Psalm 65: God the Redeemer

Today’s reading is Psalm 65.

It’s a week of thanksgiving for us. What better psalm to read than the one allotted. It begins “Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion.” We could equally read that “Thanksgiving is due to you” based on the remainder of the psalm. The psalm breaks down into three parts. Each one demonstrates a reason to praise and thank God.

In the first section (vss. 1-4), we meet God the Redeemer.

Why are praise and thanksgiving due to our God? Because when iniquities prevail against us, He provides atonement. David gives a picture of sins overwhelming him, drowning him. I know the feeling. Do you? God provides the remedy.

Don’t read vs. 4, through our modern lens. “The one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts” doesn’t refer to individual saints God chose to be forgiven or saved. Read this through the ancient lens of tabernacle/temple worship with priests and Levites as those who dwelt and ministered in the courts of the Lord. This is not a picture of individual salvation but of the communal worship at the tabernacle (later the temple). It is a picture of the place of atonement. Because God had chosen priests and servants to dwell in His house, God would dwell with His people. Certainly, this service was a fantastic blessing for those who were most involved, but the blessing rolled down Mt. Zion and covered the whole nation of those atoned for by the worship and sacrifice in His house.

When God revealed the Day of Atonement sacrifices in Leviticus 16, he explains they must be offered to make “atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the people and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness” (Leviticus 16:16, ESV). Because God chose someone to come into his house and make atonement, God’s house was able to dwell in the midst of the people despite their overwhelming sins and uncleanness. Otherwise, He would be forced to destroy them in their sins.

Our God is a Redeemer. He redeemed Israel. He has redeems His church. Let us give Him praise and thanks. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 65.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does Psalm 65 admonish you?

No More Offering for Sin

Today’s reading is Hebrews 10.

Jesus offered the one, effectual sacrifice that redeems us with His blood and provides atonement, forgiving our sins. He doesn’t have to offer another one. This means there is no more offering for sin. Which takes us down two paths.

First, in Hebrews 10:18, “Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (ESV). Because Jesus has secured forgiveness for sin by His one, effectual sacrifice, I no longer have to offer sacrifices for my sins. This doesn’t simply mean my pets are all safe. It means nothing I do is in order to secure or pay for forgiveness. I don’t “go to church,” read my Bible, pray, teach the gospel, help the needy, avoid sexual immorality, stop cussing, in order to purchase the forgiveness of sins. I’m not offering sacrifices to pay for the sins I’ve committed or provide atonement. That’s good, they never would. Rather, because Jesus has provided forgiveness by His sacrifice, I am now free to serve God in the righteousness I am hungry for. I read my Bible not because I hope it will cover or make up for some sin. I read my Bible because I know I can connect to Jesus there. Certainly, when I sin I confess in prayer and seek forgiveness. However, I don’t pray as a means to pay for my sins, sacrificing some of my fun time to pray in hopes God will agree it covers some of my sins. I pray because through prayer I connect to God. Where there is forgiveness I don’t have to live this life of offering sacrifice in hopes it will pay for my sins and purchase my forgiveness. Rather, I am set free by the forgiveness in Jesus to abandon my sins and live for Him.

Second, in Hebrews 10:26, “If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” (ESV). That is, Jesus has paid for forgiveness. He has provided atonement. However, we must realize Jesus didn’t provide atonement to set us free to sin, but to set us free from sin. Therefore, if I ignore His atonement, if I refuse to avail myself of His forgiveness, if I decide I don’t want victory over and freedom from sin, I want to just continue to live deliberately in sin, nothing else is coming to take my sins away. If I decide to ignore the one, effectual sacrifice that provides atonement and refuse to give my allegiance to the Savior, Lord, and High Priest who offered it, I’ve got no hope of finding forgiveness anywhere else. If I surrender to Jesus, but then later drift away and decide to pursue sin, there is nothing and no one else coming to atone for my sins. Then I only have a certain terrifying expectation of judgment.

There is no more offering for sin. On the one hand, that can be terrifying if I decide to ignore the offering Jesus gave. On the other hand, it is incredibly freeing if I decide to surrender and live according to it. Which choice will you make?

Tomorrow’s reading is Hebrews 10.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Why is it frightening to ignore the sacrifice Jesus has offered for us?
3. Why is it freeing to live according to the sacrifice Jesus has offered for us?
4. What do you think is the difference between pursuing obedience in order to pay for sins and purchase forgiveness versus pursuing obedience because our forgiveness has been secured and our sins have been paid for?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?