This psalm shows us the key to a joyful Christian life.
We are sinners from birth, it is in our DNA and leads to destruction and despair.
But there is a path to joy — and that is true and regular repentance.
Tim Keller has at least six sermons on this important psalm, but I’m choosing one he gave later in life, when his congregation was more grounded in Scripture, as at least the regular participators on this blog are. He delves into the signs of genuine repentance, the key to daily victory.
Last week my granddaughters Sadie and Claire were baptized at my home with 20 family members witnessing, her Pastor Grandfather presiding, and my daughter Sally and her husband doing the “dunking.” The picture of dying to self by going under that water and rising to live for Him is such a picture of what our daily life should be. I love the joy when one comes out of the water, which is a picture of how true repentance leads to true joy.
In all of his sermons, Keller stresses genuine repentance that leads to joy.
I think of the joy I felt as a new Christian when I knew I’d been truly forgiven. How we need Him to “restore the joy of our salvation” and that can only come through true repentance.
In another sermon on Psalm 51 from Keller, he says, “If you are not filled with joy after repentance, you have not truly repented.”
Below: Sermon Link (Video and Audio) and transcript
https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/reality-forgive-us-our-debts/
I do encourage you to listen or watch for he was such a gifted speaker, and then the transcript is a great reminder of what he said:
Sunday:
1. What stands out to you from above? Share a time you truly repented and experienced God’s joy.
2. Share a “God Hunt” from this week.
Monday: The Text
Uriah was one of David’s mighty men who risked his life for him.
3. Read 11 Samuel 11-12 and share anything that stands out and explain why.
4, Read 1 Kings 15:5. Thoughts?
5. Read Psalm 51:1-5
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.
A. In verse 1 David uses these 3 words to describe the Lord’s love that He longs to have “blot out his transgressions. Take each of them and define them:
1) Mercy
2) Unfailing love
3) Compassion
B. In verses 2-3, he uses 3 words to describe sin. Take each and define. (The Blue Letter Bible online is one good resource.)
1) Transgressions
2) Iniquity
3) Sin
In another sermon, it was eye-opening to me that transgressions, also translated trespasses, is when you know something is wrong (No Trespassing!) but do it anyway. David, in his heart, must have known this wrong but justified it somehow. This has made me think — I know overeating is wrong, I know manipulative comments are wrong, so when I do it anyhow it is the worst kind of sin — rebellion, which is as witchcraft in God’s eyes!
6. What do you think David says “against you and you only have I sinned”?
7. What does it mean that we are sinful from birth?
Tuesday: One Thing You Must Stop Doing
What if I told you that there was a process and no matter how much you blew up your life, if you used this process, there would be a way to come out the other side, to get through it, or no matter how broken your life is, if you used this process, there was a way for you to come out whole. Would you be interested? You say, “Of course I’d be interested.” Well, here it is. It’s what the Bible calls repentance. (Tim Keller)
David’s life was destroyed, but he came through. Karla Faye Tucker, high on cocaine, brutally murdered two people who were sleeping with an axe. Yet Christ transformed her. She “stole” a Bible in prison, began reading in a corner where no one would see her, and soon was weeping, on her knees, realizing how she hurt people yet sensing God’s forgiveness and love. If you haven’t read her story, do!
8. Read this section (after listening) and share what stands out and why.
9. What one thing must we stop doing?
10. Give an example from your life of when you knew in your heart something was wrong but you justified it so you could do it.
11. What was the point of the St. Augustine story?
Wednesday: The First Thing You Must Start Doing
12. What is the first thing you must stop doing according to Keller?
13. How does Psalm 51:4 illustrate this?
14. Think of a sin you truly repented of against another of against God or both. A full confession should take full responsibility without blaming another, and I think, should list the harm you brought with your sin, and a request for forgiveness. This may be hard, but try to do it as you did in the past or in the present.
15. What else stood out from this section and why?
Thursday: The Second Thing You Must Start Doing
16. Give examples of doubling in Scripture that show great emotion, as in Psalm 51:4 and other places.
17. Full renunciation. How does Keller explain the “against You and You only” since David also sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah?
18. What is always the sin beneath the sin?
19. What did Augustine come to see?
20. What was the point of Keller’s story of marital counseling?
Friday: The Power to Do It
21. What two things did Derek Kidner say we need to understand to have the power to truly repent?
22. Think of an idol that besets you. It isn’t enough to stop it, what must you trust about God? Give a specific example.
23. What does “chesed” mean to you? Why will we never be cast out of God’s presence?
24. What else stood out from this section and why?
Saturday:
25. What is your take-a-way and why?
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Thursday:
16. Give examples of doubling in Scripture that show great emotion, as in Psalm 51:4 and other places. Jesus o the cross when He said “My God, my God why have you forsaken me.”
17. Full renunciation. How does Keller explain the “against You and You only” since David also sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah? That its hyperbole, that fundamentally its really against God first, because every sin has its root in that sin that is directed against God.
18. What is always the sin beneath the sin? Rebellion or rejection of God.
19. What did Augustine come to see? That self absorption is the heart of sin.
20. What was the point of Keller’s story of marital counseling? That self pity, or not liking the consequence of your sin is not the same as repentance.
Friday: The Power to Do It
21. What two things did Derek Kidner say we need to understand to have the power to truly repent? The truth of our complete unworthiness, and a confidence that we belong to Christ.
22. Think of an idol that besets you. It isn’t enough to stop it, what must you trust about God? Give a specific example. When I am feeling overwhelmed emotionally or vunerable, I turn to social media and short videos, or more to the point I don’t turn from them. I must trust that God will help me to feel my feelings and be with me in the processing of them. That God is enough to balance my feelings.
23. What does “chesed” mean to you? Why will we never be cast out of God’s presence? Chesed means to me unshakeable love, We won’t be cast out because Jesus stayed on the cross, because He was cast out on my behalf.
24. What else stood out from this section and why? That either I kill the besetting sin, or the besetting sin will kill me. It stands out because the truth of how I numb my emotional upheavals or rollercoaster rides, the how, the disobedience will separate me from the one who can heal, the one who can rescue.
Saturday:
25. What is your take-a-way and why? That repentance is never just feeling sorry, or stating that I repent its recognizing my true unworthiness, and His true faithfulness and power.