I’m in Germany this week, but fortunately no early morning meetings. I can keep my regular schedule for the most part. Except maybe Thursday when I’m flying down to Austria to visit a company for the day. It’s good to travel and experience other cultures. I’m at a huge international trade fair in Hannover (in the north). It’s a chance to meet many of my friends from around the world.
Psalm 51 is amazing. There is so much packed into these few verses of poetry. You really get a look into David’s soul and how devastated he was when Nathan pointed out how bad his actions were (the stories around Bathsheba).
“You desire truth in the inward being, therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.”
There is an ancient piece of advice, “Know thyself.” Until you can look inside and see the “real you”–or probably more accurately, until you come to realize the way you have thought and acted, you can live in a dream world of your own choosing.
David is saying here (among other things, I’m sure) that God wants us to acknowledge the truth or our inward thoughts that cover up what we’ve done that is wrong. Only when we see what we’ve thought and done will God start to teach us wisdom.
It is sickness to dwell on your past wrongful thoughts and actions, but it is healing to realize what you’ve done and then to deal with the consequences.
We’re in Lent–the traditional time to reflect on our failings and wrong thoughts and deeds. It’s also a good time to seek healing from the consequences of our wrongs. Jesus died to do that, but we have to relive that every day as God teaches us wisdom–the acknowledgement of our shortcomings and the growth that springs out from that acknowledgement.
Faith Venture 
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