SPIRITUAL DIARY
FOR 10/24/2012 10:22:27 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Psalm 130
PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Psalm 130:3-8
Message of
the verses: In Today’s Spiritual Diary we will continue
to look at the 130th Psalm. I
want to quote what Warren Wiersbe wrote at the end of his introductory
commentary so we can better understand the direction we are going in as we
continue to look at this psalm. “No
matter what our need, when we call upon the Lord in faith, He hears us and
makes the changes needed in our lives.”
From Guilt to Forgiveness (vv. 3-4)
“3 If You, LORD, should mark
iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That
You may be feared.”
I can say that these two verses are
very precious to all who know the Lord, for in them we see the forgiveness that
God has given to us, and that brings peace to our hearts.
In this section we have moved from
the sea to the courtroom.
The word mark means to keep and have charge of and God is perfectly
able to do this, however as we continue to read the verses we see that God is
also ready to forgive us. As we look at
the portion in the Scriptures that tells us about what is called “The White
Throne Judgment,” we see that although God is able to remember the sins of
those who stand before him there, and all who do not accept the forgiveness
that is offered by God through Jesus Christ will stand there, God opens the
books and those there will have a chance to plead their case before God. How will they do this? They will speak of the good works that they
have done “for the Lord,” but they will not have the forgiveness necessary to
enter into heaven because they turned down the offer that God gives to have
salvation through the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross.
Dr. Wiersbe concludes this section
by stating, “If you take seriously the guilt of sin, you will take seriously
the grace of forgiveness. Salvation is a serious and costly transaction.”
From Darkness to Light (vv 5-6)
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in
His word do I hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord More than the watchmen for the
morning; Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.”
In this section we have moved from the
courtroom to the city walls where we find that the watchman are doing their job
by being alert when they look out into the darkness in order to make sure that
there is no danger approaching. The
guards have no way of making the sun rise any faster than it will rise, but
when the sun finally rises they can again rejoice because they are still safe
from another night.
As we look at a person who does not
know Jesus Christ as their Savior and then they come to know Him it is like the
night is now gone and the Light of the Lord is now shining upon them as they
come to know the Lord. Jesus stated that
He is the light in the Gospel of John.
Peter writes, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY
NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the
excellencies of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Peter
2:9).” What a wonderful joy to be in His
marvelous light.
From to Bondage to Freedom (vv. 7-8)
“7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For
with the LORD there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8
And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”
We now move to the slave market and
the key word in this section is redemption.
Redemption means “setting someone free by paying a price.” When the Lord Jesus Christ finished His work
that the Father had sent Him to accomplish He said from the cross “It is
finished.” After He said this He died.
“John 19:30 “Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It
is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” I want to look at the Greek word that is
translated “it is finished.” The reason
that I want to look at this word is because it was stamped on a prisoner’s
charges that were brought against him after he was released from prison and
that word in the Greek is “teleo.” The
English/Greek dictionary that I use states this at the end of the definitions
for this word, “Christ satisfied God’s justice by dying for all to pay for the
sins of the elect. These sins can never be punished again since that would
violate God’s justice. Sins can only be punished once, either by a substitute
or by yourself.” This is what redemption
is all about and our redemption came at the cost of God’s Son dying on a cross
for us. Dr. Wiersbe concludes his
commentary on this psalm by writing, “The psalmist saw a future redemption for
the people of Israel, as did Paul (Romans 11) and the prophets (Isa. 11, 60,
65-66; Zech. 12:10-14:21). Christian
believers look forward to the coming of Christ and the redemption He will bring
(Romans 8:18-30).” We will conclude this
portion with these verses from Romans, “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of
the sons of God. 20 For the creation was
subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in
hope 21 that the creation
itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of
the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation
groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves,
having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within
ourselves, waiting eagerly
for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we
have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he
already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we
wait eagerly for it.
“26 In the same way
the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we
should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is,
because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that God causes
all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are
called according to His purpose. “29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to
become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn
among many brethren; 30 and these whom
He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified;
and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”
Spiritual
meaning for my life today: I am so
very thankful for the light of God’s Word that was used to call me unto the
Lord. As I look at what God did on my
behalf I am truly amazed and in awe, for to think that God would send His One
and only Son to come to this earth to purchase my salvation, to bring
redemption to me by dying on the cross.
I suppose that I do not think about this as much as I should and that is
why I am thankful to have this brought to my mind in this portion of
Scripture.
Our Heavenly Father
knew that we as believer’s would tend not to remember this and that is one of
the reasons for the Lord’s Supper, to remind us of what Christ did for us on
the cross. It did not end on the cross
for after He was buried for three days He arose again to life and we have that
hope too. “Titus 2:13 looking for the
blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ
Jesus.”
My Steps of Faith for Today: To continue
to learn contentment and to also learn what the plans of God are for me to
accomplish for Him.
Memory verses for the
week: 1Cor. 13:8-13
8 Love never fails; but if there are
gifts of propecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will
cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child I use to speak like a
child, think like a child, reason like a child, when I became a man I did away
with childish things. 12 For now we see
in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will
know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these
three, but the greatest of these is love.
10/24/2012 11:20:18
AM
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