This morning my Bible reading had a bit of a theme running through them - sin and guilt…and thankfully, grace. Beginning with Numbers 15. At the end of that chapter the Lord spoke to Moses:

38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” 

The people were to have a reminder with them so that they would not follow after their own deceitful hearts (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). And then I came to Isaiah 5. In that chapter Isaiah has the task of pronouncing judgment to the people of Israel. They have been those who call evil good and good evil. They have oppressed the poor. They have clearly turned aside from the ways of the Lord and they are in danger, grave danger.

But I also read Psalm 51. It is David’s great psalm of confession. He is certainly guilty. He has committed adultery. He has committed murder. He has lied. And he has been confronted by Nathan and he is brought low (2 Samuel 12:1-15). He confesses his sin and guilt before the Lord. He pleads to be washed from his iniquity and to be cleansed. He longs for the joy of his salvation to return (because living in contradiction of the ways of God will never bring true joy). David knows that what is required is humility, contrition, brokenness (Psalm 51:17). The Lord will not despise that heart…in fact it is the heart he looks upon (Isaiah 66:1,2). What a glorious promise! The Lord looks to and saves the brokenhearted…the contrite…the humble. He saves those who know they are sinners and have only one plea…God’s mercy and grace.

This is the greatness of the God we worship. He saves sinners. He saves people like you and me. He saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord who gave himself to take the wrath, the punishment, that you and I deserve. What love! What grace! What a Savior!

For your musical selection today - two that might be a bit different than what you would think - and quite possibly different than your normal tastes. But I figured I’d expand your repertoire.

The first is by Charlie Peacock.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Psalm 51 · Charlie Peacock West Coast Diaries ℗ 1991 Sparrow Records Released on: 1991-01-01 Composer: Charlie P...

The second is by Timothy Brindle. And yes, it’s hip hop/rap. Brindle has an M.Div. from Westminster in Philadelphia and even if you don’t like rap, his lyrics are powerful.

LYRICS LYRICS LYRICS ((below)) Dear LORD, hear my repentance supplication I've behaved like a condemned and lustful pagan I deceived your Word-I admit I did ...

Because you will need the lyrics for the second one - here they are:

Dear LORD, hear my repentance supplication
I've behaved like a condemned and lustful pagan
I deceived your Word-I admit I did it again
Please return-I'm sick of living in sin
My breath, it groans, as my flesh erodes
Transgressions are startin' to stretch my clothes
The infection grows, this sickness is visible

This Christian's despicable, my addiction is pitiful
Lust is a poison, it plagues the soul
Makes it cold, breaks and reshapes its mold
Then it fades and rusts, I didn't live the commandments
I obeyed my lusts and took forgiveness for granted
This sin is implanted: this kid was conceived in it
I'm Mr. Deviant and disobedient
My flesh literally loves filthiness
O God, deliver me from blood guiltiness

I cheat on You daily, but You take me back
To celebrate Your Love, we made this track
I defiled Your sanctuary, abused Your Grace
This vessel's useless, Lord renew this place

This sheep has gone astray on an evil rotten way
The grief has brought dismay, I need to stop and pray
My sweetness is sour, I'm weak in my power
I'm doubting Thomas combined with Peter the coward

If saints were tried, to see if we're sanctified
I'd of disgracefully walked the plank and died
And if Your standard was the Sears Tower
I fell short of Your Glory by the 40th story

Your Law convicts me
But You have awesome pity
I'm forgiven, even when my paws are sticky
Everyone's sauced and tipsy, it's awful risky
Living in this modern Sodom it's Gotham City
I don't deserve to be blessed, I squirm to wrestle
This earthly vessel, determined to murder my flesh
I've forsaken You, I lie and say it's true
But You're faithful to forgive so this praise is due

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
I'm adoring Thee for forgiving me
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity
I'm adoring Thee for forgiving me!

I've been subtle and hush that I struggle with lust
It makes me smuggle disgust, when I huddle and fuss
I'm just a puddle of slush, my bubble will bust
I should be smothered and crushed to rubble and dust
But Your Love is a must, there's no other to trust

Jesus you cuddle with us when we're covered in puss
I disobeyed, but You patiently amazingly
Took my punishment and felt the pain for me
You suffered for my own misbehaving
I so wish to praise Him for propitation
I should be fried and burned for my lies and slurs
But Jesus took the wrath that I deserve
I praise You gleefully for your leniency
And for inconceivably redeeming me
My verse will tell of how I cursed and fell
You give me Grace, but all I deserve is Hell

But Lord I praise you, because it says in your word
First John one nine that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Because Jesus Christ took the punishmnent for our sins
On the cross
Thank you Lord
We asked in Jesus name, amen

This morning I want to get back to the heart of God…I’m not sure there is a better place to focus than that. The text I turn to is Jeremiah 6:16.

16 Thus says the LORD: 

“Stand by the roads, and look, 

and ask for the ancient paths, 

where the good way is; and walk in it, 

and find rest for your souls.

Stand and look. The Lord is commanding the people to look…to think…to consider as a traveller does on a journey. They should take care to find their way. Matthew Henry, the great Bible commentator wrote: “O that men would be thus wise for their souls, and would ponder the path of their feet, as those that believe lawful and unlawful are of no less consequence to us than the right way and the wrong are to a traveller!”

And then we find another imperative - ask for the ancient paths. What are the paths? They are the way of faithfulness that had been given to Moses and the people. The paths are the way of God and that which he blesses. They are the way of godliness and righteousness and peace and joy. They are the way of God’s law.They are the way laid out in Holy Scripture…the written Word of God given to us to be treasured and followed. This is the good way that we are to walk in.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 

nor stands in the way of sinners, 

nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 

2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, 

and on his law he meditates day and night. 

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water 

that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. 

In all that he does, he prospers. 

This ancient way is the way of delight in the Lord and in his ways. It is delight in his Word and in all that he has given us. It is following these ways even when the road seems quite rough. It is an ancient way, not necessarily a smooth way. It will likely cost you a bit of pain, but you will find much help along that way, and certainly the end of the journey will make it all worthwhile. It is a way that will bring rest to our souls. The way of faithful obedience is the way of true and lasting growth (John 15:1-17). And we have a forerunner, because this is the path that our Lord walked before us and in him we have the strength to walk it too.

Yet there is a little bit of the verse that I left out - the response: But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Let us not say the same thing. Let us walk the road before us. Let us take up our cross and follow our Lord on his path of obedience and blessing. It is the good road. It is the road that reveals the heart of God…that he desires the best for his children.

Below is a song by Andrew Peterson (by now you know I really appreciate his music). It’s called “You’ll Find Your Way.”

Music video by Andrew Peterson performing You'll Find Your Way. (P) (C) 2012 Centricity Music. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation ...

When I look at you, boy
I can see the road that lies ahead
I can see the love and the sorrow

Bright fields of joy
Dark nights awake in a stormy bed
I want to go with you, but I can’t follow

So keep to the old roads
Keep to the old roads
And you’ll find your way

Your first kiss, your first crush
The first time you know you’re not enough
The first time there’s no one there to hold you

The first time you pack it all up
And drive alone across America
Please remember the words that I told you

Keep to the old roads
Keep to the old roads
And you’ll find your way
You’ll find your way

If love is what you’re looking for
The old roads lead to an open door
And you’ll find your way
You’ll find your way
Back home

And I know you'll be scared when you take up that cross
And I know it'll hurt, 'cause I know what it costs
And I love you so much and it's so hard to watch
But you're gonna grow up and you're gonna get lost
Just go back, go back

Go back, go back to the ancient paths
Lash your heart to the ancient mast
And hold on, boy, whatever you do
To the hope that's taken hold of you
And you'll find your way
You'll find your way
If love is what you’re looking for
The old roads lead to an open door
And you’ll find your way
You’ll find your way
Back home