Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
    the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it on the seas
    and established it on the waters.
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not trust in an idol
    or swear by a false god.
They will receive blessing from the Lord
    and vindication from God their Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    be lifted up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord strong and mighty,
    the Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, you gates;
    lift them up, you ancient doors,
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is he, this King of glory?
    The Lord Almighty—
    he is the King of glory.

• Psalm 24:1-10

“Despite his human flaws that periodically led him into sin, David sought God’s heart loved God with all his heart.  Because his heart was clean and pure before the Lord, David was able to write in Psalm 24: (Psalm 24:3-5)”

• Bishop Donald Downing, Hidden Treasures of the Heart

Once sin taints our lives, we do not have the power to wash the sin away, but God can.  If we believe and trust in Jesus, God will wash us as white as snow.  Although David lived prior to the prophet Isaiah writing those words, David spent enough time with God to know that God would forgive him.

Living a good, clean life is not what David is saying here.  David sinned.  He knew we would too.  But David understood that the relationship that he had with God the Father was the most important thing in his life. In reading 1 & 2 Samuel, David consistently goes to God before making decisions, except maybe the time he committed adultery with Bathsheba.  But then that is an object lesson for us as well.  We can avoid some of our problems, and I have many, by focusing on Jesus instead of what the world happens to be selling at the moment.

So, to get our hands clean, we need to have a life-giving relationship with Jesus.  That goes for the pure heart as well.  And to maintain those clean hands and pure heart, we need to stay focused on Jesus,

Sounds simple, but it is not that easy.  There will be many attacks by the forces of evil.  But again, we need to pray, study God’s Word, and rely on strength the numbers (find a Christian friend and be an active member in church).  That is not foolproof, but God can give us the strength if we rely upon Him.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.