They’re called “spoiler alerts.” Do you know what I mean? It’s when, let’s say, you’re attending a birthday party for your grandma, so you miss your favorite Olympic event, but you set your TV to record the competition so that you can watch it later. You return home just in time for the evening news, and they announce, “Spoiler alert! If you don’t want to know the results of today’s Olympic events, put your TV on mute in three seconds. Three…two….” And you mute your TV or put your fingers in your ears, while loudly and melodically saying, “Lalalalala—I can’t heeeear you” in order not to hear what you really want to know.
But sometimes we also use this technique to drown out what we should hear but don’t want to know! On Wednesday, I was to read Psalm 51 as part of the daily Bible reading that I’m doing this month. But I found that I as I looked at my reading list (i.e., read the spoiler alert—the fact that I knew what the chapter contained) and because I did not want to have those words prick my needy heart, I closed my spiritual ears and lyrically, though nonverbally, demonstrated a spirit of “Lalalalala—I can’t heeeear you.” I became obsessed with color coding the chapter, looking for “key words,” and methodically performing my otherwise well-motivated Bible study habits in order to drown out the words I needed to “hear” by just reading them.
Yet, in His mercy, the Lord patiently spoke, as I sat there with open-palm-covered ears. And as His words began to reach their their target audience—the depths of my heart—I lowered my hands and clasped them together in a prayer of repentance for my unwillingness to simply listen to my Master’s instructions.
Then, with my heart and my ears open to His tender voice, I tearfully read the precious words of Psalm 51. I’ll close with some of those today, praying that you will not be found with your hands over your ears as you read.
Spolier alert: it will reach your heart if you let it!
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise. —Psalm 51:1-17, NIV
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I’m sure we all have favorite passages that we both love to read and “fear” to read because of the impact they typically have on our life. What’s your’s? ___________________ Would you like us to e-mail our posts to you? Subscribe to Petals from the Basket by e-mail
Psalm 37 is one passage that I love to read and “fear” to read especially during times when I am seeking God’s guidance in making a decision. This passage directly commands me not to do the things I have a tendency to do when making a decision (worry, fret etc.) and then points to who God is and reminds me of His promises. When I remember who my God is and what He promises, then it calms my heart and I am open to His will.
I love all of this, Hannah, but especially your last sentence! It all goes back to knowing who God is, doesn’t it?