‘Do Good…To Zion’

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 51:18-19

As David concludes this psalm of repentance, he takes the broad view of the benefits of restoration. He petitions God to, ‘Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.’ He understands that, as the king, his spiritual condition will have an effect upon the nation. He realizes that, as the leader of Gods’ people, he will shepherd God’s flock for good or ill. If God does restore him, ‘Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.’ A good king is mindful of the welfare of his people, and there is no greater concern to David within this context than that they worship God, ‘in spirit and in truth.’ He wants God to accept their worship. David desires the greatest spiritual good for the greatest number of people. He understands that, as his lack of being right with God has affected them, so his being right with God would also affect them. We should learn from David’s example. Our relationship with God affects other people. As we walk with Christ and imitate Him, others see it and it has an effect upon them. If we are far from Christ and behaving in a manner contrary to Grace and to God, that has an effect as well. Because we are Christ’s, we lead others, be they many or few. Our spirituality will affect them. Today, let us look again to Christ to draw us near to Himself, that we may daily imitate Him, and thereby point others to Him. By this, we will do the greatest good to the greatest number of people.

Our Kind and Gracious God,
we rejoice in all the ways in which You do us good.
We praise You that Christ is the great manifestation of Your Goodness,
and the we are complete in Him.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Not Sacrifice

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 51:16-17

Sacrifices were an integral part of the Old Testament system. These sacrifices were only a means to an end. They were not an end in themselves. As Hebrews says, they could never take away sins. David understood this. He understood that any sacrifice had to be evidence of and accompanied by a heart of sincerity with repentance. Hence he makes the remark in verse 17, ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.‘ Here is the heart of the discussion. When we have sinned against God we cannot fix what is broken by engaging in outward religious exercise. All the church attendance, singing, quoting of Scripture, etc, will not restore our right relationship with God. Outward religious observance is not the same as true heart religion. This is a very real issue for us. We may sin against God and until we come to the point of having ‘a broken and a contrite heart,’ we may continue to engage in all the outward practices of religion. God is not impressed with that. What will bring us to having a ‘broken and a contrite heart?’ A clear sight of Christ will do that for us. As we look clearly at Christ in His state of Sacrifice we realize that it is our sins which put Him there. By our sinfulness, we crucified Christ. The realization of this will break our hearts and draw us out after Him. This, God will not despise.

Our Gracious, Forgiving God
we confess our sin before You.
We rejoice that You are good and ready to forgive
as we come in repentance before You.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘Deliver Me From . . . Guilt’

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

Psalm 51:14-15

For the Child of God, fellowship and worship are integrally related. David desired to worship, but his spiritual condition was a hinderance to his worship. Hence He says, ‘Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:  and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.’  When the heart is free from guilt, the spirit is free to worship. As long as guilt blankets our soul, we are inhibited in our worship. David longs for liberation from guilt so that he may again enjoy freedom in worship. It is even so with us. When we have done wrong and are feeling the weight of our guilt, and our distance from Christ, we find that worship is, at best a dry, barren experience. By the work of His Free Spirit, applying to us the cleansing Blood of Christ, we can experience deliverance from ‘the guilt of bloodshed,’ or whatever type of guilt it is. Liberty from that guilt will enable us to enjoy the richness of fellowship with Christ which we enjoyed in days gone by. Fellowship with Christ enables us to thrive even under the most adverse of human circumstances. Guilt inhibits us from thriving even in the best of human circumstances. Today, let us take stock of these things in order that we may right our affairs with God, and be free in our worship. We may not need this knowledge today, but we may need it soon. As the old divines used to say, ‘keep short accounts with God.’ This will enable us to sing aloud of His righteousness.

Our Good and Forgiving God,
we praise You that the Blood of Christ cleanses us from sin.
We rejoice that the Holy Spirit, by His Power,
delivers us from the guilt of that sin.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘Then I Will Teach’

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

Psalm 51:13

Our life is a lesson for someone. What is interesting to note, is that we rarely comprehend the effect we have on others, more by who we are and what we do, than by merely what we say. Someone is always watching and will pattern themselves after us. David recognized that his spiritual condition had become impoverished by his sin. In spiritual terms, he was by his bad example, much more of a liability to the cause of God than an asset. He understood that restoration to spiritual health would make him useful again. Hence, he declares, ‘Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.‘ It is even so with us. God has made us to be members of the Body of Christ because He has a purpose for us to serve. The purpose which we serve is both within the Body, and in the world which knows nothing of God. Our effectiveness to serve the purpose for which God created us is related to our spiritual health. If a member of our physical body is unhealthy it affects other parts of the body. When we are spiritually unhealthy, it affects others negatively. David understood that only by restoration could he have a positive spiritual effect on those around him. Today, let us desire that the Holy Spirit will take the things of Christ and bring us into health, in order that we might effectively serve the purpose for which God has made us members of the Body of Christ. ‘Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.’

Our Holy and Wise God,
we rejoice that You teach us Your Ways.
We praise You that the Holy Spirit will continue His Work,
in order that we may be useful in the advancement of Your Kingdom.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

‘By Your Free Spirit’

…and uphold me with Your free spirit.

Psalm 51:12b

David understood the importance of the Spirit of God. While we may title the Old Testament era as ‘The Day of the Father,’ the Gospel era as ‘The Day of the Son,’ and the current era as ‘The Day of the Spirit;’ all three Members of the Trinity were operating in each era. We make a mistake to sell the other two Members of the Trinity short simply because another Member stands to the forefront in a particular era. The Holy Spirit has always been the Agent of regeneration. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Redemption. He is responsible for the application of the redemptive work of Christ in every era. We do the saints of the Old Testament a disservice if we fail to recognize the depths of their evangelical knowledge. David acknowledges that the Holy Spirit must do a mighty work in order for his relationship with God to be restored completely. Hence, he prays, ‘uphold me with Your free Spirit.’ The Holy Spirit, Who indwelt David, also indwells us. When we need our fellowship with God restored, He alone can effect it. Therefore, we appeal to God that the Holy Spirit will ‘uphold’ us. He will do so by taking the things of Christ and showing them to us. Today, let us dwell upon the virtue and value of this Holy Spirit, Who upholds us every step of the way to the Throne of Christ.

Our Wise and Wonderful God,
we rejoice at the continued work of Your Holy Spirit.
We praise You that He will evermore show us Christ
and conform us to His Image.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning