BIBLE BITS -- Psalms 50 and 51

When God created mankind, the Bible says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Genesis 1:26).  Mankind is to be a reflection of God--knowing what God wants, desiring to do what God wants, and able to do what God wants.  God loves and blesses mankind with all he needs to live; mankind, in turn, lives to honor God and love others whom God has created.

But sinners have turned this on its head.  Rather than striving to be like God, sinners go our own way.  What's more, we presume that God is like us.  We have made God in our own image.  We assume that God's justice is our justice, that God's opinions match our opinions.  We assume that God likes what we like and that God hates what we hate.  And when God does not act according to our assessment of what is good and right, we convict God of being ignorant, inconsiderate, or incompetent.  

This sinful mindset has not escaped God's notice.  In Psalm 50, we read, "But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips? For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you. If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers. You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you" (Psalm 50:16-21, emphasis added).

When we give heed to the word of God, we recognize just how unlike God we are.  It is not God who needs correction; he is pure and holy.  It is we who need redemption from our sinful rebellion and arrogance.  And then it is we who need to be corrected in our hearts, minds, and actions.  

The solution is found in the very next Psalm: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12).

Jesus Christ has purified us from all unrighteousness through holy baptism.  There, he cleanses us of all sin through his holy, precious blood.  There he applies to us the benefits of his sufferings, death, and resurrection.  He not only cleanses our status, but he converts our hearts to acknowledge that his word is good and right.  He gives us his Holy Spirit so that we conform to him.  This is how the image of God is being restored in us, to be perfected at the resurrection of the dead.

God is not like us.  God converts and transforms us to be like him.  This is our prayer, our goal, and our assurance by the working of the Holy Spirit.