Kept from My Iniquity

"I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity."

Psalm 18:23

In Psalm 18, David affirmed the rewards God gives those who are righteous before Him, and Christians are accounted as righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.  No Christian is a perfect person.  By virtue of being a Christian, it is an public acknowledgment of being a sinner and needing a Saviour.  David said he was blameless before God, and he kept himself from his iniquity.  This dynamic is very insightful for God's people to understand--how we are drawn away by our own lust, and when we are enticed to satisfy lust it conceives and brings forth sin which results in death (James 1:13-15).

Jesus has cleansed Christians by providing atonement by shedding His own blood, and though believers are completely forgiven of sin we continue to live in physical bodies that have been corrupted by sin.  We have been born again and given new hearts, yet living in a body of flesh in a fallen world with ever-scheming Satan prowling around means temptation persists.  Having our sins forgiven does not mean our minds are wiped from memories or that our bodies suddenly lose all fleshly appetites.  As drips of water over time can wear away stone, so sinful suggestions and temptations can wear down the believer's resolve:  our minds remember what we would rather forget, and our flesh hungers for selfish satisfaction of its senses.  Joseph was pestered by Potiphar's wife, and youthful lusts can seductively beckon the most august saint.

David said he kept himself from his sin, sin that was harboured in his heart and members, sin that lies dormant and keen to awaken like weeds that spring up when conditions are hospitable.  To avoid the stirring of our desire coupled with opportunistic action, we might prefer to live in a perpetual spiritual winter where snow blankets the ground and weeds cannot possibly grow.  Yet the frozen earth of winter means there can be no cultivation of crops and no fruitfulness.  God has wisely employed a cycle of seasons with a time for every purpose under heaven.  A season of cultivation, growth and bountiful harvest does allow for unwelcome weeds that shoot up and propagate unless they are quickly uprooted.  Similar to what we observe in nature, prime times of spiritual growth can also include opportunity for sin to spout and spread.

The child of God must remain vigilant to keep God's ways, remember His judgments, keep ourselves from iniquity, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, convicts us of sin, and empowers us to be faithful witness of Jesus.  Having been forgiven, cleansed of guilt and born again, we are to guard our hearts and labour to remain pure from our defilements that corrupt us from within.  David did not only keep himself from iniquity, but his iniquity.  It was not "sin" in a general sense but specific and personal iniquity that arose in his own heart and mind, the natural tendency of his human frame to lead him away from obedience to God and feed the flesh.  Knowing we are kept by God who loves us and who demonstrated this by giving us His only begotten Son Jesus, we ought to keep ourselves from our iniquity.  By God's strength and grace, we can.

Triggers Aren't the Problem

A word that has increased in popularity and use lately is "triggered."  It suggests something heard, seen or experienced has stirred a strong response within a person, an arousal of memories or feelings from past trauma.  In keeping with mankind's tendencies that go back to the Garden of Eden, it places blame on what others do rather than taking personal responsibility for our responses.  It puts on the onus on others to avoid a minefield of our potential "triggers" because of the volatile reactions that will certainly result--and justify by blaming anyone but ourselves.  The idea is others are guilty of "triggering us," and we ought not be responsible for our reaction.

Those who embrace the term "triggered" to justify violent outbursts do well to consider how triggers in firearms work.  When a live round is chambered, the safety is taken off and the trigger of a gun is pulled, an incredibly fast chain reaction begins:  the hammer strikes the primer in the casing which ignites powder that propels the projectile from the muzzle of the firearm at great speed.  In a semi-automatic firearm, the spent casing is ejected and another round automatically loaded.  Another pull of the trigger is required to fire the next shot, and this process can be completed until the magazine is empty.  Pulls of the trigger with an empty magazine means no additional rounds can be fired.

When people find themselves "triggered," rather than trying to eliminate potential triggers a person is better served to ensure they are not like a loaded gun with the safety off.  When there are no bullets in a gun, it cannot fire and poses no risk to the shooter or others:  only a quiet "click" results when the trigger is pulled.  Nothing happens.  Should we find ourselves triggered, it says something about the condition of our hearts.  Keeping the ammunition separate from the gun, installing a trigger lock, ensuring the safety is on and the firearm placed in a gun safe prevents accidental shootings, injuries and deaths.  The trouble is, there is no safety on human hearts, minds and mouths.  We can be like loaded firearms with a hair-trigger, almost wanting to go off on everything that bothers and annoys us.

The wonderful thing is those who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ are no longer at the mercy of how we feel, past trauma or experiences.  Jesus is our Saviour who makes us new creations in Him and gives rest, healing and perfect peace to those who trust Him.  His love, protection and mercy has a disarming effect upon the violence, hate and murder that festers in our hearts.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, our new inclination is to humble ourselves before God than to lash out at others.  1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."  A firearm without live ammunition can shoot no bullets, and God is able to put a safety on all triggers.  As recipients of His mercy, we are no longer at the mercy of what is out of our control.

From a biblical viewpoint, avoiding triggers does nothing to solve our problems:  we ought to keep live ammunition out of the chamber by casting our cares on God in faith.  As we ought to keep firearms in a locked safe or holstered with the safety on, we ought to refuse to take shots at others when we must address the proud, violent and hateful tendencies that reside in our own hearts.  Being reminded is not the same as being triggered, and being mindful of God's love for us we are comforted and find rest--not agitation and trouble without end.

Our Stubborn Way

"And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way."

Judges 2:19

A student of the Bible ought to be a careful observer of words and their meaning.  Since God has chosen to communicate with people through His written word, it remains a primary way of effectively communicating with others.  Confusion and consternation is caused when the definition of a word used does not agree with how others define it.  Over time the meaning of words can change and some of the intrinsic implications can erode, and it is beneficial to retain the original definition of words when they have been hijacked by modern sensibilities or through ignorance.  And I am not speaking about Hebrew or Greek, for the working knowledge of our own language lays a solid foundation of understanding that can be built upon.

Even as muscles atrophy from lack of use, the definition of words can become flabby and weak.  Meaning once clearly conveyed can be slowly lost over time.  While studying Judges recently, I happened upon the word "stubborn" several times, and I looked into how it is defined and the way it is used in the Bible.  I have heard people call others stubborn as a negative trait, and the same person can use the same term to refer to themselves in a positive sense.  As is typical with words, there is a range of definitions to filter through.  The Cambridge Dictionary defines "stubborn" without passing judgment:  "A stubborn person is determined to do what he or she wants and refuses to do anything else."  The 1828 Webster's Dictionary is a bit stronger:  "Unreasonably obstinate; inflexibly fixed in opinion; not to be moved or persuaded by reasons."  The word is described as "refractory" which means, "Sullen or perverse in opposition or disobedience; obstinate in non-compliance."

Looking at the word "stubborn" from a biblical perspective, it is always spoken of in a negative sense and is often coupled with rebellion.  While people may use the word stubborn to indicate a person who is resolute, steadfast, perseverant and persistent--all good traits when applied to doing what is right--the Bible does not use it in this sense.  "Stubborn" is a good description of people determined to go their own way; it is one who is unreasonable and will not be persuaded by any evidence.   Biblically speaking, someone who is stubborn will not submit to God or His correction and remains unwilling to listen to or be moved by Him.  Psalm 78:8 says it indicates one whose heart is not right, disloyal to God and unfaithful to Him.  Deuteronomy 21:18-21 shows under Mosaic Law a stubborn and rebellious son who persisted in disobedience, who refused to be corrected of gluttony and drunkenness despite discipline, was to be brought to the elders and face the death penalty "...to put away the evil from you, and all Israel shall hear and fear."

So the next time you refer to someone else or yourself as stubborn, consider the biblical implications of this word.  It may be a badge of honour among some to be stubborn, but to me it conveys foolishness and rebellion against God I want no part of.  Knowing how the Bible speaks of stubbornness also makes me careful not to flippantly brand others of being stubborn.  In using this word I will yield to the perspective of Scripture, lest God show me to be stubborn myself--full of my own thoughts and ways with no consideration of Him.  Blessed are those who are persuaded by God's word and yield to Him, for He is truth and wisdom.

God's Pure Word

The Bible has richness and depth as the living word of God that speaks to our hearts.  Psalm 12:6-7 says, "The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. ⁷ You shall keep them, O LORD, you shall preserve them from this generation forever."  When people slanderously claim the Bible has been corrupted, it is a direct attack upon God, His truth and His ability to do what all He promises.  Jesus said the heavens and earth will pass away, yet God's word will never pass away.  Even as God is holy and preserves His redeemed people forever, so he will preserve His word from those who try in vain to attack, dismiss or undermine it.

In Amos 3, the LORD through the prophet asked a series of rhetorical questions that generally all would be answered "no."  For instance, Amos 3:5 reads:  "Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all?"  How could a bird fall into a net if the trap was not prepared or there was no bait?  Hunters are confident snares do not trip themselves, and if the trap was sprung he would be confident either a person or animal was responsible.  After asking seven of these questions, Amos 3:7 provides the point God was making with complete confidence:  "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets."

God's faithful character to communicate with His people is seen throughout the Bible.  Genesis 18:17-18 provides an example:  "And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?"  The problem is not that God has remained silent but people seldom believe or heed what He has said.  He told Adam before temptation came the day he ate of the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden he would surely die, yet Adam chose to listen to his wife and the serpent who claimed eating the fruit imparted divine status.  Had Adam believed and listened to God, he would not have considered a single bite.  While God has not told us all things (for we are not able to receive all due to our limited understanding) God has communicated everything we need to know through the Bible, and in these last days God has spoken to us through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2).

Before His crucifixion Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:15, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you."  God's word has been carefully preserved from corruption by God, and He remains faithful to speak to His people who will hear and obey Him.  The angel wisely said to John in Revelation 19:10, "...worship God:  for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."  How blessed we are to have the pure word of God in our possession, and no lies, slander or scoffing can pollute it.  As God's people by faith in Jesus, let us be those who treasure God's word by keeping it.  He has preserved it pure, and may our lives reflect the purity of our Saviour Jesus.