Contemplative Bible Reading

Psalms 24:3-4 (New International Version)

³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

Who could approach God under the old law? Only those with clean hands and a pure heart.

Clean hands? Wash with soap and water. Well, not literally. This meant my hands were free from the stains of blood of murder and other malice. My hands were clean from stolen goods; my hands were clean from abusing others.

A “pure heart” seems obvious, but difficult to achieve. I mean, I don’t hate anybody. Maybe I don’t like the guy who pulled in front of me on the road yesterday or the man at work who kept wasting my time with silly ideas, and then there is the guy who was just doing his job, but wouldn’t do what I wanted him to do instead. I mean, I don’t hate those people. You know?

Excuses.

So I don’t have a pure heart. I am have pretty good one. Not good enough for the old law.

God, I am so thankful that I am not under the old law. Thank you for the new covenant through Jesus. Thank you for your grace. Help me to never forget how wonderful it is and to never stop living a life of thankfulness.