Advent and Christmas celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world.<\/p>\n
But why did He come?<\/p>\n
The Apostle Paul tells us: \u201cThe saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.\u201d (1 Timothy 1:15)<\/p>\n
That\u2019s the truth about Jesus. He came to glorify God through the salvation of rebels.<\/p>\n
But that truth only helps us if we acknowledge a second truth: I am among such rebels. So the Apostle continues by stating that he is the foremost of sinners.<\/p>\n
We must know who Jesus is.<\/p>\n
And we must know who we are.<\/p>\n
Only by acknowledging and responding to those truths do we reap the benefits of Jesus\u2019 coming into the world.<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 great ancestor David elaborates on such self-knowledge in Psalm 86. Let\u2019s learn from him four truths we need to acknowledge about ourselves.<\/p>\n
David was among God\u2019s people, chosen by His grace. The four truths will be true of us also if we are in Christ Jesus, having come to God by grace through faith.<\/p>\n
First: David knows that he is God\u2019s poor, needy servant.<\/u><\/p>\n
We see this in Psalm 86:1, 2, 4, and 16. Indeed, in Psalm 82:16 David calls himself not only a servant but the \u201cson of your maidservant.\u201d He is saying, \u201cI\u2019m like the son of Your household slave, born into your household, and thus having no inheritance, no assets, and absolutely no social standing apart from You. I am completely dependent on You.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, David was king! He ruled! He had riches! People would bow down before him!<\/p>\n
And yet he sees himself rightly as only a servant of God, one who can accomplish nothing on his own, one whose very purpose is to do the will of God.<\/p>\n
Do you see yourself that way?<\/p>\n
Second: David depends on and desires God<\/u><\/p>\n
Psalm 86:4 says David lifts up his soul to God.<\/p>\n
Now, other than when reading Scripture, I have never used the phrase \u201clift up my soul.\u201d I doubt you have either. While it\u2019s a fairly common phrase in the Old Testament, what does it mean?<\/p>\n
Deuteronomy 24:15 is helpful in this regard, for the phrase is translated differently in that verse. Speaking of a poor and needy hired servant, Moses commands:<\/p>\n
You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it<\/em>), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin. (emphasis added)<\/p>\n \u201cCounts on\u201d translates the same phrase we saw in Psalm 86:4, literally \u201clifts up his soul.\u201d He desires those wages. He depends on those wages to be able to buy food that evening.<\/p>\n From this verse and elsewhere we can see that to \u201clift up your soul\u201d to something is to desire and to depend on it.<\/p>\n So David in Psalm 86:4 is saying: \u201cBring joy to my whole being, for my whole being depends on and desires you!\u201d<\/p>\n Thus both the first and second truths emphasize David\u2019s dependence on God. This second adds the element of delight in God, of desiring Him.<\/p>\n Third: David knows that He does not know God\u2019s way.<\/u><\/p>\n Psalm 86:11: \u201cTeach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, David is king, he is seen as wise \u2013 but he acknowledges that he cannot walk in God\u2019s truth apart from God teaching him. He can\u2019t live rightly, fulfilling the purpose of His creation, apart from God. He needs God\u2019s guidance. He depends on God\u2019s revelation, His instruction, His torah. <\/em><\/p>\n Fourth: David knows He is beloved by God<\/u><\/p>\n David speaks of God\u2019s steadfast, covenant, unfailing love in Psalm 86:5, 13, and 15. Psalm 86:13 is personal: \u201cGreat is Your steadfast love toward me.\u201d<\/p>\n While we don\u2019t recognize it in most English translations, Psalm 86:2 makes a similar point. In the ESV, this verse begins, \u201cPreserve my life, for I am godly.\u201d That almost sounds as if David is saying, \u201cPreserve me because I\u2019m such a good guy!\u201d<\/p>\n However, the word translated \u201cgodly\u201d has the same root as the word translated \u201csteadfast love.\u201d The word used in verse 2 refers to a person who both receives and loyally returns such steadfast love. So we might paraphrase the verse, \u201cGuard me, O Lord, for You have put me in covenant relation with You; I am loved by You and You enable me to return loyal love to You.\u201d<\/p>\n Do you know these truths? Do you know you are poor and needy, dependent on God? Do you see Him as your desire and delight? Do you acknowledge that should you try to forge your own path apart from Him, you will inevitably go astray, harming yourself and others? And do you know that if you are in Christ, you are loved with a love beyond imagining?<\/p>\n David knew those truths. He generally lived by those truths \u2013 and when he didn\u2019t, he exemplified what happens when we fail to live by those truths.<\/p>\n Give yourself the greatest Christmas gift possible: Acknowledge who you truly are, and who that baby in the manger truly is. Repent before Him. See Him as your delight.<\/p>\n And then bask in the love made possible by Christmas.<\/p>\n