Ps. 9
“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.” (Ps 9:1) Gratitude is good for what ails us, they say, and I know it’s true. Being grateful can be hard when we are swimming in despair, but David was good at it, even when he was at his darkest times. Notice that he doesn’t just “give thanks”, but that he does it with his whole heart. And as for recounting God’s wonderful deeds? That list ought to keep one occupied for quite some time!
Ps. 11
David is also constantly reminding himself that the wicked will have their day in court and that it will not end well for them. He trusts God explicitly in this point, and we should as well.
John 8:1-27
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7b) This incident with the adulterous woman and Jesus’ statement to her accusers shows the stark contrast between what God’s righteousness (the law) requires and what God’s grace and mercy allows. And it is through Jesus, who fulfills the law, making it obsolete, that God is able to extend His grace and mercy to us. As Jesus pointed out to these self-righteous men, we all deserve death according to God’s righteousness. But Jesus gave mercy.
And Jesus’ statement about being the light of the world – this is another very intentionally timed and placed statement on His part. Remember the Feast of Booths? Another part of that celebration was an “Illumination of the Temple” ceremony, where some very massive menorahs were set up in the Temple courtyard. These things were massive, and would have put out a ferocious amount of light. It was in this courtyard, under these massive lights, that Jesus made this statement. Yet another example of the symbolism in the Jewish feasts that the Jews did not even realize pointed directly to Jesus. So the significance of His statement is far deeper than even what it first seems.