8 But I am like an olive tree
growing in God’s house,
and I can count on his love
forever and ever.
9 I will always thank God
for what he has done;
I will praise his good name
when his people meet.
What confidence David has. People definitely want him dead. It seems like Ps. 56 is the exposure
And now go and tell his disciples, and especially Peter, that he will go ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.”
Mark 16:7, CEV
Poor Peter. Despairing over his personal darkness he has become completely undone. His wound is beyond any human remedy. No one can help him at this point. We do well to mark the fall of the ‘Rock.’
Jesus had called him, the ‘Rock.’ This would become a bestowed nickname of a future transformation. We use granite and marble when we want something to last for ages. It is as permanent as we can make it. Peter is definitely ‘a work-in-progress.’ His character is sand.
Visiting a working quarry, you will find large machinery. Men scale the walls with heavy drills. At just the right spot they begin to bore a hole. It is hard and intense work, but they are persistent. The rock is unyielding, but they work relentlessly. Dynamite is used to move rock fast.
Soon they take the hole to the proper depth. Explosives are hauled up, And the hole is carefully packed with dynamite. The word used in the New Testament is the word “dunamis.” It is translated from the Greek into English as “power.” Our word for “dynamite” is also a translation of that word.
Peter needs the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit. It’s explosive. It breaks and blasts, moving many tons of rock in just a few seconds. These particular verses read differently when translated like this:
Jesus looks after each disciple before his resurrection. He kindly gazes at Peter. Especially Peter. He will need this new power to overcome his weaknesses. The dynamite of the Spirit is going to explode all over the Upper Room. and Peter is about to become a rock.
His disciples, in just 50 days are going to meet the Holy Spirit. All of them will find that explosive power that moves mountains. And the world is about to change forever.
Peter was so transformed on Pentecost he would preach and 3,000 would believe and be baptised. He went from cowardly denier to bold preacher. The dunamis of God changed him that day (Acts 2).
As a broken believer I see the image of Peter morphing into my own face. I have denied Him before others. I am very much ashamed at what I have done. My depression flares and my heart goes down in a downward spiral. Honestly, I must have the Holy Spirit’s authority to be free and true.
Where is the ‘dynamite’ of God? Oh come Spirit of God to our broken hearts. Fill us, and change us today.
Thank you for reading,
Bryan
Here’s a broader look at Psalm 51. I intend to concentrate on vv. 7-14 where we will find a holy perspective for reading this particular psalm. Please take a minute to check this out. Recall this is Davids prayer for repentance after he chose to sin with Bathsheba. The entire psalm is a written response to God’s discipline. For more background you might want to read 2 Samuel 11.
Look out for the “me” in this particular part of Psalm 51. We’ll start in verse 7.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
……………………………………..
Here’s some very brief thoughts that you might want to develop on your own.
V. 7, “Purge me,” is kind of a spiritual flush where sin is removed. This takes a work of God, it isn’t something we can do on our own. We need the HS. He will guide you over what stays and what must go. It is imperative that you listen and do what He asks.
V. 7, “Wash me,” is the way I stay clean. He makes people clean on the inside. He lets the outside be your decision.
V. 8, “Make me,” puts me back together again. We’re profoundly broken and He has the last tube of “super-glue.” We need to be repaired. It’s make me, not break me.
V. 10, “Create in me,” bring life inside me. God’s Spirit resurrects our spirits so we walk in His freedom. We are His most excellent work.
V. 11, “Do not cast me,” Don’t discard me, or leave me on the garbage pile. Don’t regard me as trash.
V. 12, “Restore to me,” bring me back to what I’ve lost. He specializes in major restoration.
V. 12, “Uphold me,” Keep me from falling. Hang onto me. Lift me up out of the darkness that’s all around me.
V. 14, “Deliver me,” Keep me free from the darkness. Don’t let the ‘dark one’ overpower me. Rescue me, please!
These are very brief notes that I probably should have developed more completely than I have done. I hope this will spark your creative side and lead you into greater understanding. I think this could develop into a good sermon or Bible study. Who knows? I turn over all creative rights over anything you might do with this.
Thanks for reading, I hope it strengthens your heart.
Bryan
