The past couple of weeks have been rough in social media. Some heartbreaking news, some vitriolic ad hominem attacks, and a great deal of saber rattling… but through it all there were moments of genuine iron sharpening iron, where faithful stewards of God’s Word sought to cut through the hyperbole, through the rhetoric, isolating the Truth of the matter from the hurt, enmity, and vengeance. I don’t care to delve back into the who ordeal today, but if you’d like to know to what I’m referring, read here.

In the interest of focusing on what the Word of God teaches us concerning repentance, I thought today we’d take a look at this week’s edition of Grappling with the Text at WEtv.

Grappling: The Cheerful Heart of Proverbs

Proverbs 17:22 (ESV) A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Psalm 32:1-5 (ESV) | Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil of David.
32 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Proverbs 15:13-15 (ESV)
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.
14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV) Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

Such a wonderful lesson taught here, and notice how Rev Bryan Wolfmueller covered both Law and Gospel? Excellent.

In closing, let us look at the following passage toward the end of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:4-9 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The Lord is at hand, do not be anxious, confess your sins to the LORD in prayer and know that He has forgiven you because of Jesus Christ our Savior.

In Christ Jesus,
Jorge