RR Psalm 36:11(10) – Part 6
Shalom,
Psalm 36:11(10) Continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your justice to the upright in heart.
David makes a final plea to God near the end of Psalm 36. Paraphrasing our subject verse, “Would you continue, oh Lord, to offer grace (Chas’d’cha) to all who know You (L’Yod’e’cha), and, would You continue to offer justice (V’Tzid’ka’t’cha) to the upright in heart (L’Yish’re Lev). Does David know what he is asking? He seems to be linking lovingkindness (grace) to justice (righteousness). I think he does know. Let’s go!
It seems like everyone wants to put grace and justice in opposition to each other. This is a false tension. Another English word for the Hebrew word “Tzedek” (in addition to justice) is “righteousness.” Righteousness is obedience to God’s law. How can God offer both grace and righteousness at the same time? To find the answer, you might want to review the RRs on Psalm 32:5 Part 5 from July 10th and only a few days ago from Psalm 36:4,5,6 Part 2 from September 19th.
All of this makes excellent sense when you include this definition of grace…. “Grace is the God-given desire and the ability to obey Him.” Both the desire and the ability are the two sides of the, figuratively speaking, “grace coin.” God will not give you the desire without also giving you the ability. That would only lead to frustration, and God is our loving Father, Who would never leave His children in frustration. We are called to lead fulfilled and satisfied lives under God’s loving command.
Is Yeshua anti-righteousness? God forbid! His name is Adonai Tzidaynu. He is the administrator of both grace AND righteousness. Who said this?… Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” You know Who! Furthermore; the Messianic rabbi who authored the letter to the Hebrews also said this…. Hebrews 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
God’s grace is not a license to sin, the antinomian hope. Rather, it is anything but… Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Help to do what? 1John 2:4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him…. 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked. Let’s walk together on the road to Jerusalem. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu25 Sep 20253rd of Tishrei, 5786Fast of Gedaliah
De 31:7-9Zec 2-32 Ch 26Rev 11(Ac 19:1-20)
Ex 32:11-14; 34:1-10; Isa 55:6-56:8 (afternoon)
Psalm 36:11(10) Continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You, and Your justice to the upright in heart.
David makes a final plea to God near the end of Psalm 36. Paraphrasing our subject verse, “Would you continue, oh Lord, to offer grace (Chas’d’cha) to all who know You (L’Yod’e’cha), and, would You continue to offer justice (V’Tzid’ka’t’cha) to the upright in heart (L’Yish’re Lev). Does David know what he is asking? He seems to be linking lovingkindness (grace) to justice (righteousness). I think he does know. Let’s go!
It seems like everyone wants to put grace and justice in opposition to each other. This is a false tension. Another English word for the Hebrew word “Tzedek” (in addition to justice) is “righteousness.” Righteousness is obedience to God’s law. How can God offer both grace and righteousness at the same time? To find the answer, you might want to review the RRs on Psalm 32:5 Part 5 from July 10th and only a few days ago from Psalm 36:4,5,6 Part 2 from September 19th.
All of this makes excellent sense when you include this definition of grace…. “Grace is the God-given desire and the ability to obey Him.” Both the desire and the ability are the two sides of the, figuratively speaking, “grace coin.” God will not give you the desire without also giving you the ability. That would only lead to frustration, and God is our loving Father, Who would never leave His children in frustration. We are called to lead fulfilled and satisfied lives under God’s loving command.
Is Yeshua anti-righteousness? God forbid! His name is Adonai Tzidaynu. He is the administrator of both grace AND righteousness. Who said this?… Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” You know Who! Furthermore; the Messianic rabbi who authored the letter to the Hebrews also said this…. Hebrews 12:11 Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
God’s grace is not a license to sin, the antinomian hope. Rather, it is anything but… Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need. Help to do what? 1John 2:4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him…. 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked. Let’s walk together on the road to Jerusalem. Shalom shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu25 Sep 20253rd of Tishrei, 5786Fast of Gedaliah
De 31:7-9Zec 2-32 Ch 26Rev 11(Ac 19:1-20)
Ex 32:11-14; 34:1-10; Isa 55:6-56:8 (afternoon)
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