The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation. (Psalm 18: 46)
In the Eighteenth Psalm David is feeling especially full of himself. His pride, arrogance, and aggressiveness pour off the page. But the saving grace of this most complex of saints was David's real and deep relationship with God. In defeat or in victory, at his most rational or his most delusional, David lived with God.
For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God?— the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me; your help has made me great. You gave me a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed. (Psalm 18:31-37)
I am convinced that David often misunderstood God's intention. David often applied his great gifts and fulsome faith to purposes that God despised. Scripture recounts that David was not allowed to build the temple because of his bloody deeds. But God forgave and loved David, despite his profound errors - and David knew and received this love and forgiveness because of his total openness to God.
I am surely as error-prone as David. I may avoid his most aggressive and murderous sins. But in comparison with God's intention and the potential God has given me, my sins of omission are at least as grave as those David boldly committed.
Do I live with God, as David clearly did? This is a crucial question. I will never be so sufficient in wisdom and love that I might avoid sin. But in a full relationship with God even my failures can be transformed. In relationship with God, my misunderstandings and mistakes are not just forgiven, they can become a source of healing, creating, and loving.
Dear God, I am inclined to judge David. Help me instead to learn from him.
In the Eighteenth Psalm David is feeling especially full of himself. His pride, arrogance, and aggressiveness pour off the page. But the saving grace of this most complex of saints was David's real and deep relationship with God. In defeat or in victory, at his most rational or his most delusional, David lived with God.
For who is God except the Lord? And who is a rock besides our God?— the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe. He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me; your help has made me great. You gave me a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed. (Psalm 18:31-37)
I am convinced that David often misunderstood God's intention. David often applied his great gifts and fulsome faith to purposes that God despised. Scripture recounts that David was not allowed to build the temple because of his bloody deeds. But God forgave and loved David, despite his profound errors - and David knew and received this love and forgiveness because of his total openness to God.
I am surely as error-prone as David. I may avoid his most aggressive and murderous sins. But in comparison with God's intention and the potential God has given me, my sins of omission are at least as grave as those David boldly committed.
Do I live with God, as David clearly did? This is a crucial question. I will never be so sufficient in wisdom and love that I might avoid sin. But in a full relationship with God even my failures can be transformed. In relationship with God, my misunderstandings and mistakes are not just forgiven, they can become a source of healing, creating, and loving.
Dear God, I am inclined to judge David. Help me instead to learn from him.
posted by Didymus | 4:26 AM
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