I am not too arrogant to admit that there have been times in my life when I strayed quite far from a Christian life style. The temptation of temporal pleasures caused me to not only sin, but dive in head first into the downward spiral of a sinful lifestyle. The more I partook of that certain sin of that time, the more I wanted to keep doing it. So, when David starts this verse with “transgression speaks to the wicked, deep in his heart,” sadly enough I know exactly what he is talking to. Transgression has a way to spark a fire in the heart of a sinner that can cause him or her to want nothing more than to fuel that fire. And as one feeds that fire with an immoral lifestyle, he or she is actually foolishness enough to think they are getting away with it. Because they can keep it hidden from family, friends, and people, they think their iniquity cannot be found out. Either that or they are so enthralled with their iniquity, they really believe no one would blame them for it even if they did find out. And while you are desperate for more of your sinful passion, there is absolutely no fear of God in your thoughts. This is a pattern that is extremely hard to break. And for those who have never known the steadfast love of the Lord, it can be almost impossible to get out of the grasp of this soul-consuming transgression. And there are so many vices, sins, and passions that transgression can use to pull you into its trap.
Fortunately enough for me, I have known the steadfast love of the Lord. Even while I was running fiercely away from it, I always knew it was there. And in fact, it is the steadfast love of the Lord that is the only thing that can overcome and defeat transgression. Listen to how David compares this transgression that takes over, controls, and dominate to the steadfast love of God. Transgression has the power to overtake the wicked, fill his heart, and cause him to react; however, the steadfast love of the Lord doesn’t just have the potential to fill, it does fill. And not just the heart of a few men, but all of creation. Extending to the heavens, like mountains reaching the clouds, His love fills every part of creation, both man and beast. Instead of lying in bed plotting trouble, the children who know this love, feast on the abundance of His house. They see the light and receive from the fountain of life. Instead of lurking in the darkness desperate to get their next fix to feed something they can’t control, the upright leap in the light, happily receiving their fill of what is generously given to them. The steadfast love of the Lord not only trumps transgression, it is the refuge from it. The upright who have escaped transgression’s death grip find their refuge in the Lord. And as David prays in verse 11, once one is safe in the steadfast love of the Lord, they never want to go back to their old wicked ways. They never want that arrogance to come back over them again. They never want those temptations to drive them away from the presence of the Lord again.
Even Christians find themselves being drawn into transgression's webs, and you may have dark spots on your record of life. However, the steadfast love of the Lord is always bigger. The steadfast love that Jesus Christ won for you you by dying on the cross erases all those dark stains. His love will always trump transgressions bests efforts. Transgression has power, but it is limited. God is all-powerful that can rescue anyone from even the tightest clutches of evil. Christ has overcome the darkness so that you can always be in the light. Your heart has evil tendencies, but Christ died to claim your heart as His own and fill it with His steadfast love. If you are caught in that downward spiral of transgression right now, call on the Lord and beg Him for His steadfast love to come rescue you, bring you back into the light, and be your refuge. If you have been in that spiral before but still feel ashamed of those previous acts of evil and arrogance, trust in the steadfast love of the Lord. His forgiveness is REAL! Which means those sins are not only forgiven, they are completely gone. Quit dwelling on your tainted record and start feasting on His abundance! If you are in the refuge of His wings, feasting on His abundance, living in His love, still continue to pray this psalm. Let this psalm be a reminder that transgression is a real enemy, but also a reminder that it is a defeated enemy. Pray that you may not be swept back into those old sinful habits, but rather remain and abide in the steadfast love of our Lord! Amen.
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