8: Forgiveness (Part 2)

Lesson 7 and 8 Notes Download Worship Yahweh Music Playlist Psalm 51:5 Romans 4:1-9 Another reason this incident was written is so that we know “all men” means “all”, including the great men Abraham and David. Our understanding of grace, mercy, and forgiveness is greatly enhanced with this record about David. Psalm 51:6-12 Did God answer David’s prayer? Acts 13:21-23 7 Hyssop is a wild shrub the twigs of which were used for sprinkling in purification rites. Numbers 19:16-19 Apparently, hyssop had natural purification properties. 10 The reason acceptance of forgiveness is often difficult is we keep doing the same thing over and over. God must change our hearts and guide our steps, and we must fight to accept His workings. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. David is not only asking forgiveness and a clean heart, but additionally a STEADFAST state of mind in which he would be willing and ready to obey the commands of God and to serve Him faithfully. Psalm 119:9-12 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Yahweh; teach me Your statutes. 16-17 Sacrifices, Hebrews 13:14-15 4:5 Sacrifice of righteousness 50:14 and 23; 54:6; 107:22; 116:17 Sacrifice of thanksgiving I06:28, 37, and 38 Sacrifice cost them a lot. How about us? Psalm 32:1 This psalm is believed to be written after the situation with Uriah in keeping with David’s promise in Psalm 51:12-15. How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom Yahweh does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! “Transgression”, “sin”, and “iniquity” are used to convey the same idea. They highlight the act of straying from the path of righteousness by disobeying God’s will and thereby breaking fellowship with Him. “Forgiven”, “covered”, and “impute” basically communicate the same thing. God’s forgiveness is a blessing. Sin is the general act of missing the mark and falling short of God’s standard. This is the opposite of what is right. Genesis 4:7 – Cain, sin is crouching at…. Transgression is the willful act of crossing boundaries and violating God’s law, whether with or without evil intent. Genesis 50:17 – Joseph and his brothers Iniquity carries a deeper meaning, in that it is a premeditated choice in sin without repentance, with evil intent. It can also imply continuous commitment to sin. While these terms have distinct meanings, it’s important to note that they are often used interchangeably and can overlap in certain contexts. They convey the idea of wrongdoing, rebellion against God, and need for repentance and forgiveness. 2 “in whose spirit there is not deceit” – a person who is sincere, honest, and transparent in his/her relationship with God. This person has a pure heart, no hidden motives or deception. 4 David metaphorically expresses the burden of unconfessed sin as a heavy weight and a drain on his strength, like the oppressive heat of summer. The depiction emphasizes the distress and discomfort experienced while trying to hide the sin. Psalm 38:4-10, 17-22 7 Now is the time to repent; do not wait; time may run out on your life or the day of God’s judgment. It implies a sense of urgency and the recognition that there is a window of opportunity to seek God’s forgiveness and mercy. “You are my hiding place.” David relished fellowship with God. He used these concepts in his writings – stronghold 14 times, refuge 41 times; shelter 4 times; shadow of the Almighty, shadow of your wings, my fortress, the secret place of Your tent, and the secret place of Your presence. 8 These verses seem to switch from David speaking to God, to God speaking to him. 9 This is caution against stubbornness and resistance to God’s leading. These animals require external control mechanisms like bits and bridles. 11 Be glad in Yahweh and rejoice, you righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. Psalm 6:1-10 David, suffering physically, near death, at wits end, turns to Yahweh and cries out for help. Asking God to return implies a sense of distance from Him, so he prays, “Yahweh, rescue my soul; save me”. Spiritually minded people understand God’s intervention is not because it is earned or deserved; rather, it is because of His lovingkindness, His steadfast, unchanging love. All of us experience times of suffering and have feelings of separation from God. David did what we should do – pray and focus on God’s lovingkindness and not our problem or feelings. David ends the psalm confident God heard his prayer. Verse 9 states: Yahweh has heard my supplication, Yahweh receives my prayer. Psalm 19:11 In view of the preceding verses in this Psalm that magnify the significance of God’s word, David acknowledges the Scriptures will help him by warning him to avoid sins. 12 We can be deceived and not acknowledge our own errors, so we pray and ask for help and forgiveness, similar to the Lord’s prayer. 13 “Presumptuous” is failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate, to be arrogant, audacious. We need God’s help to avoid deliberate or willful sins and hidden sins we are unaware of. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Yahweh, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 25:5-8 The prayer is uttered by a humble, fragile, contrite believer to his compassionate, loving, and kind God. The information recorded in Psalm 25 is needful to all those who want to walk in a loving relationship with Yahweh. Asking God to remember His own virtues (compassion and lovingkindnesses) and not remember our sins and transgressions is indeed unusual, but very necessary. 1 John 1:8-10 Our faith for forgiveness has much more substance since we live after Jesus’ death and resurrection. God’s plan of redemption and salvation are now complete in Christ. When we read the following, we should have the same (nay, more) faith to accept forgiveness – 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Psalm 25:9-11 “For Your name’s sake, O Yahweh”, not for my sake or my merits’ sake, but to glorify Your mercy and to show forth the glory of Your divine attributes. To pardon a great sinner will bring You great glory; therefore, for Your name’s sake pardon me. This verse illustrates the logic of faith; it looks not for merit in oneself but to the goodness and mercy of God. Instead of being flabbergasted by the demerits of sin, it looks to the steadfast love of our merciful God and Father. “Yahweh’s loving kindnesses never cease; they are new every morning.” Psalm 40:11-13 David’s confidence in Yahweh, even when his iniquities overtake him, is a great example of taking God at His word. Yahweh declared that He is compassionate, gracious, and forgiving. David believed Yahweh would forgive him because He said so. Psalm 103:1-22 He pardons all your iniquities…. Psalm 130:1-7 In the ancient world, walls surrounding the cities provided protection from those who would be enemies. Every night, citizens took turns as watchmen to oversee the city. Late into the night, staying alert became more and more difficult. The watchmen longed for the morning when they would be relieved from their duty. This is a brilliant comparison for our anticipation of Christ’s return. We long for that glorious day! Until dawn breaks, we are on watch for the approaching of our spiritual adversary, the devil. 1 Peter 5:8 states, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: 1. David’s sin is recorded, so can remain vigilant, understand God’s forgiveness, and appreciate salvation by ________________. a) merit, b) love, c) grace, d) works 2. Psalm 32:1 How blessed is he whose transgression is _________, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom Yahweh does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! a) Remember, b) forgotten, c) counted, d) forgiven 3. Psalm 103 states that our transgressions are removed from us using what comparison? a) As high as the heavens are above the earth, b) as deep as the ocean, c) as far as the east is from the west, d) as high as the highest mountain If you have songs you would like to add to the Worship Yahweh playlist, send a YouTube link to [email protected] or [email protected]. The post 8: Forgiveness (Part 2) first appeared on Living Hope.