May 25, 2023 - Psalms 83-87

From a prayer of David: “Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you” (86:4,5). We need to be careful to avoid presumption, not concluding that Paul’s words – “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20) – signify that we can sin and it will easily be covered by God’s grace. That is a great danger and a temptation into which we all fall at one time or another. On the other hand, isn’t it so good to know, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9) We never tire of singing:

Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bid’st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

to rid my soul of one dark blot,

to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come. --Charlotte Elliott (1847)