STUDYING OMISSIONS

STUDYING OMISSIONS

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

2Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  To do our best to win God's approval as a worker who doesn't need to be ashamed and who teaches only the true message, we must read, study, and prayerfully ponder the whole counsel of God, all Scripture. It is a serious mistake to consider God’s Word in a fragmented fashion. Study includes taking note of omissions in a passage and then topically cross referencing to other related Scripture. Confused? Please don’t be. I demonstrate with one of my favorite portions of Scripture, Psalm 51.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I confess my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done evil in Your sight; that You might be justified when You speak, and be clear when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

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

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

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

Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

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

Deliver me from the guilt of shedding blood, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

O Jehovah, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

For You do not desire sacrifice; or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shall You be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt  

       offering; then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

  Conscience stricken, David remorsefully repented and cast himself upon God’s mercy. Genuinely heartfelt, he wonderfully confessed and asked for a list of changes having to do with renewal that only God Almighty could provide. There is something David did not ask for. He did ask for restoration of the joy of his salvation. David did not ask for eternal salvation. Why not? Reading 2Samuel chapters 11 & 12 we see David didn’t do so because he had blessed assurance. He understood that his everlasting redemption was sealed then and forever! (ICor.15:12-14; 2Cor.1:20-22)

  Wonderfully, absolutely no omission of God’s marvelous love and grace. Redeemed, let us also say so.

EBB4