June 9, 2023 -- Psalm 30:8-10 -- The Psalm Series: a plea for mercy.

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

To you, O LORD, I cry,
    and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
9 “What profit is there in my death,
    if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
10 Hear, O LORD, be merciful to me!
    O LORD, be my helper!”
Psalm 30:8-10 ESV

A week ago we considered what it means to extol the LORD—to make His name great to our own hearts and minds. When a child of God considers Him in this way, he will be drawn to the awareness of his own sinful condition. The brilliance of the LORD’s holiness, even as it is veiled from our eyes right now, will lead the believer to be profoundly aware of the ugliness of the sin that remains in him.

So, the psalmist cries out to the LORD, the Covenant-Making, Promise-Keeping God. It is He Who must act to cleanse us from our sin. It is He Who has provided the way of reconciling forgiveness through His Son, Jesus. The psalmist calls Him Lord also. The first use of God’s Name, LORD, emphasizes His Covenant-Making and Keeping saving work on our behalf. The second use of His Name, Lord, emphasizes He is our Master. We have pledged our obedience to Him. We have placed into His hands our whole soul, body, mind, and strength. Without Him we cannot do anything good.

The awareness of our sins leads also to the awareness of our helpless condition prior to God’s saving work. We were fit only for the grave (the pit). Our sins were rank and foul, offensive to the Living God. Believers know their lives have been redeemed. So, based on the work of Jesus, concealed in the Old and revealed in the New Testament, believers cry out to God—be merciful to me.

The LORD is our helper. He has made His covenant promises, which are “yes” and “amen” in Jesus Christ. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Helper” in John’s Gospel. It is the Holy Spirit Who reveals the dazzling mercies of the Father. It is the Spirit Who helps us to know Jesus’ sacrificial work covers all our sins. It is the Spirit Who teaches us the Word, so that we know the LORD Himself, and His works, and ourselves and our true condition. It is the Spirit Who helps us in our weakness so that we willingly and whole-heartedly desire, from now on, to live for God the Triune, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Truly You are exalted in splendour and radiant in beauty. With the psalmist, and with Your people through-out every generation, I join my voice with theirs and extol You and bless You. Free me from my sins. By the glorious presence of the Helper may the work of Jesus Christ be brought to full effect in every part of my life and this to the praise and honour of God, my Father. Amen.

https://youtu.be/bvTz6k7cTIA Casting Crowns “Who Am I”

Copyright © 2023 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.