Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 51 NIRV, Ch. GNT, Ch. 53 NASB

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Thoughts

What a beautiful prayer Psalm 51 is. And better than that, it must have been a beautiful song, as the Psalms are. For those of you who might be from the Jesus Freak generation, as I am, verses 10-13 might have sounded familiar. Here they are from the KJV

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

King James Version

Ring a bell?

If you thought of Keith Green, you’re correct. If you don’t know Keith Green’s music, I highly recommend you look him up on whatever preferred music service is. Keith put music to these three verses, and literally every time I hear it, I end up in tears. Keith Green went to be with the Lord in 1982 at the age of just 29. He was in a plane crash with two of his children and nine other people.

I would love to play the song for you, but copyright laws prevent me from doing that.

So Psalm 51 is a song, a prayer even, of a man who loves God and longs to be in a right relationship with Him. It begins with David confessing that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness.

He says, “…wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” “Hide my face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.”

And then I love this: “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Sounds like David had the meaning of the Great Commission a thousand years before Jesus gave it, doesn’t it? “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

And near the end, David writes, “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.”

David knew and loved God, don’t you think? No wonder he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22