Podcast Introduction

Our reading today is Psalms 51-53, and I’m calling the episode “A Love Song”. 

Comments on Psalm 51

Oh my goodness what a beautiful prayer Psalm 51 is. And better than that it must’ve been a beautiful song, as the songs are. And for those of you who might be from the Jesus freak generation as I am, verses 10-13 might have sounded just a little bit familiar. Let me read them to you from the King James Version, which I much prefer for this Psalm. It goes, 

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: 10-12 KJV

Ring a bell? If you thought of Keith Green, then you are correct. If you don’t know Keith Green’s music, I highly recommend you look him up on whatever your preferred music service is. Keith Green put music to these three verses, and literally every time I hear it I end up in tears. Keith 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.

So let’s talk about it. 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 thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” And then I love this, 

13Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” 

Psalm 51:13 KJV

Sounds like David had meaning of the Great Commission a thousand years before Jesus gave it, doesn’t it? 

Jesus said, “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 command you.”

So that goes along with what David said in verse 13. 

And then near the end of the Psalm 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.

Psalm 51:15-17 KJV

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

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 51 NIRV, Ch. 52 GNT, Ch. 53 NASB

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