to mind was learning to drive.  Do you remember that sense of insecurity that came the first time you got behind the wheel?  Maybe you don’t but I was very much aware of what I did not know and as the car began to move I was ever more aware.  Sometimes the fear morphs into a lack of respect.  Being drafted into the Armed Forces had that effect.  You quickly learn that there are those who are warriors and patriots and those who are looking for an easy paycheck and early retirement.  

Fearing God opens the door to worlds of wonder.  When I watch a sunrise and realize that I know the artist, the glory takes on a whole new meaning.  When I watch my grandchildren and realize that they are unique expressions of the image of God, I can only feel humbled.

So?  Take God seriously.  Fear.  And then move on to all the other doors that will open as you experience a healthy awe and reverence.  If you need a clue watch for the palette of colors used on the clouds before sunrise. 

Active Memory

(Psa 20:7 KJV)  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

It is interesting that the first “boast” (trust in KJV) is not found in the Hebrew.  The warning, or limitation is not confined to one area of our life.  It isn’t just in what we say or what we do.  It is a placing of a foundation stone and repeatedly returning to it.  In the NASB you have a second “boast” (2142).  This is the only place it translates it thus.  The most common translation is what the KJV has, “remember”.  Score one for the KJV.

Don’t think boasting, which we equate with bragging.  Think faith or trust.  Think calling to mind the character and works of God.  We do this too little.  It is so easy for us to get drawn down into the current concerns.  We live in troubled times.  How easy to focus on solutions that are based on our ability or our preparation.  How easy to forget that God is still on the throne.

So?  Start in the right place if you want to arrive at the desired destination.  Start by remembering whom you serve and whom holds the whole world in His hands.

Living in Reality

(Pro 7:23 KJV)  Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

One of the great advantages that Christians have is that we see the reality of life.  One reality is that we will die and know it.  We also have no fear of it.  

Another reality is that life is not a game.  It is serious.  It has consequences.

Another reality is that we are able to discern many of the traps of life.  Even if we don’t see the traps, God has given us a road map.  If we follow the map we will be kept clear of the waiting disasters.

So?  Rejoice.  You have all the advantages.  Follow the map. 

Still the Same

(Pro 6:16 KJV)  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

When I read Proverbs I can’t help but relate what I read to the world around me.  Usually each verse or couplet stands alone but here you have a passage a bit longer in order to get the seven things that kindle God’s wrath.  As I read through them I had visions of our national leaders:  Arrogance, lies, murder, evil plans, mischief, divisiveness.  It is quite a list and so modern.  Some things never change.

That should give us hope.  We are to pray for our leaders.  I would hope that much of that would be to call down God’s justice upon them.  Understand that God already has His eye on them.  If you don’t believe it, read through the list and recognize that these actions are an “abomination” (8441) to the God of the universe.  I would not want to be in their shoes.

So?  Don’t lose hope.  Also, don’t forget that the real target for this is the reader.  That is you and me.  We need to keep these things in our mind as we go through our day. 

Ready or Not, Here I Come

(Pro 5:12 KJV)  And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

As a parent, a grandparent and a once-upon-a-time teacher I have seen a lot of rejection.  Children can be defiant and hostile to your wisdom.  It happens.  Don’t get that confused with not being ready to learn.  There are actually measurable qualities in the minds of children that decide whether they are ready to learn.  It is true in the physical world.  I did not learn to ride a bike until I was half way through elementary school.  I was out of college and in seminary before it dawned on me what give-and-go meant in basketball.  Suddenly it all made sense.  The same can be true in spiritual matters.  

They are always ready to learn obedience.  “Because I said so” is often the only fall-back that works.  Don’t be afraid to use it.

So?  We often talk about doing an attitude check on ourselves.  Perhaps it is a good idea to apply it to the learners in our lives.  Are they having a hard time because they refuse or because they are not yet capable? 

Providence and Physics

(Pro 4:22 KJV)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

We have a tendency to separate the metaphysical and the physical.  This book is about wisdom.  We think of wisdom as great thoughts and principles, situated in ivory towers, examined at our leisure.  That is all true and yet nothing could be farther from the truth.  Wisdom is not reserved for introspective examination.  It is meant to be applied.  This verse points that out.

Wisdom is for the whole “flesh” (body NASB) (1320).  It delivers results.  The results are generally summed up as “health” (4832).  Sometimes the results are pure providence.  Sometimes it is simply physics.  Either way it is still results.  Remember that Providence designed physics.

So?  Many people fit exercise into their daily schedule.  It isn’t just because they like exercise.  They also like the results.  Schedule some worship time seeking wisdom.  It pays dividends. 

The Problem with Giving Good Advice

(Pro 3:22 KJV)  So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

I think that Solomon would have benefitted by reading his own writings.  If you know anything about the life of Solomon, he did not finish well.  The start was powerful.  God met him and he responded with humility.  God promised him much but he was not able to handle it.  Instead of being leery of pagan wives he jumped into polygamy with both feet.  In the end, the women won.  Satan won.  Solomon turned his back on the Lord and embraced the evils of his pagan spouses.

So?  It isn’t enough to be able to quote Bible verses.  Evidently it wasn’t even enough to write Bible verses.  The promises are real.  Make sure that your heart is in tune and your ears are cleaned out. 

The Joy of Offerings

(Psa 20:3 KJV)  Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

(Proverbs 2 also read)

Here we have David thinking back to the many times he has offered “offerings" (meal offerings NASB) (4503) and the sacrifice of “burnt sacrifice" (burnt offerings NASB) (5930a).  This is strange to us and it should be.  We live in the age after Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.  In the OT “atonement” is a common word for being made right with God.  The NT has words such as “justification”, “regeneration”, “adoption”.  We might meditate on the glory of the cross and the forgiveness it offers.  David would have the same awe at what was symbolized in the offering of grain or the slaughter of an animal.  

So?  Take some time to “remember” (2142).  Make it a part of your daily worship, meditation, study or however you describe it.  Join David in rejoicing what God has done for you. 

From Beginning to End

(Psa 16:2 NAS77) I said to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good besides Thee."

(Proverbs 1 also read, note the above quote is not KJV)

One of the common teaching to all branches of Christianity is original sin.  Various words are used to describe it but the idea is that when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, that sin was transferred to all mankind afterward.  In fact it polluted all of creation.

Of course the answer to that is Jesus but David did not know about Calvary.  In spite of that he understood that it was only through the grace of God that any good could be in his life.  That is one of the universal truths from Genesis to Revelation.  Don’t get distracted by people who want to divide the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New Testament.  Such things as grace and faith are clear all the way through.

One of the ways in which you can identify pseudo-Christian “churches” is on this issue.  The first of course is the deity of Christ but the acceptance that mankind is born in sin is also commonly rejected.

So?  It is possible to live a righteous life.  You can’t do it on your own but with the cleansing of the blood, the filling of the Spirit and a desire to belong to Jesus, you can do it.