May 10
Ps 35-38
God can do wonderful things in the person who acknowledges their sinful behavior, doesn't try to explain or justify those sins, and confesses and repents of them. Though the individual might be chastened or disciplined as a result, that person will come through stronger due to the bond that was formed between themselves and God. But this is often completely opposite to worldly psychology and philosophy. Rather than falling on one's knees and pleading for mercy, the world tries to understand, justify, and explain why the wrongful behavior was done. The other day I saw a longterm patient of mine who was deeply upset. She explained that after twenty years of marriage, her husband had an affair. Though it seemed like he initially apologized for the action, and it seemed like she was willing to work through it, they agreed to see a therapist. The therapist quickly discharged the woman from his care, as he said the husband had many issues that he had to work through. In short order, he moved out and moved in with his mother. He then explained away his affair and blamed it on her being "too controlling". He then stated that the other reason was due to his fractured relationship with his father and the rest of his family. The world teaches us to look outside ourselves to explain why we do bad things. But in truth, we are all sinners and capable of doing a whole host of bad things. Our problem is a sin problem which can only be cured through Jesus Christ. So as this man seeks to explain away his wrongful action based on reasons and other people's actions towards him, the health of his marriage becomes more strained, and he moves further away from the simple answer, coming clean through repentance. Though trust might take some time, it seems as though if he simply admitted what he did, pleaded for forgiveness, mercy would be the result and restitution would be on it's way.
David, the "man after God's own heart", was also guilty of adultery. Notice his reaction in Psalm 38:3-8, "There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering Because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, And there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; And my sighing is not hidden from You." David messed up. He sinned greatly and he was pleading with God for mercy and relief. Though David was overlooked by his own father, Jesse, when Samuel came to anoint the next king, David did not choose to blame his sin on his relationship with his father (1 Samuel 16:6-13). Though David was mocked and mischaracterized by his brothers, he didn't blame his sin on this (1 Samuel 17:28-30). Though he was ridiculed by his wife, Michal, after dancing before the ark as it entered Jerusalem, he didn't blame his actions on this (2 Samuel 6:20). No, David placed the blame squarely on himself. He recognized that his sin was his own fault, and he mourned over those sins. His hope was in his God, not in finding out why he did what he did, as he writes in Psalm 38:15, "For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord, my God."
Notice how Jesus begins the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:3-4, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted." Unless we get rid of our pride and self-righteousness we are blinded to the ways of God. Once we realize HIs righteousness and in contrast our own unrighteousness, it causes us to mourn over our sinful behavior. Rather than explaining or justifying our wrongful actions, we simply mourn over them and turn to God in repentance. The result is comfort. This is God's way, but not the world's way. As long as our fingers of blame are pointing towards everyone else, we fail to see ourselves the sinners that we are. We read in 1 John 1:8-10, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." Back to my patient, we had a long discussion explaining many of the things I have detailed here. I recommended the book, "Finishing Strong", by Steve Farrar for her husband. I encouraged her to read through the Bible, so that she will get to know God, the One who will never leave her nor forsake her. We finished in prayer.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: