Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to All,
I hope 2018 will be blessed for you. A new year--a new birth.
I stumbled across this the other day--took my breath away. I didn't realize the translation--made perfect sense after finding it.
3000 years ago, a rebellious kingdom was razed. Its people were ripped from their lands, and taken to Babylon to bend the knee--teaching a lesson to all the other kingdoms in the region.
Religious freedoms were tolerated--Babylonians understood all things to be divine, so they did not doubt the worship other people chose. The Torah was written for the first time.
The language is Aramaic, similar to the language Christ likely spoke.
The Psalm is actually 51:
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar
Given the nature of the Holiday, I found this to be very moving. A clean slate for everyone.
Merry Christmas.
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