If the relationship is broken, the rules are either ignored or quickly violated. This was true of King Saul and King David. There is a difference, however. King David recognized the broken relationship caused him to violate God’s law.

Most of the time Paul Tripp says things that get to the heart of the heart. Today was no exception. In his “Wednesday Word” he says the following: “Worship is not just something you occasionally do; it’s the foundation of who you are. Whatever has captured the worship of your heart will set the agenda for what you desire, think, say, and choose.”

He then says: “There’s something else that must be said. We tend to think of sin as the breaking of specific rules, like the Ten Commandments. In reality, it’s the breaking of a relationship that results in us breaking the rules. Every sin is first an assault on God’s rightful place, a betrayal of our relationship with him.”

Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV) is King David’s recognition of this reality: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Here is a link to Paul Tripp’s devotional: https://www.paultripp.com/wednesdays-word/posts/how-the-ten-commandments-work