Subtle Lies?

I read a meme on social media that had me concerned that it might be giving out a subtle false message. It was quoting a passage of Scripture, but the translation was not identified, so I don’t know the source. But then I read the passage of Scripture in the ESV, so I am going to share both with you, and I will share what I am seeing, and you can decide for yourself if what I am seeing makes sense to you or not.

“For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance or the sacrifices I might offer you. The fountain of your pleasure is found in the sacrifice of my shattered heart before you. You will not despise my tenderness as I bow down humbly at your feet.” Psalms 51:16-17 (translation unknown).

Now my concern with the meme’s translation was that it might be giving a subtle false message. And my concern is based on many years of hearing the lies which have been spewing forth from these market-driven “churches” (businesses) and from their market-driven pastors and their people.

For when this begins with, “For the source of your pleasure is not in my performance or the sacrifices I might offer you,” I immediately heard again those lies which say that we don’t have to do anything to please God for he is already pleased with us because we believe (not defined) in him. But then I know that the Scriptures teach that we are to give our lives to God as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing/acceptable to him, and I know that many times in the Scriptures that we are taught to do what pleases the Lord.

Pleasing God: [Rom 8:8; Rom 12:1-2; 2 Co 5:9; Gal 6:8; Eph 5:10; Col 1:9-11; 1 Thes 2:4; 1 Thes 4:1; 2 Tim 2:4; Heb 11:6; Heb 13:6; 1 Jn 3:22]

So, this “raised a red flag” for me, and so I looked up the passage of Scripture in the ESV:

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalms 51:16-17 ESV

And then I read it in context. This was part of King David's confession of sin to the Lord after he had done what he did with Bathsheba, in committing adultery with her, and after he had her husband murdered, and after Nathan, the prophet, confronted him with his sin. What he was acknowledging here was that a burnt sacrifice was not going to suffice, for what the Lord desired was that he truly repent of his sins and turn from them in humility and in true sorrow for his sins, not in worldly sorrow.

But when you quote it out of context, especially with a more loose (my opinion) translation, and especially in light of what I know is being taught today in the gatherings of the church (or the institutional market-driven church/business), I can’t help but feel that this is intended to be a subtle lie which is to say that God gets no pleasure in what we do or in the sacrifices we offer to him, which is true if this is of the flesh, but it is not true if what we are doing and if our sacrifices are of God and consistent with his Word.

And, to me, “shattered heart” and “tenderness” do not speak the same message as a “broken spirit” and a “broken and contrite heart,” especially if read in the full context of Psalms 51. For in the full context we see this broken spirit and this broken and contrite heart, for King David acknowledges his sin before the Lord, and that he had done evil. And then he called on the Lord to purge him with hyssop so that he would be clean. And then he asked the Lord to create within him a clean heart.

Subtle Lies

Video Talk

March 3, 2023

https://youtu.be/VG7fWm9fIto

Caution: This link may contain ads

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer 

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897

Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,

This is my constant longing and prayer;

Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,

Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;

Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,

Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,

Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;

Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrYhiK2nQBg