Psalm 51 (Day 35): Humility

Continuing with my 50 days of waiting for Pentecost Sunday (June 8), I began reflecting on verse 13 yesterday:

"Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,

and sinners will turn back to You."

It led me to see that the humility of a convicted heart is the ideal platform for teaching. So, then who should be teaching? Who needs to be taught? What curriculum must be imparted and imbibed? What is the purpose of such teaching? 

As I pray for guidance, here is God's revelation to me:

Who should be teaching?

Anyone who has been humbled to see that his/her heart is coated with sin and undeserving of God's grace; anyone who has become overjoyed by daily experiencing the sweetness of surrendering that very heart to God. Like David, all such persons are psalmists of sorts, writing pedagogical poems for the people of God, sharing living testimonies of God's truths with others who have ears to hear what the Spirit reveals. Our "psalms and poems" may simply be text messages, phone conversations, emails, or dinner exchanges but as long as they are guided by the Spirit of God, they can bear much spiritual fruit.

Who needs to be taught?

This verse calls all prospective students of God's ways "transgressors" and "sinners," effectively including everyone on earth -- regardless of status, gender, fame, or consequence. Once humbled, we can see that we have a ready platform. We can talk to family members, confidants, friends, co-workers, and others placed on our paths. We can trace the history of God's gracious wonders in our lives and tell people about them so that, together, all of us can learn to honor God and live godly lives in the present. Together, we can be mutually encouraged by each other's faith and testimony.

What curriculum must be imparted and imbibed?

David suggests that God's ways should be taught to all sinners and transgressors from a "then" perspective -- which, as you and I learned yesterday, is a gentle and humble place resulting from a heart convicted by the Holy Spirit. From such a place, we can share God's deeds, miracles, wonders, warnings, commands, blessings, promises, invitations, etc. We can teach them that sin has been vanquished by the blood of the Lamb. We can encourage each other to use our ears to hear, our minds to understand, and our hearts to learn and know God's message of hope and truth.

What is the purpose of this teaching?

This verses tells us that "sinners will turn back to [God]." Therefore, we can confidently conclude that the purpose of this teaching is complete transformation. You and I are invited to teach the individuals God has placed in our circles of influence with humility and gentleness so that both they and we will cease our stubbornness and rebellion, that we will turn from wickedness and waywardness, and that we would develop loyal hearts and faithful spirits to God.

Today, would you and I embrace humility? May the way we walk and talk be the humble and gentle "teaching" that serves as a reminder and the proof that God's Word is true! May we position ourselves under the instruction of the Holy Spirit as we teach others to know that God's nature and gracious commands are relevant in our day! To God alone be the glory!