So What Is It You Want
Psalm 85
Presents! Presents! Presents! Giving and receiving at the time of year this is written. Kids getting together and asking, What did you get? That time of year when people seek to obtain something for the child, the grandchild, the parent with something they know, they KNOW will be special because they know, really KNOW that person. Ah, the art of gift giving!
For myself this year I have been learning so much about myself and wondering, Does anyone really know me enough to get me what I want, even more so what I need, especially since I don't even fully know myself?
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, and covereth all their sins. Selah.
Psalms 85:2 GNV
Written at a time when there was no Christmas story to remember There was no celebration like that we have in mind whoever we are, regardless how we celebrate. Yet forgiven iniquity and covered sins was cherished then even as they are today for those who seek the forgiveness, the covering. When asked about, "What do you want this year?" many adults reply, I don't know. You really don't need to give me anything.
Again, Psalm 103
My soul, praise thou the Lord, and forget not all his benefits. Which forgiveth all thine iniquity, and healeth all thine infirmities.
Psalms 103:2 - 3 GNV
In an opulent society as is much of the United States today we may say, Oh, I don't need anything, I don't want anything. Even what we might think we want or think we need are goods that may be purchased with compensation readily available to us. Even those who say they are believers often find their selves facing life in a physical realm, rather than the whole of who we are.
The heart is deceitful and wicked above all things, who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, and try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his works.
Jeremiah 17:9 - 10 GNV
Even if we did "know" what we want we must beware of our heart. We really don't like people, close people to be deceitful to us. That really, really hurts. Yet our heart may mislead even more deceitfully and we might not take a second thought about it. And what becomes of utmost importance is that we should, we must think of it. The Lord does search our hearts and tries our filtering system.
Consider this comparison. Our physical heart keeps blood flowing through our bodies. Our reins, our kidneys filter our blood of impurities. Spiritually the Lord searches our heart to see our ways, to see what is being pumped throughout our spiritual life. He tries our reins to see if they are working properly to filter out the impurities, seeing our works
Keep thine heart with all diligence: for thereout cometh life.
Proverbs 4:23 GNV
And the prime example:
But those things which proceed out of the mouth, come from the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, slanders. These are the things, which defile the man: but to eat with unwashen hands, defileth not the man.
Matthew 15:18 - 20 GNV
Be mindful Jesus didn't say these are the only things that come out of the heart, but He was pointing out the unclean things that can come out of the heart. He was simply pointing out what truly makes a man dirty. When He sesrches the heart and tries the reins to see if our heart is pumping through our life what is good, and are our reins properly filtering what we hold in our heart. Whatever is there comes out when He sees the outcome of our lives, the very thoughts and intents of our hearts, in our ways, what we love most, do we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and resources, and do we love our neighbor as ourself? That will be seen in the fruit of our works.
Yes, our imperfect reins do not filter everything in the life blood of our lives, our spirit. And the Lord knows this. But when He sees the ways and works of our hearts, sees the truth of our lives how special that gift He knows we desperately need, the forgiveness of our iniquities, the covering of our sins. Oh that we would see as He sees, and seek to do what He does.
Psalms 85:9 - 13 GNV
Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth shall meet: righteousness and peace shall kiss one another. Truth shall bud out of the earth, and righteousnes shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give good things, and our land shall give her increase. Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set her steps in the way.