Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 16
Saturday


BROKEN BONES

READ:
Psalm 51:1-13
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Make me hear joy
and gladness, that the
bones You have broken
may rejoice.
__Psalm 51:8
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Years ago, I played collegiate soccer as a goalkeeper. It was more fun than I can describe here, but all that fun came at a hefty price__one I continue to pay today. Being a goalie means that you are constantly throwing your body into harm's way to prevent the other team from scoring, often resulting in injuries. During the course of one season, I suffered a broken leg, several cracked ribs, a separated shoulder, and a concussion! Today, especially on cold days, I am visited by painful reminders of those broken bones.

David also had reminders of broken bones, but his injuries were spiritual, not physical. After David's moral collapse involving an affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, God firmly disciplined him. But then David turned to Him in repentance and prayed, "Make me hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice" (Ps. 51:8).

God's chastening was so crushing that David felt like his bones were broken. Yet he trusted that the God of grace could both repair his brokenness and rekindle his joy. In our own failure and sin, it's a comfort to know that God loves us enough to pursue and restore us with His loving discipline.
__Bill Crowder

```Father, open my eyes to see my failings, open my heart`````
```to receive Your discipline, and open my will to embrace`````
````Your loving purposes. When I fall, I pray that You will`````
```````````make me whole and restore my joy in You.```````

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God's hand of discipline is a hand of love.

*******************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 51:1-13******************

1 Have mercy upon me,
O God, according to Your
lovingkindness; according to
the multitude of Your tender
mercies, blot out my
transgressions. 2 Wash me
thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 for I acknowledge my
transgressions, and my sin is
always before me. 4 Against
You, You only, have I sinned,
and done this evil in Your
sight__that You may be
found just when You speak,
and blameless when You
judge.

5 Behold, I was brought
forth in iniquity, and in sin
my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in
the inward parts, and in the
hidden part You will make
me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean; wash
me, and I shall be whiter
than snow. 8 Make me hear
joy and gladness, that the
bones You have broken may
rejoice. 9 Hide Your face
from my sins, and blot out all
my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean
heart, O God, and renew a
steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from
Your presence, and do not
take Your Holy Spirit from
me.

12 Restore to me the joy of
Your salvation, and uphold
me by Your generous Spirit.

13 Then I will teach
transgressors Your ways, and
sinners shall be converted to
You.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's reading captures King David's prayer of confession concerning
his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. Essential
to genuine confession is acknowledging our sin before God. "I
acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me"
(v.3). This same principle of confession is seen in the New Testament.
For example, 1 John 1:9