Forgive Me, Lord - Part 9

Forgive Me, Lord - Part 9

Have you noticed, like I did, the very odd statement that David makes in verse 8?

Psalms 51:8

“Make me to hear joy and gladness,

Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.”

Broken bones? Did God cripple David? Why would he rejoice about that?

Let me explain what’s going on here. David doesn’t have any broken bones. His bones have been “broken” metaphorically. He’s talking about the remarkable ability of God to take people who are at the lowest point of their lives, pick them up and make something beautiful out of their hopeless mess. God does his best work with men and women who have been completely humbled and broken.

Our view of God is much clearer when we are lying flat on our backs unable to stand up. In fact, let’s be clear, there are times when God puts us there for that very reason.

I used to speak to men at the local jail who have found themselves in that very place in life. There’s not much in life that is more earth-shattering and humbling than finding yourself in jail.

When that happens, I talk about the “splat factor.” It goes something like this: you never thought this would happen to you and, yet, here you are. You have hit the bottom and you are questioning everything; your life, your future, your relationships and your next step. Now, you have to ask yourself this question: “Am I going to bounce or am I going to splat?”

In other words, can I use this to make myself better or am I going to let it destroy me? God often brings us to that point for that very purpose. He “breaks our bones” to get our attention and turn our lives around.

Are you broken today? Are you at a loss on how to pick yourself up? God is waiting for you to humble yourself, cry out to Him, turn from your former life and confess that you need a change. You need Him.

That’s what we call a come-to-Jesus moment. Every Christian has had to face a moment like that. It’s what new lives are built upon.