Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
Today is 2-for-1 Friday!
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The Questions
1) Why do I need God’s help to make my heart clean?
2) What are signs of a steadfast spirit?
3) What does this passage say about the character of God?
Psalm 51:10
God, create a clean heart for me
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Original Intent
1) Why do I need God’s help to make my heart clean?
The King of Israel, David, penned these words. He had just received a word from the Lord via the prophet Nathan of God’s displeasure over David’s actions in relation to Bathsheba. His sin was fresh before him, breaking his heart. David realized that he was unable to repair the situation; he couldn’t bring Uriah or his first-born son back to life, he had sinned grievously against Bathsheba, but most burdensome was the irreparable rift he had caused between himself and God. He knew his sin, and he knew the supreme righteousness of God. He came before God in repentance, confessing his sin. No bandage was big enough to simply patch the situation. He needed the Lord God Almighty to cleanse his heart and change his life from the inside out.
2) What are signs of a steadfast spirit?
In the original text, a steadfast spirit gave the meaning of a “constant, steady, determined spirit”. David realized the lack of steadfastness in his life; the chaos was swirling around him. He was able to recognize the sin in his life, call it as such, and God honored his request for a steadfast spirit as he continued on as king. Later in the Bible, we see David called “a man after God’s own heart” by the Lord Himself. The Bible is full of people who failed miserably, yet were redeemed and brought back into relationship with the Almighty Creator.
3) What does this passage say about the character of God?
God alone has the power to create. He is able to make something from nothing and to transform something ugly into great beauty. God doesn’t operate on human time or in human ways. He is able to perfect and restore brokenness. We see here David ascribe (give) to God the power and might that only the Lord rightly deserves.
Everyday Application
1) Why do I need God’s help to make my heart clean?
We, in our humanness, have no power to change our hearts. Our human nature is selfish at the core and, try as we might, there is nothing we can do about the condition of our heart. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, we see the promise of God removing Israel’s heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh in its place. This new heart is in tune with the heart of God, quick to be obedient to His leadings and softened to the needs of others. The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of this promise and any person who has said yes to a genuine relationship with Jesus will receive the life transformation of this promise in Ezekiel. God has provided a way to transform our lives by the power over death on the cross and the embodiment of the Holy Spirit to show us how to live our new lives.
2) What are signs of a steadfast spirit?
As the storms of life wail, our true colors are often brought to light. People see what we are really made of. It is in those moments of choice we can demonstrate a God-given, steadfast spirit. Clinging to truth unwaveringly, answering “yes” to a difficult command from the Lord, or standing up against injustice are some examples of how our life can reflect a commitment to listening to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. The next time you are faced with a difficult choice, lean in on the whispers of the Holy Spirit to guide you and experience fullness only He can provide!
3) What does this passage say about the character of God?
When we minimize the power of God to bring about change, we work to “fix” ourselves before entering into His presence. The harder we work, the more we get wrapped up in legalism and following rules. Our new “god” is keeping the law. We completely miss the heart transformation waiting for us in a relationship with Jesus. We don’t access the power given to us through communion with the Holy Spirit. Recognizing God’s power to create new life in us puts Him in proper authority over us as we submit to His sovereign leading in our circumstances. Leaning on His power alone to renew our lives is essential to seeing actual, lasting change in our lives. Where are you leaning on your own power instead of the Lord’s? Repent and turn it over to Him!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
Memorize It!
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
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