Psalm 41:4-13
I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you." My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?" Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers
slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad. All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me,
saying, "A vile disease has beset him; he will never get up from the place where he
lies." Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his
heel against me. But you, O LORD, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them. I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me. In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever. Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen
and Amen. (NIV)
v.4 "As for me," I said, "O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!"
ReplyDeleteIn our family Bible study the other night, we discussed God's punishment for Cain (Genesis 4). God could easily have meted out a swift punishment of death on Cain for the murder of his brother. But God was gracious and merciful to him. While he did banish him, he also gave Cain that time to think about his actions, and then hopefully repent.
God WANTS us to be in a right relationship with him. He gives us Jesus, so that we can claim his forgiveness and become Children of God.