Tag: soul

  • Psalms of a Contrite Heart Before Christ

    Psalms of a Contrite Heart Before Christ

    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

    Psalm 51:17 LSB

    Contrition: Bowed down before Almighty God

    Last time on Ash Wednesday, we noted from the weeping Prophet, Jeremiah, our great sorrow in being CRUSHED by the enemy – in fact by the hand of GOD on the pestle of Jerusalem’s destruction.

    mortar and pestle with hand of chef

    Like Jeremiah we do NOT want to be CRUSHED by any — either the LORD or our enemy.

    WE are unaccustomed to the pouring out of our spirit into a mortar of refinement.

    YET it is the Lord’s will to refine those whom He will.

    Be contrite or be crushed

    humble .. or humbled.


    Sad Psalms of Lament

    Lamentations, if sung, would be sorrowful elegies similar to some Psalms we would rather not sing. Regardless of the “how” – and we generally know our sin – contrition and humility often escape our notice on the stage of our praise.

    Yet even in the Psalms we must observe the same words which the Lord has written for our worship.

    Strong’s H1794 – dāḵâ – דָּכָה

    to collapse (phys. or mentally):—break (sore), contrite, crouch.

    We’ve all seen it — most have experienced it. And the Psalms remind us as the Lord refines us.

    O Yahweh, reprove me not in Your wrath,

    And discipline me not in Your burning anger.

    I am faint and badly crushed;

    I groan because of the agitation of my heart.

    Psalm 38:1,8 LSB


    Psalm 51:

    51:17 (WLC 51:19) זִבְחֵי אֱלֹהִים רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה לֵב־נִשְׁבָּר וְנִדְכֶּה אֱלֹהִים לֹא תִבְזֶה׃

    • šāḇar rûaḥ
      • broken spirit
    • šāḇar dāḵâ lēḇ
      • a broken and contrite heart

    Psalm 51:17 from MASORETIC Text

    IS that any way to open a post such as this or especially a WORSHIP service?

    IN FACT, the contrition of it's context pleads to Elohim for mercy. So was it ordered for corporate worship by the King.

    [[To the chief Musician,

    A Psalm of David,

    when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.]]

    Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

    Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity,

    and cleanse me from my sin.

    For I acknowledge my transgressions:

    and my sin is ever before me.


    Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken [crushed] may rejoice.

    Psalm 51:1-3, 8 KJV

    We have heard the whole story — confessed in a Psalm of worship!

    And the King – David of Israel and Judah – before we reach v. 17 of our opening CALL to Worship today — continues with a more hopeful and familiar plea:

    Create in me a clean heart, O God;
    and renew a right spirit within me.

    Psalm 51:10

    Create in me a clean heart, O God – Psalm 51 stands as an enduring testament to the power of confession, the boundless mercy of God, and the potential for spiritual renewal and transformation.

    It reminds us that even in our deepest frailty, God’s love is unfailing.

    Psalm 51 commentary

    a Plea of the Crushed – Psalm 143

    A Psalm of David

    YET in our distress of being humbled (OPPRESSED, an adjective found in other Psalms) — crushed by the Lord we have hope — as nearly every Psalm ends.

    Teach me to do thy will;

    for thou art my God:

    thy spirit is good;

    lead me into the land of uprightness.

    Quicken [revive] me, O LORD,

    for thy name’s sake:

    for thy righteousness’ sake

    bring my soul out of trouble.

    Psalm 143:9–10 KJV

    Praying the Psalms in Gethsemane

    Picture our Lord, having walked all the paths among evil men toward Gethsemane, full well knowing the charge of His Father in heaven to go forth into the valley of death…

    a humble mortal, a crushed man, a prisoner to be betrayed and bound as a spectacle for evil men…

    humiliated, struck on the cheek, beaten on the back and hung ignominiously on a tree by the rulers of this world and city.

    .. “Sit here while I pray.” ,, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” ..

    Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.

    excerpt from the Gospel of Mark 14

    Psalm 10

    11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;

    Psalm 10:12-11 NIV

     The Hebrew word for "crushed" can also imply being broken in spirit, indicating the deep emotional and psychological impact of such suffering. 

    This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God is portrayed as a defender of the oppressed (Psalm 9:9).

    The imagery here can also be seen as a type of Christ, who was "crushed" for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), highlighting the ultimate sacrifice for the redemption of humanity.

    BibleHub.com Study Bible commentary


    JESUS, the Son of Man, Son of David and Son of God sang and prayed such Psalms in worship in the presence of God the Father.

    Do YOU?

    Talk of JESUS .com

    Comment on Scripture + Share the Gospel


  • Obituary 2: Searching for souls of my family

    Obituary 2: Searching for souls of my family

    Giving up on God

    Today we hearken to the cries of family and the hearts of souls seeking lost meaning not only for the lives of dead (or nearly dead) loved ones, but also crying out for meaning to their own lives. We were born connected to the souls of a family and lament at the loss of any. But crying out to another, pleaing to ‘some One,’ differs from the self-talk of the meaningless question of yesterday’s obituary.

    Yesterday we began this series with a question in song, “Is that all there is? in Obituary: Soul-searching men & women of Dust. We recalled a sweet life which seemed to come up short and introduced the philosophy behind a most famous song where we discovered that these singers and entertainers were part of an extended family with a resolve to pursue life ‘MY WAY.’

    I also suggested your study of an important 20th century philosopher who famously addressed ‘Man’s search for meaning.’ His personal history was well known due to his observations of so many facing death in a concentration camp. Yes, even Frankl discovered that faith in God provides a light of hope in matters of life and death.

    Today’s musical questions

    All those people going somewhere
    Why have I never cared?

    “Is anybody out there? … Does anybody care?”

    What is the difference between the lyrics of these two questioner and the lyrics of yesterday’s post? (Is that all there is?)

    God. Stated differently, the faith of the questioner expressed in song.

    5min 5 sec (if you would like to listen as you read further) Recommend reading the YouTube Comments on this encouraging song focused on Jesus Christ

    What do these lives mean?

    Today’s philosophical question points back to the 20th century. The life and philosophy of Frankl (1905-1997) was grounded in the Great Depression and two World Wars of the 20th century. It is also rooted in Judaism and belief in the Lord God.

    • 1905 – Viktor Emil Frankl is born in Vienna
    • 1914-1918 – WWI – Frankl children sometimes had to beg for food
    • Roaring 20’s, until 1929; then the ‘Great Depression’
    • 1933 – Lillie Klot (stage name: Georgia Brown) born in London, England; Jerome Leiber & Mike Stoller (Is that all there is?) born in US
    • 1940 – Lillie, daughter of Mark and Annie Klot, East European Jewish immigrants, attended school during the London Blitz
    • 1940’s Viktor Frankl survives Nazi concentration camps as many family members perish before liberation by the Americans

    You may have memorialized a few sad biographies of lives cut short in these times. But believe me, as these two songs of today’s post point out God sees lives cut short in these last days of this 21st century as well.

    Family of God

    Is it significant that Frankl and other Jews survived with a higher focus from Scripture ingrained in their memories?

    Scripture instructs the chosen family of God to teach the generations about the Lord. In a follow-up to today’s post we will glance further back into Jewish history from a lesson from the Holy Scripture (of the Old Testament).

    The question today is:

    What do I do when a loved one from MY FAMILY goes against the Lord God?

    And the music playing out in my head:

    Is it a haunting melody of melancholy or perhaps some song which draws your heart to the Messiah of Israel and light of the love of Christ Jesus?

    Original talkofJesus.com post

    Summer Reruns! with picture of sun wearing sunglasses
    Summer 2021 AD {Scriptural} Reruns
    • CLICK “…Continue reading ” above,
    • THEN Ask a question or comment at the end of this post
    • OR email Roger@talkofJesus.com with your reaction, questions & comments.

    Stay tuned from more Summer of 2021 Reruns from talkofJESUS.com

    (ditto: Summer 2022 – more to come)

  • Concerning This Salvation – a letter from Peter – 1

    Concerning This Salvation – a letter from Peter – 1

    Remembering Our Great Salvation

    Who needs to be encouraged more than believers in Christ suffering for His sake? And who trusted the Lord for their salvation more than any?

    First century Christians expelled from Rome and major cities of the Empire.

    Jews dispersed throughout the Empire, seeking to separate their identities from followers of The Way, increasingly persecuted believers of Christ, as did Roman authorities.

    The Apostle Peter writes to the church, primarily in first century cities in modern-day Turkey.

    1 Peter 1:

    Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:

    To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

    Peter’s first encouragement of these persecuted believers of the dispersion is to call them elect or chosen by God the Father. He calls upon imagery of Israel as the Lord’s ‘chosen people.’ These faithful will also know prophesy from scripture of the Lord’s Messiah.

    “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,
    My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
    I have put My Spirit upon Him;
    He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

    Isaiah 42:1 NKJV

    Peter speaks of the foreknowledge ‘through the sanctifying work of the Spirit’ and calls on believers ‘to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.’ This clear reference of his greeting reassures their anointing by the Father, Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

    Grace to you and peace multiplied.

    That the Lord chose you and me, as well as certain believers in these Asian provinces to whom Peter and other Apostles write, is great grace. We have received undeserved mercy and peace through Christ’s immeasurable love for sinners redeemed.

    Even so, Peter continues with an uplifting opening blessing, perhaps familiar to Christians from an opening call to your own worship.

    Blessed be God

    εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν δι’ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν - 1Peter1:3MGNT [Greek New Testament]

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

    1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB

    Before considering the depth of this salvation introduced in Peter’s blessing, read what follows as one who has experienced the persecution of those to whom the Apostle writes:

    6 You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

    8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

    The Salvation of your Souls

    Salvation – σωτηρία – sōtēria { sō-tā-rē’-ä }

    Let’s begin with salvation, ‘the goal of our faith.’ Salvation is first deliverance, preservation, or safety. It includes deliverance from the molestation of enemies and our enemy is satan, ruler of this world, our temporal flesh and angelic opponent to Christ Jesus.

    In an ethical sense, salvation is ‘that which concludes to the soul’s safety,’ guaranteed by the Messiah of God.

    Future salvation is the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God. source: BlueLetterBible.com

    It’s worth mentioning that the root word for salvation in greek is σωτήρ {sōtēr}, meaning savior, deliverer or preserver. Christ Jesus has saved, delivered and preserved all believers born again to a living hope, as Peter encourages us.

    Preserve your body and soul

    Peter speaks here to the church in the plural, souls. Perhaps you recognize the anglicized greek word, psychē, from it much maligned meaning by unbelieving contemporary interpreters of our complex God-given life. Our soul is defined as: the breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing; the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.), as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body).

    Much we could discuss here, yet Peter addresses it sufficiently in his letter to the church, the body of believers saved by Christ Jesus. One form of the greek word for soul used by Jesus address the cooling breath of life of those who no longer believe in God.

    Matthew 24:9-11 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.

    Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. (Peter addresses this later in his letter in 1 Peter 4.)

    Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

    Matthew 24:12 NASB

    A Communion Plea

    communion cup of wine

    We do not presume
    to come to this your table, merciful Lord,
    trusting in our own righteousness,
    but in your manifold and great mercies…

    The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you,

    preserve your body and soul to eternal life.

    Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you,

    and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.


    The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you,

    preserve your body and soul to eternal life.

    Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you,

    and be thankful.

    from The Book of Common Prayer

    The Grace that would come to us

    Now Peter encourages from the foundation of scripture.

    10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

    Prophets also asked about the Christ before His own sufferings for us. Once Jesus suffered, died and rose again, what would follow?

    What follows for believers in Christ?

    In a word, grace.

    Grace – χάρις – charis

    Grace is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.

    Certainly in this mortal life of suffering and persecution these hearers of Peter’s letter must have yearned for a return to a grace guaranteed beyond today.

    Grace is described [by Strong’s concordance] as a gift, a benefit, the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace. It is good will and loving-kindness, the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

    Grace through the Holy Spirit

    Peter assures them that the Prophets prophesied about the grace that would come to you. He testifies that the Spirit of Christ was within them, a reference to the Holy Spirit, living breath of God in the Word of Christ.

    12b These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

    Be Holy

    ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.

    Leviticus 20:26 NASB

    Peter points back to Moses and several commands of the Lord. He uses Jesus’ familial authority of holiness.

    17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work…

    He urges followers of Christ (v.13b), set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And as Jesus taught, Peter urges us to be like Christ as an obedient child of the Father.

    14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

    What’s it like to be holy?

    13-16 [PHILLIPS] So brace up your minds… Live as obedient children before God. Don’t let your character be moulded by the desires of your ignorant days, but be holy in every department of your lives…

    … you should spend the time of your stay here on earth with reverent fear.

    22 [CSB] Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

    Peter’s call to holiness in our Christian living and witness to the world is challenging enough. And for those facing true persecution and opposition to our faithfulness to the Lord, Peter encourages us in our new and permanent salvation in Christ, Redeemer of our sinful souls.

    This brief life of ours

    What more can Peter say to encourage those first century Christians suffering for their true faith in Christ Jesus?

    In fact, Peter has much more to say beginning with cautions about those ‘christians’ who disobey God our Father and Christ. We began this series with “They Stumble Because They Disobey,” from 1 Peter 2.

    Just prior to this, Peter reminds us that by comparison to eternity (and judgment) this mortal life in the flesh is very brief. Comfort to those faced with persecution or death for their faith in Christ.

    Once again, he quotes scripture, specifically the Prophet Isaiah, in the thought connecting their faithfulness and his caution against false prophets.

    Isaiah 40:

    The verses from Isaiah preceding 1 Peter 24-25 will be familiar to the persecuted church of the first century. Prophesy of John the Baptist and Jesus both resound in the powerful imagery of Isaiah 40:1-5.

    All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
    7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
    Surely the people are grass.
    8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    But the word of our God stands forever.

    Isaiah 40:6c-8

    Beloved believer, we are like grass, yet so are opponents to our faith in Christ Jesus. By His grace we know our salvation.

    Isaiah urges us to be a bearer of the Good News.

    “Here is your God!”

    Behold, His reward is with Him

    Like a shepherd He will tend His flock,
    In His arm He will gather the lambs
    And carry them in His bosom;
    He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

    excerpts from Isaiah 40 NASB

    Peter ends this opening of his first letter:

    25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.”
    And this is the word which was preached to you.

    To be continued...

Do you SHARE the Gospel by either email or text?