Summary of the Bible in a Year: 14. Praise!’'

 Psalm 118:19 ESV

 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord.

We know David the psalmist wasn't naturally righteous. He was a murderer and an adulterer. So how could he be so importunate as to ask for the gates of righteousness to be opened to him?

David was a man after God's own heart. He knew that God delights to transform the unrighteous into righteousness. God did that for him, notwithstanding awful consequences for his sins.

If God opens up the gates of righteousness for us, that isn't cause for us to be all self congratulatory. Instead, it calls for us to praise the Lord. This is what we're created for.

Ingratitude is ugly. Thankfulness is beautiful and fitting for us. May God help us to be so.

'God, please help us to be thankful to you for opening up the gates of righteousness to us, in Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray, amen'.


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