Psalm 5:7
But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down towards your holy temple.
Even in the last few hours I've been reminded again that I'm
much more of a sinner than I like to think, as I've seen the consequence of my anger, laziness and selfishness in the lives of those I'm supposed to love most. This verse is the encouragement I need today. Maybe you do, too. I can come into God's presence. Even though I sin. Even though I mess things up horribly. Not because I deserve God to accept me, but because of his great
love.
David doesn't yet know how exactly this can happen. We would
say something like 'because Jesus took my sin when he died on the cross, I can be treated not as I deserve, but according to his righteous life.' David says the same thing, in less words: 'because
of your great love'. God has chosen to transfer us out of the category of 'wicked people who are not welcome' and into the category of 'loved children who can share God's house.'
What is David's response to this great reversal? Worship.
Number 3 on our list of different kinds of prayer that we see in this psalm. Simply bowing in reverence before God. Acknowledging that he is God and we are not.
Are you frustrated by your sin? Wondering how God would
possibly continue to put up with you? Or perhaps there's something else in your life that's causing you to question whether he really loves you - maybe the persistence of your sufferings? Or disappointment that life isn't turning out the way you wanted it to? Here's a verse to cling to. Yes, all those things are
true and real and sometimes very painful, BUT they are not the whole story. They are not even the most important part of the story. This verse gives us the most important truth any of us could know today ... 'BUT (even in the face of sin or suffering or disappointment) I by your great love can come into your
house.'
Whatever else is true in our lives today, God's love for us
is great, and he has made it possible for us to be with him. Let's join David in bowing down in reverence to worship God for his unimaginably great and gracious love.
