Hello, my friend. So often we wonder how far can we trust the Lord. We are all familiar with Proverbs 3:5,6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Yet we drift along, thinking about Him occasionally, praying now and then, but find ourselves pretty fully preoccupied with the job, the family, the social whirl around us. And David, frankly, who obviously was busy with the vast affairs of his kingdom, says today, in PSALM 17:3, “Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing. I have resolved that my heart will not sin.” What an amazing, challenging statement!
Now that seems almost arrogant, David intending to live a life with sinless intention.
We have often heard that the way of a man cannot be sinless perfection, but sinless intention. Sinless perfection would be to live a faultless life, which we know would be impossible and we are never once told that God expects this. But even sinless intention seems a pretty tough commitment, and we find so many excuses why such an intention would be impractical. After all, we reason that we’re living in a flawed world, with so much shifting in focus and even blurred integrity.
But this is really what it’s all about. And we say, how can this be possible? Notice the Psalmist refers to parts of his body, Here in PSALM 17: his lips (expressing convictions) vs.2, his heart (the seat of emotion) vs. 3, his steps and feet (the expression of direction) vs. 5. It is not a coincidence that Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord (or Owner), and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’” The heart, convictions; the mouth, the spoken confession. Both of them in healthy condition to glorify God.
You notice how in vs. 10, he describes the contrast to unbelievers who ‘close up their callous hearts and their mouths speak with arrogance.’ And the Psalmist describes the way the Lord can deliver him from all evil, if his heart is right and his lips are full of God’s praise. That last vs.15 is so good… “I, in righteousness, will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” I take this very seriously; David is simply declaring that beholding the face of the God in His Word, through the day, will enable him to reflect God’s glory when he awakens to go into a world full of need, of hurt, of betrayal and suffering. What a challenge for you and me to go forth displaying Christ’s likeness today, wherever, however, whenever!
“Thank you, Lord, for this reminder that in this world we are like you, as the Apostle John tells us there in I John 4:17, and as the Apostle Paul says, there in 2 Corinthians 3:29 that we can ‘reflect your glory… being transformed into Your likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.’ Bless my friend who is alongside, even as we pray for any in very urgent need. Thank you, Lord.”
And thank you, friend, for your fellowship. Such a blessing to have you come along. Praise the Lord. Cheerio.
Village Schools of the Bible 