Point of Grace Online Worship 8.9.20

Sermon Notes - “Psalms – Ancient Prayers for Unprecedented Times! - Psalm 51”

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

There are 4 movements the Psalm leads us through.

1) COUNT on Mercy - or we won’t come at all! (Don’t forget the superscription!)

Superscription: For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

3 Words

Transgression- When I am rebellious?

Iniquity – When I twist my morals to fit my circumstances, justifying myself along the way?

Sin – When I miss the mark of what God desired for me?

1) COUNT on Mercy (vs.1-2)

2) CONFESS Deeply (vs. 3-6)

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

CONFESS Deeply – staying in the shallows relieves us but doesn’t save us!

CONFESSING Deep leads to finding God and finding the me desperately in need of Him.

1) COUNT on Mercy

2) CONFESS Deeply

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

3) CLEANED Completely (vs. 7-12)

Hyssop? (Exodus 12:21-23, John 19:28-30)

Layers of guilt need layers of grace!

When God is in charge of cleaning, possibilities flourish! The words and images of the poet (clean, whiter than snow, joy, gladness, renew, pure, renew etc. paint a great vision for the confessing sinner’s future.

1) COUNT on Mercy

2) CONFESS Deeply

3) CLEANED Completely

4) CELEBRATE Vocally

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Now that we understand the Psalm we get to engage with it!

1) COUNT on Mercy

2) CONFESS Deeply

3) CLEANED Completely

4) CELEBRATE Vocally

The lines of poetry in Psalm 51 are a rescue for us at just the time we need it!

Homework: Read and pray Psalm 51 every day this week! (Hint: Follow the reading schedule in the notes below.)

Join in on “After Thoughts” Thursday at 7 pm – Join in through Facebook Live or go to www.pog.church/live to view.

Afterthoughts is a live interactive internet conversation about the topic of this week’s sermon. We would love for you to join in to make your contribution to the conversation, share your thoughts and ask your question.

Resources for this Week

These resources which will help you “Pray Psalm 51” this week.

The Scripture Reading schedule for this week is somewhat unique. Our goal is to meditate on Psalm 51 all week. I encourage you to read the entire Psalm every day and then take some additional focus time on just a few verses each day. Repetition is your friend. Remember you are not necessarily looking for new information from the Psalm once you understand it. Repeatedly returning to the Psalm each day allows the Holy Spirit to use the Psalm to minister to you, to speak to you, to reveal you to you, and God to you. This is a great Psalm to begin journaling if you do not. Making written note of what God brings to your mind is a great way to begin journaling. I don’t do it every day but it is always a blessing when I do. If the schedule below is helpful, great, use it. If not, then work through the Psalm at your own pace.

Mon – Psalm 51… with a special emphasis on vs. 1-2 Movement 1 – COUNT on Mercy Tue – Psalm 51 … with a special emphasis on vs. 3-6 Movement 2 – CONFESS Deeply Wed – Psalm 51 … with a special emphasis on vs. 7-9 Movement 3 – CLEANED Completely Thu – Psalm 51 … with a special emphasis on vs. 10-12 Movement 3 – CLEANED Completely Fri – Psalm 51 … with a special emphasis on vs. 13-15 Movement 4 – CELEBRATE Vocally Sat - Psalm 51 … with a special emphasis on vs. 16-19 These are great summary statements (vs.16,17) and then a prayer for redemption and restoration countering the no doubt negative national impact of the King’s sin.

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word! I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there! Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?” Talk about what you notice is on your heart. Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Recommended Titles and Resources

Songs of Jesus by Timothy Keller excellent daily devotional based on the Psalms

“Soul-keeping: Caring for the most important part of you.” – John Ortberg

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

Restoration Year by John Eldredge – A 365 Day Devotional - These daily devotions are excellent encouragement to live by the Spirit each day.

Check out bibleproject.com. Look for their videos on the Psalms.

The “One Minute Pause” App by Ransomed Heart (use is multiple times every day)

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (Devotional Book)