Psalm 52

Scripture

Psalm 52:8

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.

 

Observation

David warns against those who boast of evil, by informing those listening what God does with such people. He then reinforces His love for God by speaking of His unfailing love and grace to those whom God calls His own.

 

Understanding

I find it interesting that David chose an olive tree to depict himself in this verse. Traditionally in the Bible, and olive tree or branch depicts peace and comfort. I mean if we take a look at David’s ;life it was everything but peaceful, yet this is the tree that he chooses to be in the house of God. And not just simply there and present, but flourishing. I think this offers a very important idea: when we chose to flourish (not just exist) in the house of God we experience a peace unlike any other. It seem like a bit of a stretch for the meaning of this verse, but I think it is important to really talk about the very thing that we starved for right now: peace.

David offers an Idea that it comes form trusting in God’s unfailing love. So I think that’s exactly where we should start, even if that isn’t the answer that we want to hear. Trust leads to peace, and to truly trust we must flourish in the presence of God. Again I want to stress, we need to flourish in the presence of God, rather than just sitting in it and making God do all the work of speaking to us and calming our every insecurity.

 

Life Application

So what can flourishing in the house of God look like?

• Reading His word
• Journaling/meditating on His word
• Praying daily
• Taking time to be thankful for what God has already given you
• Worshipping Him

The list is endless, so let the flourishing begin!

-Allison Khan

Psalm___51

Scripture

Psalm 51:17 NIV

 

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

 

Observation-What does it say?

Psalm 51 is a very powerful one, as King David wrote it after being confronted by the prophet Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba. Please read 2 Samuel 12:1-13 for the full exchange between those two men. It basically led to David being convicted by the Holy Spirit to repent and Nathan assuring David that his sin had been put away. He will not die.

Understanding-What does it mean?

Do our mistakes lead us to Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow?

Godly sorrow leads us to repentance, true inward change of the heart. Worldly sorrow is sorrow that doesn’t lead to inward heart change because it is a momentary sorrow. It is typically a result of getting caught and not wanting to deal with the consequences of our sin. 

King David’s Psalm demonstrates true godly sorrow and repentance from his heart. Also, the consequences of his sin led to him to draw closer to the Lord, not further away. 

Life Application

Repent and be healed! Move on!  Go and sin no more, just like Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. (John 8:1-11)

As Bible.org states, “The tragic death of David’s son is a consequence of David's sin, but it is NOT the penalty David deserves for his sin.”

There are consequences to sin. David and Bathsheba suffered the consequence of their sin, which was that they lost their son conceived as a result of their affair. However, King David’s response to that was quite humble. (Please see 2 Samuel 12:14-21).

Too many of us, after suffering the consequences of our sin, don’t move on. Consequences are meant to teach us, just like a parent who disciplines their child. However, it should train us to be stronger and better, not continue in the same unhealthy sinful cycle. David had his son by Bathsheba taken away as a consequence of his sin. Did he keep mourning after that? No. He moved on. 

Jesus came, died and resurrected to set us free from the guilt of our past. Let’s truly live that out! The enemy no longer has a hold on us and his lies no longer have to keep us in bondage. We are conquerors because of Jesus, who is the reason why we no longer have to live defeated, but live grateful and victorious everyday! 

Thank You Jesus for You, the most precious gift we could ever ask for. Amen! 

-Michelle Gaddi

Hebrews__6

Scripture

 

Hebrews 6:12

 

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

 

Observation-What does it say?

 

The writer of Hebrews had observed those who came before him and what they did to inherit what God had promised them, and he encourages his readers to imitate their example. 

 

Understanding-What does it mean?

 

We inherit what God has promised, specifically speaking of the promise of salvation, through faith and patience.

 

What I find interesting is that the posture of faith and patience is contrasted with laziness. Our faith and patience must be active, not passive sitting around waiting to die or for Jesus to come again. He explains what this active faith and patience looks like a few verses prior:

Hebrews 6:10-God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

 

If we want to inherit what God has promised, we must be faithful to work, to demonstrate our love for God by helping other believers. And not just having stories of helping them in the past, but continuing to help them until the very end. 

 

Life Application 

 

Consider how I can demonstrate my love for God today by helping others. 

 

God, I long to inherit all you have promised me. I don’t want to forfeit it because I become lazy or self focused. By your grace, give me strength to endure and fill my heart with your love. May I never settle where I am but continually pursue you for more! Amen.

 

-Levi Thompson