Be Still . . .
Devotionals for Daily Living
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(Psalms 51:10 (NIV))
Most of us can quote this passage as it is translated in the American Standard Version, below.
Create in me a clean heart, O God;
And renew a right spirit within me.
(Psalms 51:10 (ASV))
To be honest with you, that translation is so ingrained in my mind, that it is what I see no matter what translation I may be reading. Today, I think I truthfully read the New International Version for the first time. There were subtle nuances that became obvious to me.
Consider the two words that are used to describe the heart. One uses the word “clean,” which implies that all dirt has been removed as in a clean cup. The other uses the word “pure,” which implies a deeper cleanliness or purity. Consider a bar of gold. It can be dirty or it can be clean. Do either of these states cause any difference in the value of the gold. If you consider the purity of the bar of gold, we have a completely different understanding. If the bar of gold was 95% pure, it wouldn’t be worth as much as if it were 100% pure.
With this in mind, do you want a clean heart or a pure heart?
Copyright 1998 – 2018 Dennis J. Smock
Daily Living Ministries, Inc.
http://www.dailylivingministries.org
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