Psalm 19; Exodus 19:1-9a; 1 Peter 2:4-10

a woman holding a poster of a winky face over her own face

Sometimes I read through these passages and only one thing strikes me. Sometimes, I see a whole bunch of things. It’s never the same twice. Psalm 19 is a passage that has been significant for Amy and I. We loved reading it together while looking at the stars and moon when we were dating. Cheesy, I know, but hey, we are cheesy. The 1 Peter 2:4-10 is one of those passages that I seem to come back to all the time in life and ministry and the Exodus passages is the foundation for it.

So what struck me today?

They (God's words) are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:10-13)

What really leapt off the page, “But who can discern their own errors?" Woof. Ain’t that the truth! We so often think we know ourselves so well, but the fact of the matter is we need something or someone outside us to help us discern our errors.

The Psalmist here suggests that God’s words can do so. I think in some way that may be true, if we allow ourselves to be honest. However, I think more so we need to be dealing with the Scriptures in community with other people we trust.

Either way, we have to choose to be teachable so as to receive the discerning input in to our lives. I too often don’t want to hear about my errors and I certainly don’t want hidden faults revealed. Yet, if we can enter into that process then we can be “innocent of great transgressions."

You see, if I can deal with the hidden faults, they never become great transgressions. When I have struggled with various sin issues in my life the root of them is often something small that I had not dealt with.

Today I am asking the Divine to show me a hidden fault that I need to bring into the light.