Psalm 51
Have mercy on me according to your love - not according to what I deserve in my sin.
I spoke with a mother once (who had a very large family) and asked her if she had trouble with her children complaining about things "Not being fair." I hear that a lot especially among children, but it isn't only children, we all have this sense of things not being fair or a desire for things to go as we want without regard for what other people might think or even what the truth is or reality dictates.
This mother said something in response to my question that I think we all need to remember - especially me when I think things are not fair-for whatever reason. She said that her kids know that God is gracious and they are blessed that He doesn't treat them fairly. We have all read these passages and see where God calls us to holiness and to love him first, and others as we would ourselves, but we all know how far we fall short of that command. If God treated us as we 'deserve' according to the law, we would be ruined; wretched as we are, we would deserve death.
David in this prayer acknowledges his own shortcomings and, if we remember the incidents we know they are great! He caused a man to be killed just because he lusted after the man's wife! What wretchedness and treachery. And yet...the Lord hears his cry of repentance, sees David's turning from that villainy and making a new start - again - according to God's law.
This is good news. God does NOT treat us fairly; He treats us out of love. We should do this ourselves, I think.
See you tomorrow.
-love maggie
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