TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Exodus 34:4-14
The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. - Exodus 34:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
For 60 years, journalist Walter Cronkite brought the news to America. He reported big stories, such as the first moon landing, President Kennedy’s assassination, and Watergate. He interviewed important leaders, including every U.S. President since Truman, and covered hot issues–the arms race, civil rights, and public education. Even after his 1981 retirement, Cronkite was consistently named in surveys as one of the most trusted men in America. If he said it, people believed it. Americans depended on him.

Even more confidently can we depend on God. He can be trusted to be forgiving. How do we know? He said so Himself. That’s who He is–that’s what He does. Forgiveness is one of His key attributes.

In today’s reading, God responded personally to Moses’ bold request to “show me your glory” (Ex. 33:18). Jehovah’s memorable self-declaration in these verses is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible.

There were many things God could have said to announce Himself. He could have declared Himself as the sovereign Creator or as the Power who defeated the Egyptians. Instead, He testified that His Name means One who is compassionate, gracious, patient, loving, faithful, and forgiving. His forgiveness is not naïve but remains in accord with His holiness (v. 7).

Moses knew that the Israelites stood condemned because of their rebellion and idolatry, but he interceded for them before the Lord. What God had just said about Himself gave Moses hope that Israel’s history wouldn’t end here. God promised that He would go with them to the Promised Land, prove His covenant faithfulness, and show His power. The Israelites’ responsibility was to worship Him alone.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Scripture memory is a valuable spiritual discipline and a good way to remind ourselves of the character of God. This week, make it your goal to memorize Exodus 34:6–7 from today’s reading. Following verse 6, which is quoted in the sidebar, it continues: “maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.” This was God’s own declaration of who He is, which is why these words are quoted many times in Scripture (see, for example, Joel 2:12–14). We’ll benefit from committing to memory the words God uses to describe Himself.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 78:32-41
Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. - Psalm 78:38a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Do you ever feel you’re committing the same sin over and over? Confes-sing the same wrong action or attitude again and again? Do you wonder if God gets tired of extending forgiveness yet again? Do you worry that His grace might run out?

If so, then today’s reading should encourage you. Though the Israelites committed the same sins repeatedly, God forgave them time and time again. His love never ran dry for them, and it will never run dry for us. Grace that runs out is not God’s grace.

Psalm 78 reviews the history of Israel in order to praise the Lord. In Israel’s history we see a negative pattern. In the midst of punishment, they would remember God and return to Him. They would feel their desperate need for a solid Rock on which to stand, and He would answer them. But after their rescue, they would get complacent and self-confident and would revert to their covenant-breaking behavior.

Neither discipline nor miracles were enough to keep Israel from repeating their sinful pattern. They “kept on sinning” because they “did not believe” (v. 32). Despite their lack of faith, God never unleashed His full wrath and always worked to bring His people back. He even offered them forgiveness ahead of time (cf. Jer. 33:6–9).

Israel sinned in the worst ways possible, yet God’s mercy won. This didn’t mean their actions had no consequences, or that they never experienced discipline, but they never received the full extent of what they deserved. God restrained Himself, understanding human frailty (v. 39). Instead, He patiently labored to bring the people to repentance, then extended His forgiveness.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
To supplement our month’s study of biblical forgiveness, you might search out and read a good Christian book on the topic. Perhaps your pastor or a close friend can recommend one that’s been meaningful in their lives.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 55:1-9
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. - Isaiah 55:7b
TODAY IN THE WORD
When told to go and preach in Nineveh, the capital city of Israel’s enemy, Assyria, Jonah refused. In fact, he ran in the opposite direction, willfully disobeying God’s command. God caught up with him, of course, and the prophet ended up in the belly of a great fish.

From there, he repented and cried out to God, “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. . . . To the roots of the mountains I sank down. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. . . . Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:1–9).

Jonah knew the key truth found in today’s reading: God always answers the one who repents (v. 7). There is no uncertainty--God doesn’t sometimes answer, sometimes not. When a sinner repents, God answers, guaranteed. It doesn’t matter how bad the sin is, and His forgiveness doesn’t depend upon the “correct” phrasing of the confession. It doesn’t matter how old the sin is or how many times it’s been done.

All that matters is repentance. To repent means to be honest with God and to turn from your sin. To be honest with God is to reveal to Him exactly what you’ve done--no hiding, no rationalizing. To turn from your sin is to renounce it and recommit yourself to a righteous life (cf. Prov. 28:13).

In today’s reading, Isaiah spoke in a specific historical context to the Jewish exiles, but also in a general theological context about God’s salvation. Because sinners turn to God, and because God pours out His lovingkindness on them, the nations will see His glory. Repentance and forgiveness will be a worldwide witness, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
This week, have you found yourself saying, “Yes, I trust that God is forgiving, but . . . ”? Do you think you’ve crossed a line, and God will never take you back?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 103:7-18
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12
TODAY IN THE WORD
When God forgives our sins, how far away are they? At the equator, the Earth’s circumference is nearly 25,000 miles. Is that far enough? No! Our Milky Way galaxy is about 30,000 light years across at the center, with an overall diameter of 100,000 light years. Is that far enough? No! At present, scientists estimate the size of the entire universe at about 10 billion light years in diameter. Is that far enough? No!

When God forgives our sins, they’re gone, utterly gone. “As far as the east is from the west” is not a measure of distance but a hyperbolic, dramatic picture of how thoroughly and completely He forgives (v. 12). God also said, “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist” (Isa. 44:22).

As we’ve seen, God’s forgiving love is central to His nature (v. 8; cf. Ex. 34:6–7). His love is as boundless as the earth and the heavens; similarly, His forgiveness is as wide as the east and the west (v. 11; cf. Ps. 57:10–11). That is to say, the height, depth, and breadth of God’s mercy cannot be measured (cf. Eph. 3:18–19). It’s infinite.

In His mercy, God “does not treat us as our sins deserve” (v. 10). He has compassion on those who fear Him and understands our weaknesses. In His love, He removes our sins far away, blots them out, hurls them into the sea, and treads them underfoot. Forgiven sins are gone from memory and gone from experience. No divine grudge list is kept in a secret drawer somewhere. Instead, the guilty are made innocent, and sins as red as scarlet are transformed to be as white as snow (Isa. 1:18).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Sometime in the near future, give yourself an object lesson in the perfection or completeness of God’s forgiveness. Go stargazing. Find a good place, removed from city lights or human noises, and look far out into the night sky. Consider the huge distance between you and the nearest star, or try to imagine the vast reaches between galaxies. In all the universe, your sin is nowhere to be found (cf. Jer. 50:20). God has removed it. It’s been forgiven, literally “lost” within His love.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Leviticus 4:1-7; 5:14-19
The sin offering is to be slaughtered before the Lord in the place the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy. - Leviticus 6:25b
TODAY IN THE WORD
When Max Perutz died of cancer earlier this year at the age of 87, he was mourned as “one of the twentieth century’s scientific giants.” A fellow scientist remarked: “The impact of Max’s work remains a foundation on which science is being undertaken today.” For his groundbreaking work in molecular biology, he shared the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1962. Dr. Perutz pioneered the use of X-ray crystallography in studying the body’s proteins, and notably, he determined the structure of hemoglobin, the vital molecule which carries oxygen through the blood. Oxygen in the blood brings life to the body. Similarly, blood from animal sacrifices brought spiritual life to Israel.

So far this month, we’ve focused on the forgiving nature of our God. For the next several days, we’ll move on to consider some biblical roots for the idea and practice of forgiveness. The Old Testament sacrificial system is a good place to start. The major sacrifices were the burnt offering, grain offering, fellowship offering, sin offering, and guilt offering--we’ll focus on the last two of these.

The sin offering was man-datory and was made for specific, unintentional sins. The guilt offering was also required, it accompanied restitution for various sins, even if the sins were unintentional. Leviticus 4–7 emphasizes the holiness of these sacrifices, the holiness of seeking forgiveness. When a man laid hands on the animal to be sacrificed, he identified with it, accepting responsibility for the sins about to be punished. The animal died in his place as his substitute. When the priest sprinkled blood, it represented atonement for sin. The animal offered needed to be unblemished or perfect. That plus restitution (in the case of the guilt offering) served as evidence of true repentance or contrition.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In light of today’s reading, we suggest that you do additional study on the Old Testament sacrificial system. What sacrifices did the Mosaic Law require? For what reasons or on what occasions were sacrifices offered? What symbolism was involved? In what ways did these sacrifices anticipate Christ? What can the church learn from these parts of the Old Testament?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 9:16-28
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. - Hebrews 9:22b
TODAY IN THE WORD
Donated blood used in transfusions saves lives. By that measure, Howard Drew is a world-class lifesaver!

Drew has been recognized as the Guinness world-record holder for the most blood donated by an individual. As of April 2002, he’d given about 220 pints (28 gallons) and says he hopes to give 250 pints or more if he lives long enough. Drew gives blood every eight weeks, usually at the National Institute of Health’s blood bank in Bethesda, Maryland. He started donating after receiving a transfusion for a war injury and has continued giving for the past 50 years. The American Red Cross estimates that he’s saved two to three dozen lives through his donations.

Blood means life. As the New Testament confirms, the shedding of blood is required for forgiveness (v. 22). Blood symbolizes life, and without forgiveness through the shedding of blood, we’re dead in our sins.

Today’s reading discusses the significance of Christ’s death. God’s entire plan of redemption hinged on the shedding of His Son’s blood. That’s why blood symbolism permeated the Mosaic Law. To sprinkle blood was to purify, cleanse, or set apart as holy. Blood was a sign of the covenant and a reminder to obey God (v. 20). Today’s verse simply means that forgiveness couldn’t be offered without death--the death of a perfect substitute.

Christ’s blood was more than symbolism. His death accomplished our salvation. Where’s our sin now? Gone. He’s done away with it (v. 26)!

In our day, we don’t repeat Christ’s sacrifice (we couldn’t), and we don’t continue the Law’s animal sacrifices. Instead, we honor and remember Christ’s death through communion, or the Lord’s Table. The cup represents His blood (Luke 22:20). As Jesus Himself said: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him” (see John 6:53–56).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How are your apologetics skills when it comes to defending the truth given in today’s verse? Some critics of Christianity call it a “bloodthirsty religion” or say that it’s no different from human sacrifice in ancient pagan religions. If someone told you they thought Christianity was “gory” or “bloodthirsty,” how would you respond?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Colossians 2:9-15
When you were dead in your sins . . . God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins. - Colossians 2:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
In November 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombed the city of Coventry in England. Hit by an incendiary device, Coventry Cathedral burned along with the rest of the city. Shortly afterwards, according to an official history, a stonemason “noticed that two of the charred medieval roof timbers had fallen in the shape of a cross. He set them up in the ruins where they were later placed on an altar of rubble with the moving words 'Father Forgive’ inscribed on the sanctuary wall.”

Coventry Cathedral was rebuilt with the new structure adjacent to the ruins of the old. Visiting the site is an impressive lesson in forgiveness, and today the church pursues a special worldwide ministry of healing and reconciliation. The church chose as its symbol the famous “Cross of Nails,” fashioned of several medieval nails from the original cathedral, understanding that the Cross is the foundation for all biblical forgiveness (cf. Matt. 26:27–28).

Today’s reading begins with the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh. Christ was fully God, and our fullness as Christians flows from Him. What does this mean? Paul described it in three ways: (1) “Circumcision.” Christ cut away our sinful natures. (2) “Burial.” We died to sin, symbolized in baptism. (3) “Resurrection.” By faith, we were raised with Christ through the power of God.

Christ made us alive. That is to say, He forgave our sins (v. 13). Spiritual rebirth comes as a result of God’s forgiveness; by no power of our own could we rescue ourselves from being “dead in our sins” (v. 13). God forgave us and gave us new life.

How and why is this true? No one could live up to the Law--all stood guilty. Christ’s sacrifice brought the Law’s time to a close. The image of nailing the requirements of the Law to the Cross reveals that sin’s price has been paid, its condemnation lifted (v. 14). The battle is won, and we captives have been set free through Christ’s conquering sacrifice.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The next time your church serves communion, make it a point to prepare your heart. You might spend extra time in prayer the night before or that morning, or read through Christ’s Passion Week in the Gospels. You might go early to the sanctuary, sit alone, and meditate on the greatness of God’s love. Another idea is to volunteer to serve by helping prepare the trays with the elements beforehand. Most importantly, make communion a time of meditation on the great work of God’s forgiveness.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Luke 24:36-49
Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations. - Luke 24:47
TODAY IN THE WORD
The disciple Peter blew it. He sinned directly, repeatedly, and after a clear warning from Jesus Himself. Three times during the hardest night of his Lord’s life, he denied even knowing Him. When the rooster crowed, realizing what he’d done, Peter “went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:54–62). How could he be forgiven for this?! Surely it was too late.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t. With God, it never is. After His Resurrection, Jesus confirmed His love for Peter, instructed him to “tend my sheep,” and told him he’d die a martyr’s death (John 21:15–19).

The message of redemption, which Jesus commissioned Peter to proclaim, is at its core a message of forgiveness (cf. Eph. 1:7; Acts 13:38). We see this very clearly in Luke’s version of the Great Commission. Before instructing Peter to take the good news of God’s promised redemption of the world through Christ, Jesus taught Peter forgiveness in his own life. In forgiving Peter, He gave him a lesson he’d never forget.

In the post-Resurrection appearance recorded in today’s passage, Jesus did several things for His disciples. He calmed their fears. He proved His physical reality by eating some fish and inviting them to touch His wounds. Most importantly, Jesus taught them that central to the Scriptures is an understanding of how His death and resurrection fulfilled generations of prophecy. The Old and New Testaments tell one continuous story: Christ suffered, died, and rose again (v. 46). This theme is woven through the whole Bible.

This earthshaking news must be shared! “Repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations” (v. 47). By whom? The disciples, eyewitnesses to the events of Jesus’ life, would testify to the reality of grace. They wouldn’t go in their own strength but empowered by the promised Holy Spirit.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Has God forgiven you? Have you accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin? Do you believe with your whole heart in the gospel of Christ, the good news of His forgiveness?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 1:5-2:2
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Eighth-century educator and theologian Alcuin urged believers to embrace the spiritual discipline of confession:

“Believe me, all that thou hast sinned will be found pardonable if thou do not blush to confess it. God awaits the sacrifice of confession from us that he may accord to us the delightful boon of pardon. Accordingly, my dearest sons, hasten to the remedy of confession. Lay open your wounds in confession that the medicaments of healing may be able to take effect in you.”

In other words, sin is a disease, but confession brings the cure. Sin is sorrow, but confession brings joy.

During this month’s study, we’ve laid a foundation of God’s forgiving love and have taken a look at several “pillar truths” of the doctrine of forgiveness. For the next week or so, we’ll consider how all these truths apply to us as we confess our sins to God. How should we repent and confess? What can we expect? How and why do the ideas we’ve discovered in the Word touch our daily spiritual lives?

Today’s reading anchors us precisely where we were yesterday--in the gospel, “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. . . . He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1:5; 2:2a). To say that “God is light” means that He’s utterly holy. It follows from this that to be in fellowship with Him means to walk in the light, or to act obediently. Only the righteous, those who do as He commands, can live in harmony with God and His people (cf. Ps. 24:3–4).

Even as forgiven and redeemed people, we cannot claim perfection. We still commit sins. To think differently is self-deception (1:10). We must confess our sins to God. Confes-sion implies both facing and turning away from-- admitting, then abandoning our offenses against God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you wish, make a creative response to today’s devotional. Write out or role-play a brief drama of confession, that is, of a person confessing his sins to God. You can invent a situation that is either general or specific or re-imagine one modeled on a biblical narrative. In any case, remember to include a third character--Christ as the sinner’s Advocate (2:1).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 51:1-17
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. - Psalm 51:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
In Reliving the Passion, author Walter Wangerin questioned whether the reasons for a particular sin matter.

Does the motive of a sin--its rationale, its reasons--make it any less a sin? Isn’t the betrayal of the sovereignty of the Lord in our lives always a sin, regardless of the factors that drove us to betray Him? Yes! Yet we habitually defend ourselves and diminish our fault by referring to reasons why we “had to” do it. We sinners are so backward that we try to justify ourselves by some condition which preceded the sin.

To rationalize sin is to justify oneself, protecting and holding onto sin. But to see sin as God does is to repent in brokenness of heart, allowing His forgiveness to cleanse us.

The background for today’s reading is King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah (see 2 Sam. 11–12). His eventual confession prompted by a confrontation with the prophet Nathan is recorded here.

Where did David begin in his confession? He began with God. His confession showed great faith in God’s character: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (v. 1). He trusted in God’s power to forgive sin--to blot it out and wash the sinner clean. Hyssop symbolized ritual cleansing under the Law (v. 7). The king’s confession also demonstrated spiritual brokenness. He understood how much he offended God; in fact, he couldn’t forget it. He grieved deeply over what he’d done--it was as though his bones had been crushed. He acknowledged the justice of God’s punishment, which is no light statement considering that the penalty of his sin was the death of his baby son (v. 4). He also acknowledged his general sinful condition (v. 5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Which verse in Psalm 51 impressed you the most? Why? Which of David’s attitudes did you find most convicting? Why? How can you apply these biblical truths to your life today?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 19:7-14
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. - Psalm 19:13a
TODAY IN THE WORD
How does God convict us of our sins? His Holy Spirit might speak directly to our hearts, bringing to mind a sinful attitude or action we need to confess. We might feel convicted of sin by reading Scripture or by taking in a Scripture-based sermon or book. A friend or family member might confront us about sin they’ve noticed in our life. Or by contrast with the words or actions of another person, we might see clearly that we ourselves have fallen short of God’s standards. These are some of the means the Lord can use to reveal our sin to us and bring us to repentance.

In today’s reading, David fell under conviction of sin. At first glance, we might wonder how the verses in this psalm connect--from creation to Scripture to confession of sin? Actually, these ideas link up quite naturally--from God’s revelation in nature, to God’s revelation of Scripture, to a sense of how we fall short of these revelations of God.

The Bible is perfect, flawless, truthful, and completely trustworthy. It shows us God’s wisdom and moral law. In doing so, it gives us pleasure and joy. Its contents are of incalculable value and are a sure foundation on which to build our lives. These qualities of God’s Word bring life to us.

Our proper response is worship. Given that Scripture is all that the psalmist says it is, the God who authored it must be worthy of our total submission and obedience. But who can make this perfect response? No one can, so it’s no surprise that conviction of sin follows in the psalm.

David asked forgiveness for both known and unknown sins. In regard to the former, he asked to be shielded against temptation--that God’s power would protect him from sins that would control his life. The latter was in keeping with Old Testament provisions for unintentional sin, and the fact that such sin has no excuse (vv. 12–13; cf. Ps. 90:.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
In Psalm 19, David asked forgiveness for “hidden faults.” Many traditions confess “sins of omission” in addition to sins of attitude and action. What sins do you confess? Do you wait for something big or obvious before you fall on your knees? Do you not bother confessing “nitpicky” sins? Or do you confess to ask God to root out all that displeases Him? Examine your heart today. Ask God to reveal to you both the intentional and unintentional sins you’ve committed against Him and be attuned to how He speaks to you by His Word, His Holy Spirit, and His people.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 130:1-8
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. - Psalm 130:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
Last summer, a nondenominational British Christian radio station started a Web site at which visitors confess their sins. First, people read Scriptures about what sin is, its consequences, and how to repent. Next, they type in their confession, or they may choose a pre-prepared confessional statement. Personal confessions are confidential and are completely erased from memory as soon as visitors proceed to the next step. At the end, there are more Bible readings, an opportunity for reflection, and a final prayer. The site has had millions of visitors since its launch. Still, one wonders why people choose to talk to a computer rather than to God. Clicking on a forward arrow seems to skip entirely the intensity of waiting for forgiveness that’s seen in today’s psalm.

Psalm 130 is a “song of ascents”--a worship song intended for use on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. It can be divided into four couplets. The first is a cry for God’s mercy. The second conveys that though we stand justly condemned, we can rely upon His forgiveness and love. The third couplet describes an intense period of waiting for forgiveness, and the fourth admonishes all Israel to trust in God in this same way.

By “waiting,” we don’t imply that God is toying with our emotions. “Waiting” in this case means waiting with eagerness and hope--not wishful hope but sure hope. God will answer, His mercy and forgiveness will arrive, and the joy of fellowship will return. The psalmist is like a watchman waiting for a certain sunrise (cf. Isa. 52:8; Lam. 3:25–26).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today or sometime soon, make room in your schedule for an extended time of confession before the Lord. Make sure you choose a time and place where you won’t be disturbed. Take your Bible and perhaps some notes with you, and resolve to “do business with God.”

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 32:1-11
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. - Psalm 32:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Forgiveness is good for you. Several recent studies have shown links between forgiving others and mental and physical health. Vengeful people, for example, place themselves at higher risk for cardiovascular problems. Anger and depression resulting from unforgiveness put the body under tremendous stress; chronic stress weakens the immune system and can lead to other physical disorders. Unforgiveness also increases the chances of a heart attack, cancer, high blood pressure, and other illnesses. But forgiveness can help lower depression, anxiety, and stress. It reduces blood pressure, decreases heart rate, and helps one sleep better at night. Letting go of hurts and offenses reduces the burden on both mind and body.

Researchers are finding what believers have long known: Forgiveness is a rich blessing. To confess and be forgiven is a righteous pleasure. Since we know that God delights to forgive (see October 1), we can be sure that He intends for us to delight in it as well!

Today’s reading describes the exuberance of being forgiven. The sequence is simple: when we confess, God will surely forgive our sins (v. 5). When our sins are forgiven, we will surely experience joy and blessing. “Blessed” (v. 1) has been said to mean, “Oh, how very happy!” By contrast, before the psalmist confessed, he labored under heavy conviction. His silence, an implicit attempt to deceive God about the truth of his sin, was a burden. The language David used here is extreme--he groaned continuously, his strength was sapped, and his bones wasted away--so extreme that some commentators believe he endured a physical illness. He suffered because he wouldn’t acknowledge his sin before God.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Psalm 32 is traditionally known as one of the “seven penitential psalms.” If you wish, read another of these psalms as a supplementary Scripture reading today. We’re reading three of them already this month, but you might choose Psalm 6, 38, 102, or 143.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 86:1-17
You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. - Psalm 86:5
TODAY IN THE WORD
In 1972, the missionary aviation organization JAARS suffered its first fatal accident. Seven people died, including the pilot, when their twin-engine Piper Aztec crashed in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. The reason? A single nut had not been properly tightened during a routine inspection, and the resulting spray of gasoline caused a fire. The experienced mechanic at fault was overwhelmed by guilt: “The sight of those caskets lined up in the little open-sided tropical church hit me like a blow to the stomach. . . . How could I face my friends? How could I face myself? I was overwhelmed with guilt. I was a failure.”

Fortunately, the families of those who had died extended forgiveness to their brother, and slowly the pain healed. He later said: “Except for God’s grace I’d be somewhere cowering in a corner in guilt-ridden despair--the eighth fatality of the Aztec crash. . . . Praise God, it isn’t so!”

That JAARS mechanic experienced true forgiveness--the blessing of God’s lovingkindness as extended by His people. The joy we feel upon being forgiven is a direct result of His goodness to and presence with us. What could be better?

Psalm 86 begins with a prayer for help. David desperately needed God’s power and mercy. He didn’t ask based on his merit or his position as king but based on who God is: forgiving (or “ready to forgive,” NASB), good, and abounding in love (v. 5). “Good” carries the idea that He’ll graciously give us something to cheer us, delight us, and work to our benefit. Forgiveness does all this!

Forgiveness is at the heart of our relationship with God. Ever since the Fall, humans have been sinning and repenting, and God has been redeeming, forgiving, and restoring. Such mercy and grace best show His character (vv. 13, 15). In response to these truths, David proclaimed God’s greatness and His worthiness to be worshiped as well as our responsibility to obey and glorify Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Do you think you’ve done something unforgivable? “Surely God could never forgive me. After all, what I did was so horrible . . . ” Such thoughts are a lie of Satan--he wants you to believe that God’s love is less than it is.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 65:1-13
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! - Psalm 65:4a
TODAY IN THE WORD
Studying the book of Romans before his conversion, Martin Luther felt unable to find peace with God: “My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would assuage Him.” At last he found the answer. “I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before the 'justice of God’ had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love.”

In short, Luther had finally understood that God forgives! Salvation is not about “merit” but mercy. His feelings--of being reborn or of entering paradise--parallel the psalmist’s in today’s reading.

The first two verses frame this psalm of praise. Verses 5–8 describe God’s awesome power over nature and nations, and verses 9–13 conclude with images of God’s blessing. These references to fertility and abundance give people more reasons to worship, even as creation itself joins in.

Our focus is on verses 3–4. What’s the human condition? We’re overwhelmed by sin, unable to help ourselves. We’ve been defeated. What’s the solution? “You forgave our transgressions” or “You made atonement for our transgressions,” (v. 3, NIV). As we’ve seen throughout this month, God’s forgiving love comes to the rescue.

Since forgiveness is part of God’s nature, when He forgives, we experience His presence and rejoice in it. The psalmist used a metaphor of living in the Lord’s house (cf. Ps. 23:6; 84:1–4). To be forgiven means to be loved means to be chosen. We who have been chosen by God join His family. He’s personally present in our lives, filling them with good things. To be “filled” means to be sated or saturated, that is, fully satisfied.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
With all the psalms we’ve been reading this week, perhaps you’d like to try writing one of your own. In your spiritual journal, or as a poem, why not write out a psalm of confession and forgiveness?