June 15 - 21 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
We have finished the series of personal letters from Leonard Ravenhill, and now we will continue with a new series... This will be a daily devotional, which you may want to use along with your Bible and prayer time for a year, or for that matter, any number of years. I thought Psalms 51, David´s Psalm of repentance, in the middle of June, would be a good place to start. I only hope that this can be of some value to you in your Christian walk.
June 15
Psalms 51:1-5
1. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
God uses David’s fall to show us the corruption in the Adamic nature and demonstrate the proper reaction to sin. His sin was hideous, deceitful and treacherous. Evil potential lies in the heart of every human being and the apostle Paul confesses in Romans 7, “O wretched man that I am.” It was Paul’s firm conviction that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” We must learn this terrible lesson.
Sin is exceedingly sinful and we will bear its scars for the duration of our time in this vile body. Its consequences will follow and haunt us until our dying breath. Though the penalty has been removed and the pardon served, our forgiveness and acceptance with God assured, yet the memories remain and the effects plague us. David paid dearly, though his spirit was cleansed. Paul never forgot his persecution of the church. The scriptures recorded it in order to breed within us a lifelong enmity and hatred against iniquity. We should pledge a battle to the death.
June 16
Psalms 51:3-11
3. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
When the deceit was uncovered and the scales removed, the awfulness of David’s deeds smashed into his conscience like a sledgehammer. It crushed his spirit and broke his heart. He did not quickly recover from the devastating blow. “My sin is ever before me,” he said. In this day of easy believism and light-heartedness, too often the convicting work of the Holy Spirit is cut short and not allowed to produce its full harvest of self-abhorrence and sin-hatred. The victim recovers too quickly from his so-called “condemnation” and lives to sin again. Though there is such a thing as overmuch sorrow, which the devil will use to drive a wounded soul to despair, yet there is a work of God that robs sleep and appetite, nails self to the cross and drives the penitent, broken spirit to Christ. In times of revival, sinners swooned and lost consciousness, because their conscience couldn’t bear the weight of their revealed sin. The spirit must be broken, not just bent.
David sees his sin is against God. We can make things right with our neighbor, but who can remove the guilt that comes, when a man realizes that he has nailed God, in Christ Jesus, to a tree. My sin held Jesus to the cross until He died. A holy God, who cannot tolerate sin, was offended. David begs, not only for mercy, but also for cleansing. God was just and David was guilty. That was settled. He was honest and the hidden things were brought to light. There was no covering up, self-defense or self-justification. He sees the danger of being a castaway and of the departure of the Holy Spirit from his life. It had happened to Saul and David had witnessed the death throes and the awfulness of a demonic take-over.
June 17
Psalms 51:7-19
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19. 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.
In his personal tragedy, due to his own sin, still David goes to God alone. He knew there was hyssop and cleansing to cover his terrible transgression. He knew there was power to recreate a right spirit. For the repentant, there is restoration and deliverance so full and complete that it can teach transgressors and convert sinners. It can fill the tongue with song and the mouth with praise. However, there must be a broken and contrite heart. If there is not, God will despise the approach and petition. God will not accept unrepentant and unbroken sinners! Esau was rejected. Many today, though accepted and restored to church fellowship, remain outside the good graces of God, because their sin did not break their pride, tear down their personal kingdom or squelch their self-confidence.
David was concerned for the honor of God, which he had torn down. His city, Zion, must become once more a pleasure to God. The walls of Jerusalem must be reconstructed and the breaches repaired. That which was allowed to enter, must be thrown out and sin and righteousness clearly defined and separated. Then, godly service can be restored and acceptable to Him. In order for that to take place in a New Testament context, the instructions of I Corinthians 5 must be followed with a reaction, as in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11.
June 18
Psalms 52:1-3
A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
1. Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
2. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully.
3. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
Doeg, the Edomite, was a mighty man in Saul’s kingdom (I Samuel 21:7, 22:9-10, 8:10-18). He was the chief of Saul’s herdsmen, one of those to whom Samuel prophesied, “ye shall be his servants.” Doeg was made for this kind of subsistence and it fit him like a glove. Watch out for Doeg, ye priests of God!
The man boasts in mischief, an enemy of God, striking out against His lovingkindness towards His servant, David. He is Saul’s tattletale, an informer against David and the priests of God. His tongue cut and killed as effectively as any sword. He, who can speak hatred, can also kill. He is a blood-red Edomite with no fear of God or respect for His anointed, whether he is priest or king. Saul had to go outside Israel to find someone bloody enough to do his dirty work. Hereby, Israel is corrupted.
June 19
Psalms 52:3-6
A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
3. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
4. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.
5. God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
6. The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:
This is a man with an evil heart, who loves lies instead of righteousness. There is no honesty in him. He is the mediator between Saul and the devil. He is the missing link to fulfill all unrighteousness, to bind and kill the Lord’s servants.
Though Israel has been so corrupted, the mischief will end. Evil will not triumph over God’s business. The wheels of God’s justice grind slowly, but surely. The righteous will witness the destruction of the enemy’s servant. In seeing it, they will scorn his futile effort and fear God. This is the man who thought his position was secure in Saul and forgot that there was a God, with whom to reckon. This is a man who worked his way up the ladder of promotion, built his fine home, and prospered in the kingdom of Saul. The time came for him to be useful to the deluded king, but worse still, a weapon of destruction for the devil against the sacred men of God.
June 20
Psalms 52:7-9
7. Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.
8. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
9. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.
David was a commander over those who found no place in Saul’s kingdom. He tried to help his king, but it was unfruitful. There is no future in God for Saul. You cannot patch him up. He may prophesy with the prophets, but he is the people’s choice, not God’s, and in the end his colors show. How long will you mourn over Saul? David is a green olive tree in the house of God. He prospers in God’s ambiance. Get out of Saul’s courts, David, lest you die! You, who live by faith, trust in the everlasting mercy of God. You have no position or security in Saul’s house.
Be one of those who wait on God’s name, who live to see Him do His work. Be a God-praiser, not a man-raiser. How few can see God over Saul’s head and shoulders! His broad frame looms over them and blots out the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Fly away to the cave of Adullam! Join the saints, discontent with Saul, who look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. His name is good enough for those who have learned to trust Him.
June 21
Psalms 53
1. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2. God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
3. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
4. Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.
5. There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.
6. Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
This chapter echoes chapter 14 almost word for word, with the exception of verse five. It forms the basis for Romans chapter three. The Psalmist speaks of sinners who had no fear, therefore no wisdom, because wisdom begins with godly fear. God reveals Himself through fear. The absence of fear in a human soul is the curse of curses. Cursed is the man who obtains all that he wants, realizes all his plans and passes through life, without being obstructed by fear.
However, in verse five the Psalmist portrays a sudden fear, one that comes too suddenly for salvation. God, despising them, brings the wicked to violent destruction, scatters their bones and sends them to everlasting shame. What a fearful thing it is to be a target for the wrath of God!
With a passionate “oh”, David turns his thoughts to Zion. The Holy Spirit helps his intercession. He wants to see Zion restored as a powerhouse of deliverance for Israel! He cries for it to be reunited with her God, loosed to do exploits and rejoice in victory. Where the word of God is repetitious, we need to be doubly careful to see the supreme importance of its message. Take some time to meditate upon the godless man and the restoration of God’s people.
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