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Read: Psalm 51
SOAP: Psalm 51:17
The sacrifice God desires is a humble spirit—
O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.
In our reading today we see that God does not desire any sacrifices or burnt offerings. All He desires is a humble spirit—a humble and repentant heart. Our humble hearts are the sacrifice He desires.
David, the author of this Psalm, recognized that it is easier to offer burnt sacrifices than a humble heart. He also recognized that, in order to truly experience deep communion with the Lord, the kind that satisfies a weary soul, the one we all long for, one’s whole being must long for God alone. Offering sacrifices without repentance is like offering a compliment while silently criticizing the very person we are complimenting. These two things don’t go together, and how much more is this true with our God who “does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
We can all feel like our heart is broken at times. These are the moments when the book of Psalms becomes a great comfort to us, offering us a language for our own pain and brokenness. Whether it’s a form of injustice we experienced personally, continuous suffering we see happening on the other side of the world, or lament over our own sin, we can feel broken and humbled to the point of hopelessness.
But Psalm 51 reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus when we submit our requests and hearts to the Lord. Christ never promised an easy life but He does promise His presence and help as we walk through trials. God will never reject a heart seeking truth, a humble spirit looking for answers, and a repentant heart in need of forgiveness.
We are learning each day of this study that biblical lament includes recalling what we know to be true. We can only know the truth when we turn to the Lord and His Word every day, storing it in our hearts and minds little by little. Why not take a moment today to reflect on some of the good and wonderful things God has done for you in your own life, writing them down so that when the next time comes for you to practice lament, it is easier to recall what you know to be true. If God has helped you before, He will surely do it again.
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About this Plan
It is okay to cry out to God in the midst of your suffering, like David, Jeremiah, and Paul. They suffered greatly in their lives and went to God in the midst of their grief, vocalizing the sorrow they experienced. You will learn how to lament, which means bringing your sorrows, heartbreak, and pain to God and how to trust Him again and rejoice, even on your hardest days.
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