Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
I’m here to say sorry…again S30e178
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Saying I'm Sorry is one of the greatest of life-skills.
Our hero/knucklehead David does this regularly before the Lord. He has the skill, but what is it based on?
He understands something about God that gives him access to the throne, over and over and over. Listen. Comment. See if you agree.
https://youtu.be/ncimFPQyDys
I’m here to say sorry…again S30e178
40 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!
I am in the mind of God
BIG ASK: If you knew that you were in the mind of God, what would change?
Your prayers would change. Actions. Everything would change
If I knew that I AM IN THE MIND OF GOD then I’d fill my mind more of God-
Fill your mind of God, because He has you in His mind. He’s inclined towards you.
BIG CALL: Incline yourself towards HIM, because He’s Inclined toward you
Lean on Him because He leans towads you
Stretch towards Him because He’s stretched toward you.
THE Lord takes thought for me: thinks, holds me in thought, considers, the lord thinks of me, and values me and then acts for me.
The Lord leans in. Gives ear, thinks of me. And then acts for me.
For every ACTION of the Lord, there is a corresponding and preexisting thought of God
For every answer of God, there is His first listening to the question
To answer a prayer, He first has to HEAR, and care and lean in
v. 1 He Inclined to me and heard my cry
geographical God, anatomical God
Before God ACTS, He leans
Before God INTERVENES He inclines toward
Before God saves He stretches toward
Before God bears burdens He bends toward
Before the Lord ACTs he avails Himself toward
Before He launches out He leans in
Before He takes action He takes thought… OF ME
Make no mistake, ps 40 is a call for help. For deliverance
Yes He’s going to intervene, act, defend, thwart, deliver, respond, turn back, put to shame adversaries, give mercy to the unworthy act with steadfast love to the uncooperative
BUT BEFORE ALL THAT, He has to THINK about us. 1
he inclined to me and heard my cry. THE LORD BENDS
17
but the Lord takes thought for me. THOUGHT OF ME. ON MY BEHALF.
For every ACTION of the Lord, there is a corresponding and preexisting thought of God
So what about our part in the actions of spiritual growth.
Returen to repentance. Of Ps 51 the I’m sorry psalm.
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head
He asks and relies upon the steadfast love when he himself has not been very holy.
.David is saying: I take note that there are external evils that seek to put me away from the Lord. For this he asks that they will be disappointed, turned back and dishonored. Essentially, he prays that his enemies will be thwarted in their intent.
BUT This is the curious part that sets David apart
But David also admits to being a part of the problem:
MY iniquities have overtakenme. I cannot just blame the other bad guys. My heart fails me, not just because of the enemy without, but the enemy within. For this David only asks for mercy. Only for steadfast love when he himself has not been very holy.
David has spiritual cheekiness and where does he get it?
He understands the holiness of God
How can God do this? This is at least one of the Genius of David.
He is a great I’m sorry.
But why: because He understands the character of God. The steadfast love of God even with a wobbly, unfaithful and frankly sinful people
How can you walk back into the throne room and say to God, whoops, I did it again?
Please do it because of Hesed. Steadfast love, faithfulness
BE PLEASED to do it because of Hesed. Steadfast love, faithfulness
One day, there will be no more sin. We will eventually live with Him in endless, sinless days. But today is not yet that day!
This is one of David’s superpowers: asking forgiveness.
We could learn from David:
Why is it that God is more comfortable with forgiving sins than we are admitting sin, recognizing it and verbalizing it, confess before Him
If God had to find some sin in your life, where would you encourage Him to look? Under what rock would you tell Him to look?
Let’s go to God in repentance and asking of forgiveness
But let’s know WHY: Because of what God is like.