A NEW ADVENT APPROACH? PART 2 OF 4: AN ADVENT OF MERCY AND GRACE

"All of Creation Worships"

 What's the difference between mercy and grace? I don't recall who deserves the credit for pointing it out, but mercy is not getting what you deserve and grace is getting what you don't deserve.

Two things are evident when you read the Bible: 1) God is merciful, and 2) God is gracious. Micah 7:18 says "He does not retain anger, because He delights in mercy." We deserve His wrath for how each of us rebels against Him, but He is a God who forgives. We definitely DON'T deserve His goodness, yet He joyfully gives it to those who seek Him.

Jesus' first advent was to die for our sins to save us. Christ's coming was for us to be reconciled with God. 

However, we definitely need an advent today of mercy and grace. We need to ourselves be merciful. As it says in Psalm 18:25, "With the merciful, You will show Yourself merciful." Jesus stated in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7). 

Likewise, we need to show grace to others. Again on the Mount, Jesus taught, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12). Other religions put it in the negative sense - "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you," but that's not grace; that's being civil. Only Christ instructs us to love our enemies, to do good to all (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

How are we doing? Are we tearing others down in theological debates, or are we aware God may overlook imperfect theology (who is perfect anyway)? Are we living out the above for verses with those who are in the other major party than us, or even worse, an advocate for a third party?

BOOK REVIEW - HOLD FOR RELEASE BY HEIDI GLICK

"Bitterness: One will choose Forgiveness, One will choose Revenge." (From front cover)

Can journalist Jake Hartmann get his wife Carlotta to forgive him for committing adultery? Or will she give in to the advances of the handsome divorce attorney? And who brutally killed the dogs at the animal shelter? 

Heidi Glick has long been one of my favorite authors. I loved her debut Dog Tags several years ago. Her latest is Hold For Release, an edgy romantic suspense. I'll agree with what several other reviewers have pointed out - there are so many twists you have no idea what will happen next.

As the statement on the cover hints, a common thread between several of the characters is dealing with bitterness. I dealt with sadness reading the story, which is an indication of how well the story was written and how Glick had me caring for Jake, Carlotta, and her sister Rosario in spite of their flaws.

I highly recommend this powerful, thought provoking novel.

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 39 OF 48 - PSALM 130

 

Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, at sunrise

 1   Out of the depths
     I have cried to You, O LORD;
2  Lord, hear my voice!
    Let Your ears be attentive
    To the voice of my supplications.
3  If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
4  But there is forgiveness with You,
    That You may be feared.

5  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
    And in His word I do hope.
6  My soul waits for the Lord
    More than those who watch for the morning--
    Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7  O Israel, hope in the Lord;
    For with the Lord there is mercy,
    And with Him is abundant redemption.
8  And He shall redeem Israel
    From all his iniquities.
         Psalm 130:1-8, New King James Version

Okay, all you who have been following this series - do you see why I'm so excited about Psalms?

One thing I forgot to mention a couple of weeks age: Psalms 120-134 are called "Songs of Ascent." Some of these are attributed to David (122, 124, 131, 133) and one to Solomon (127), but some seem to have a post-exilic flavor to them. These Psalms were sung by Jews going to Jerusalem - some say it was those returning from Babylonian captivity, others say it was by pilgrims making the annual trip to celebrate Passover or the Feast of Booths.

Way back in January, I'm guessing, I mentioned the three Hebrew names attributed to God: 

1. Elohim, translated "God" and used both of the true God and the false gods.
2. Adonai, translated "Lord" and used both of the Lord of all and human lords.
3. Yahweh, God's personal name, usually translated as LORD, though when used with Adonai, it's translated GOD. Some translations transliterate it and use God's name.

Some groups believe we should use God's name instead of titles like Lord or God. I can debate that issue, but sufficient to say is that whether we use His name or not is not grounds for salvation.

What does that have to do with Psalm 130? God is addressed eight times in this short Psalm. The first six instances alternate between Yahweh and Adonai (the final two times are Y7ahweh). I mentioned Crosswalk's on-line Bible doesn't distinguish between the two words. But the point is the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture, including this Psalm. No, God is not bothered if we call Him Lord or God instead of using His name.

Another thing I like is verse 4. What is the reason forgiveness is with God? So He can be feared! That isn't what you'd expect, is it? In verse 7, it also mentions that with Him is mercy and abundant redemption. 

In case you haven't realized it, God doesn't owe us His love. None of us are worthy of it. As Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." (It's fun listening to the upbeat music Handel put that verse to in his oratorio "The Messiah.") In a previously covered Psalm, it mentions God humbles Himself to observe things in heaven and on earth (Psalm 113:6). We should be in awe that He wants fellowship with us.

SUNDAY PSALMS PART 8 OF 48 - PSALM 32

 

Rock Island State Park, Rock Island, TN

1    Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
    Whose sin is covered.
2   Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
    And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3   When I kept silent, my bones grew old
    Through my groaning all the day long.
4   For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
    My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.

Selah

5   I acknowledged my sin to You,
    And my iniquity I have not hidden.
    I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,"
    And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Selah

6   For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
    In a time when You may be found;
    Surely in a flood of great waters
    They shall not come near him.
7   You are my hiding place;
    You shall preserve me from trouble;
    You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.

Selah

8   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will guide you with My eye.
9   Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
    Which have no understanding,
    Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
    Else they will not come near you.

10   Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
    But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
11   Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
    And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32:1-11, NKJV

I think of Psalm 32 and 51 as the repentance Psalms, dealing with David asking God forgiveness for his sins.

There are a lot of good points in this Psalm, but there's one point I want to focus on, which is in verse 6. David says, "For this cause, everyone who is godly will call to You when You may be found." Maybe I'm wrong, but I think another way to say this is that whenever the godly call on the Lord is a time when He may be found. In other words, God's not hiding from the prayers and pleas of the righteous.