Longing for a New Start
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Jeff Mattesich
- Psalm 51
- Modern Longings – Ancient Words: The Psalms and Our Deepest Desires
- 43 mins 34 secs
- Views: 704
Questions for Reflection
Psalm 51
- Psalm 51 is a very personal reflection of one person’s struggle with sin before God and with God. When was the last time you felt something strongly in your personal relationship with God? Was it about sin or something else?
- In verse 4, the psalmist says that they have sinned against God only. Who is affected most by the sin in our lives?
- Look at the psalmist’s requests to God in verses 7-15. Which of these can you relate to the most? Which can you relate to the least?
- What does it mean to have “a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart”? What might this look like if it were true for you?
- What about your relationship to God and with God do you need reminding of the most this week? Are there any spiritual practices that might help keep that truth in mind
Study Notes
Psalm 51: Longing for a New Start
Do you ever wish you could have a life mulligan? A mulligan being the golf term that allows for a stroke to not be counted. When you take a bad swing and can pretend it never happened. In fact, you can just put down a new ball right away and start over. Have you ever wanted to be able to do this with life? With words you have said or choices you have made?
I have. In fact, I have bene thinking some lately about my 20 years serving at Lake Ave Church and the many moments I would love to have a do-over. The conversations I would do differently, the reactions I would control better, and the many times I served from my own sense of strength and conviction rather than the Lord’s.
December 2007 was one I think about often. When my emotions took over and while at Winter Camp when I inappropriately and immaturely reacted and responded to a high school student in ways that shamed him in front of his friends and peers. I will remember that moment forever and I will also hold the grace and kindness of that same student who was able to forgive me years later when I apologized.
I have more. And because you and I are both human, you have more too. Because part of being human both the reality of our sinful nature that hurts ourselves and others – but paired right next to the reality of the sin, is the longing for a new start, for forgiveness, for freedom.
Our longing is connected to all of human history, and as we have been looking at this summer, the Psalms are an ancient text that still speak to our modern longings and today we will look at Psalm 51 and the longing for a new start. To want the new start, we need to acknowledge what we want a new start from. Psalm 51 has been so helpful to me in this regard, and I pray it will be for you as well.
Context of the Psalms and of Psalm 51
The Psalms:
- Wisdom Books: human beings expressing to God what it is like to live in God’s world. The human experience of following God.
- Full expression is communicated: joy, lament, thanksgiving, fear, blame, trust, lack of faith, full of faith…
- Poetry: human expressions / art.
Psalm 51:
- A Psalm of Penitence (regret and sorrow for what one has done against God, repentance)
- Superscription gives us context: David after Nathan confronts him for sleeping with Bathsheba and having her husband Uriah killed.
- This is the context of regret and sorrow of the Psalm)
- This is the motivation in the poetry – the words written come from the human experience of having done something wrong, regretting them, and now desiring what we all desire – a clean start, forgiveness, and freedom from what one has done.
How do we study this part of the Bible? How do we study art? For me: I have attempted to be saturated in the art and have found a few themes, a few movements of the Psalm that can help us address the desire and longing for the fresh start.
Psalm 51 is an ancient expression that can be our expression too. How we talk to God when we have done wrong and we desire to for the new start, the forgiveness and freedom that God offers.
There are 3 Movements of Psalm 51: Self-Awareness, Knowledge of God and God’s Ways, and Forward Commitments.
First:
- Self-Awareness (1-6)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
- For David to be self-aware he needed his friend Nathan to show him his sin in 2 Samuel 12:7, “You are the man”.
- Once confronted with sin, the Psalmist shows their awareness of their sin and they are not hiding from them.
- Our world, when confronted with sin, justification and excuse can be our reactions. We see none of this in Psalm 51. We see someone not blaming others nor blaming God at all. We see a self-aware man who knows what they have done.
- Dr. John Goldingay’s commentary on this has been helpful, he suggests 3 areas of awareness of the Psalmist.
Aware of Rebellion (1, 3, 13)
- Image of a child and parent, when the child knows what is expected and willingly chooses to go in a different direction away from how they have been raised.
- Refusal and denial of what is right, what is expected.
Aware of Waywardness (2,5,9)
- Our translation today uses the words “Iniquity” in verses 2 and 9 and “sinful” in verse 5.
- These words all communicate the same idea of waywardness – which is a word we do not often use these days.
- It communicates the idea of deliberately choosing the wrong. Not mindless sin, but intentional sin and intentional choices to go against the ways of God.
Aware of Failure (2-5, 9, 13)
- Consistent throughout the Psalm, remember the superscription…
- Speaks to the moral sin, the moral failure to human beings but links that moral failure to failure to God.
- Verse 4: Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight;”
- Awareness that sin to other people is rooted in sin to God.
- We can apologize to others more easily than we can apologize to God… because we are mindful of seeing that person or wondering what they think about us. Do we think the same way about God?
Self-Awareness of Rebellion, Waywardness, and Failure. And the poetry moves in verses 5 and 6 to fully own it all. “I was sinful at birth” and “you desired faithfulness”
Superscription can thwart us… our human nature might read this as a Psalm for really really bad people. People who give into lust, get another woman pregnant, and have her husband killed. This Psalm is for them, and not for me. Notice that the Psalmist never speaks about the specific sin and this Psalm made our Bible. It is not just this Psalmist who needs to be aware of their rebellion to God, their waywardness away from God, and their moral failures to God himself – for this Psalm is for Israel as well – because they also have done all these things too… and beyond them, this Psalm is for me… for you… and for us. Because we too must become aware of the ways in which we sin, the ways in which we choose away from God.
But to be self-aware of sin, we have to be aware of who God is, the standard we are reflecting against. So, the second movement of the Psalm is:
- Knowledge of God and God’s Ways (7-12)
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
God Cleanses Our Sin (7,9)
- Cleanse white as snow: not a landscape image but a laundry one
- Scrubbing clean, abrasive image not a magical disappearance image
God Speaks Forgiveness (8)
- We all need to hear “you are alright”
- Story: with Jenny after a heated discussion, “are we okay?” YES
- God does this…Let me hear your joy and gladness!
God Creates and Recreates Us (10-12)
- New act of creation (10)
- Spiritual presence (11)
- Spiritual support (12)
The final movement of the Psalm is what
- Forward Commitments (13-19)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar
Commitment to Proclamation (13-15)
- Publicly sharing about who God is and what is has done (His Ways)
Commitment to Devotion (16-19)
- True devotion away from institutional religion to being a humble person following God (broken spirit and contrite heart)
Application Questions
- Do you have regular space for self-reflection?
- Life is full and fast, where is the space to reflect?
- Space to own your sin?
- Voices to help you?
- Are you growing in your love for God AND God’s Ways?
- We can know something true about God and yet, not know his ways
- Bachelor show this week: I have had sex and Jesus loves me
- TRUE statement but, does not acknowledge God’s Ways
- What have you learned lately? Unlearned lately?
- How is God growing you, challenging you?
- Difference between youth ministry and what I do now: teenagers want challenge… want growth… want to see how Jesus changes and challenges everything. Adults struggle to want this and can push against it… their knowledge of God is formed and full.
- What are your commitments to God moving forward?
Forward Commitments are declarations of what life is about… from Psalm 51 we see that life is about proclamation of God and devotion to God. Do you know what your life is about? Do you know what following God is about?
- Do you hear Psalm 51 for yourself or someone else in your life?
Blame world. We look at others more than the mirror. We can spend more time thinking about who we know needs Psalm 51 than reading it for ourselves.
Chinese Translation
詩篇 51: 渴望從頭開始
Jeff Mattesich 牧師 7/21/2019
你曾否希望生活可以像高爾夫球加擊一樣？ 加擊作為高爾夫球的一個術語 ，允許你重打不好的球擊，就好像壞球不曾打過一樣，馬上再放一個新球，重來一遍。 你是否希望生活也可以這樣。一些你曾經說過的話，做過的決定可以重來一次。
我有。其實最近我思想20多年在湖邊教會的事奉，許多的時候我真希望能夠重新來過一遍。有一些的話我可以說的不一樣，有一些反應我可以不那麼衝動，而且許多的時候我的服事不是處於神，而是出於個人的力量和自以為是。
我常想到2007年冬令會發生的一件事。我用一種有欠合宜和成熟的方式回應一位高中生，當著他朋友和同伴人面前羞辱了他。我永遠都記得那個時刻，幾年後我向他道歉，這位學生給我的恩典和良善我永遠心存。
還有很多這樣的事，因為你我都是人，你也會有。 作為人，我們有罪的現實既傷害自己也傷害別人－與罪比鄰的現實是我們渴慕得著赦免和自由，一個新的開始。
人的渴慕連接所有的人類歷史，今夏透過詩篇古老的經文對現代人的渴慕說話，今天我們看詩篇51 ，渴慕一個新的起頭。要想有個新的開始，必須認識從哪開始。我的禱告是你也如此。
詩篇51的背景
詩篇：
- 智慧書：人類對神的表達，在神的世界中生活應該像什麼樣
- 全然的表達：喜樂，哀傷，感恩，懼怕，羞愧，信靠，缺乏信靠，滿懷信靠…
- 詩歌：人類的表達／藝術
詩篇51：
- 悔罪的詩歌（ 後悔，對神悖逆的悲傷，悔罪）
- 詩篇的細字標題給我們的背景說明： 拿單指出大衛與拔示巴同室，並殺了她的丈夫烏利亞人的罪
- 這是悔罪和詩篇悲傷的背景
- 詩歌的動機–寫出人類對做錯事的經歷，懺悔寫出我們共同的渴望－一個清潔的開頭，得蒙赦免，從過去所做的事情中得以自由。
這段聖經要怎麼讀。詩篇要怎樣學習： 我是試著將自己浸透在幾個主題上，按照聖經中的幾個主題發展來幫助我們面對從新起頭的渴慕。
詩篇51 是個古老的表達，我們也一樣。我們做錯事的時候，怎樣向神表達從頭來過的渴望，從神而來的赦免和自由。
詩篇51 中的三個主題發展；自我 意識，神的知識和道路，前瞻性的委身
首先:
- 自我意識Self-Awareness (1-6)
1 神啊，求你按你的慈愛憐恤我，按你豐盛的慈悲塗抹我的過犯！
2 求你將我的罪孽洗除淨盡，並潔除我的罪！3 因為我知道我的過犯，我的罪常在我面前。4 我向你犯罪，唯獨得罪了你，在你眼前行了這惡，以致你責備我的時候顯為公義，判斷我的時候顯為清正。5 我是在罪孽裡生的，在我母親懷胎的時候就有了罪。6 你所喜愛的是內裡誠實，你在我隱密處必使我得智慧。神啊，求你按你的慈愛憐恤我，按你豐盛的慈悲塗抹我的過犯！
- 對大衛來說，自我意識來自朋友拿單向他坦言他所犯的罪，見 撒母耳記下12:7 “你就是那人” 。
- 面對罪的挑戰，詩人表達對罪的意識，並不躲避。
- 而我們的世界在面對罪的挑戰的時候，乃是自我辯解，找理由來推脫責任，詩篇51篇看見的是我們不責備人也不責備神。自我意識的人清醒自己所做的事。
- Dr. John Goldingay’s 對此處的釋經很有幫助，他建議看詩人三個方面的意識
叛逆的意識(1, 3, 13)
- 想像一個孩子和父母，當一個孩子明明知道父母的期待，決意選擇走一條與他們從小教導相反的道路。
- 拒絕並且否定父母期待他們走的正確的路
背道而馳的意識(2,5,9)
- 現今的翻譯，第2，9 和5節中用“罪孽”這個字。這些字眼都表達出一個同樣的意思就是背道而馳 – 是我們現今中不常使用的字。
- 表達一個決意選擇錯誤的意思。不在意罪，故意的犯罪和故意的選擇走背離神的道路。
失敗的意識 (2-5, 9, 13)
- 貫穿詩篇一致性，記住細字標題。。。
- 對道德意義上的罪，人類道德的失敗，但是這種人類道德上的失敗是與人對神的虧欠連在一起
- 第4節: “ 我向你犯罪，唯獨得罪了你，在你眼前行了這惡；” 意識到對人犯罪深深根植在對神冒犯的罪中。
- 向人道歉要比向神道歉容易的多。人在意看的見的人，心想人家會怎樣想我們。對神我們也如此在意祂怎樣看我們嗎？
自我叛逆的意識，背道而馳和失敗的意識。 詩篇接著往5節6節更加全面的承認“ 我在罪孽裡生的”，“你所喜愛的是內裏誠實”
詩篇51 的細緻標題會給人錯覺，人的天性在讀這詩篇的時候覺得這是給罪大惡極的人的。人對欲望的妥協，導致女人懷孕，殺了她的丈夫。 詩篇是寫給這樣的人，不是寫給我的。注意詩篇不是寫個別的罪，而是構成整本的聖經。不僅是詩人需要意識他對神的叛逆，背離神，對神在道義上的失敗－而是這詩篇也是對以色列人說的－他們也同樣行事。不但他們，也是對你，對我們。。。因為我們也要意識到我們犯罪的路， 在其中我們選擇離開神。
但是對罪孽的意識需要我們認識神是誰和反思的標準。接著，第二個詩篇的發展是：
- 認識神和神的道路 (7-12)
7 求你用牛膝草潔淨我，我就乾淨；求你洗滌我，我就比雪更白。
8 求你使我得聽歡喜快樂的聲音，使你所壓傷的骨頭可以踴躍。9 求你掩面不看我的罪，塗抹我一切的罪孽。10 神啊，求你為我造清潔的心，使我裡面重新有正直 a的靈。11 不要丟棄我，使我離開你的面，不要從我收回你的聖靈。12 求你使我仍得救恩之樂，賜我樂意的靈扶持我。
神潔淨我們的罪孽 (7,9)
- 洗淨白如雪：不是一道風光而是洗滌
- 刷乾淨，洗得潔淨的形象，不是神奇一般消失的形象
神呼出赦免 (8)
- 我們都需要確信“ 一切都好”
- 故事：和Jenny一場激烈的討論之後 “ 我們都好吧？”是的
- 神如此成就…讓我們聽歡喜快樂在其中的聲音
神創造和重新創造我們 (10-12)
- 創造新行動 (10)
- 聖靈的同在 (11)
- 聖靈的支持 (12)
詩篇最後的發展是帶著：
- 前瞻性的委身 (13-19)
13 我就把你的道指教有過犯的人，罪人必歸順你。14 神啊，你是拯救我的神，求你救我脫離流人血的罪，我的舌頭就高聲歌唱你的公義。15 主啊，求你使我嘴唇張開，我的口便傳揚讚美你的話。16 你本不喜愛祭物，若喜愛，我就獻上，燔祭你也不喜悅。17 神所要的祭就是憂傷的靈，神啊，憂傷痛悔的心，你必不輕看。18 求你隨你的美意善待錫安，建造耶路撒冷的城牆。19 那時，你必悅納公義的祭、燔祭和全牲的燔祭；那時，人必把公牛獻在你的祭壇上
宣告性的委身(13-15)
- 對外分享神是誰，神所做的（ 祂的道路）
默想的委身 (16-19)
- 真正的默想是從宗教體制轉身成為一個跟隨神的謙卑的一個人（憂傷的靈，破碎痛悔的心）
應用的問題：
- 你有否保持固定的自我反思的空間?
- 生活日程排滿滿，日子匆匆，哪裏有反思的空間？
- 承認自己的罪的空間?
- 幫助你的聲音？
- 你在對神的愛和神的道路上身量有所增長嗎？
- 我們可以認識有關神的道德知識但是對神的道路不認識
- 本週單身人士一幕：過性生活和耶穌愛我
- 聲明是對的，但是不認同耶穌的道路
- 最近你得著什麼？還沒有得著的是什麼？
- 神 如何使你成長， 挑戰你？
- 青少年事工和我現在的工作的不同在於 ： 青少年需要挑戰和成長，渴望看見耶穌改變和挑戰一切。。。但成人對改變的想法都掙扎，抵觸。他們對神的認識形成固定的模式，滿得裝不進去。
- 你對神有何委身向前行？
前瞻性的委身宣告你的生活到底為甚麼 …從詩篇51 我們看見這樣的生活都是為著宣告神和對神的默想。你知道你的生活是為什麼嗎？ 你知道跟隨神是為什麼嗎？
- 你聽見詩篇51 對你說話還是對你生命中其他的人說話？
責備世界。我們看別人比鏡子還清楚。人可以花許多的時間思想我們曉得哪些人需要讀詩篇51， 而不是讀給自己聽。
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