This lengthy Psalm has a couple of themes I’ll attempt to summarize.
“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth! We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies, but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; they twisted like a deceitful bow. For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim, but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves. He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever. He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” (v1,4-8,13-16,56-58,67-72)
The author repeats some themes in a cyclical way in order to make a point:
– Israel forgets about the God of their forefathers and falls into rebellion/sin
– God loves Israel so much He delivers them from their sin (and some of the consequences), even though they don’t deserve it
– Israel praises God
– Israel quickly forgets about God’s deliverance and falls back into rebellion/sin
– Israel suffers the consequences of their sin and cry out to God in repentance
– God loves His people so much He forgives and delivers them again
– the cycle repeats itself
This cyclical theme runs throughout the entirety of scripture – we sin, God allows consequences, we repent, God forgives, we sin, etc. Almost every book of the Bible contains this same cycle, both OT and NT. It’s everywhere.
Scripture is clear that our sinfulness deserves death: “For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.” (Rom 7:5)
Since we only deserve death, God’s love, grace and mercy are the only reason we are granted forgiveness through the confession of our sin and the propitiation of it through Jesus: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Eph 1:7) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9)
Now comes the hardest part of receiving forgiveness from God – according to scripture, forgiveness is two-fold: we receive forgiveness from God but at the same time we are instructed to be forgiving others: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Mt 6:14-15) “…bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col 3:13)
Forgiving others is one of the most difficult things we may ever have to do. Algebra tests, paying bills, job hunting and dentist visits are often easier than forgiving someone who has hurt us deeply. Forgiving others is so hard, when Jesus instructs his disciples to forgive they realize they can’t do it on their own strength: ” ‘Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, “I repent,” you must forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ ” (Lk 17:3-5) Even the disciples knew they needed Jesus’ help in order to forgive those who wronged them. We are no different, only God’s grace, love and mercy working in and through us can make this possible.
Though difficult, forgiveness is life-giving. In my experience, if I truly forgive someone (meaning not just saying the words, but let go of all anger and bitterness) it is a very freeing experience. Just as God frees us from the condemnation that was rightly ours because of our sin, we too can extend God’s grace, mercy and love to the person who wronged us: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph 4:31-32)
Of course forgiving is not excusing – we are to rebuke the person in love, graciously offer them correction, and mercifully withhold vengeance or judgement on them for their sin (including if they turn around and do the same thing again). We don’t have to excuse sin in order to forgive it – in fact we’re doing the opposite by calling it sin, and pointing out it’s not okay. Forgiveness isn’t downplaying/excusing wrongdoing, it’s recognizing sin as sin but still choosing to carry on, leaving the sin in the past and not bringing it up over and over again.
Father God, we come before You today a broken and hurting people. All of us have sinned against You, and others. All of us have also been hurt by those around us. Yet You offer healing and restoration of relationship if we partner with You and follow Your commands. First, please forgive us our sins. Second, may we constantly be reminded to forgive those who have sinned against us, just as You have forgiven us. Please, humble our proud hearts so we may admit where we’ve wronged others, and please give us courage to gently confront those who have wronged us, knowing that it’s possible they have not hurt us intentionally. We pray that hard hearts would be softened, and eyes would be opened to the love You have shown us, and Your love that we can then extend to others.
~Conqueror in Training