Journal Ps 100-103 (all references are from the ESV unless noted otherwise; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh, when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.
(Tone changes)
I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me…whoever slanders his neighbor secretly, I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure…he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me…Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land…” (excerpts from Ps 101:1-8)
Observation: There are times when reading from the Old Testament will have somewhat of a mixed message to New Covenant Believers.
Analysis: Right off the bat I confess reading a mystery—how do I reconcile much of what I read in Ps 101 to the Gospel?
I acknowledge perhaps this Psalm is something to “read in to”; to have a heart of resistance to evil and not have active arms raised to oppose evil.
The question then becomes, “When do I obey verbatim, and when do I obey metaphorically?” This question contributes to the practice of “cherry picking” scripture and dulls “taking things out of context” for the harvest of “wall plaque and bumper sticker” promises.
Should I raise my hands to worship Almighty God, sing of His steadfast love and justice?
Should I declare my intention to God in worship to walk within the integrity of my heart?
Should I sing and make music, new music, sing new songs to God for He is worthy?
Yes, I should.
Should I declare that I intend to and will destroy all who do evil, tell lies, deceive the weak, promote idols and sin like there isn’t any tomorrow; Destroy the arrogant of heart and gossipers?
Commit violence on those whom Jesus died for?
The dichotomy is evident from the Ps 101 passage.
The problem is that there will be some who will identify with the taking up of arms against evil and find validation to do so here…and so invalidate what Jesus said in the Gospels and what is found in the New Testament.
I think that the issue can be that believers can get sidetracked and start to believe that superiority over the “heathen” comes with redemption. We forget that, because of Jesus, we are just like them all:
I was condemned under your law; Rightly I stood accused.
I felt my need, my conscience agreed, I was without excuse.
So how can I judge the ones who fall?
I know in my heart I’m just like them all,
I will confess my righteousness, Jesus, must rest in you.
Lyrics from “Judge of the Secrets”, Grace has Come (Songs from the Book of Romans), songwriter Dave Fournier.
Therefore, to what/whom is the battle against. Scripture indicates that our warfare is not PRIMARILY against the spiritual realm, but to the Face in the Mirror and the warfare within my own heart that wants to rebel every chance it gets:
- “…but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members…” Rom 7:23
- “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this: That your passions are at war within you?” James 4:1
- “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh (which wage war against your soul).” 1 Pet 2:11
Even the Psalmist, while declaring this to God, reminds us to…”Have regard for the covenant (the unilateral promise of God to us), for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.” Ps 74:20
I am reminded that I don’t turn away from evil, for the Gospel is mighty in all respects. I am reminded that I cannot have haughty eyes and a superior attitude to unbelievers. I do not know how Jesus conducted himself with the devil after 40 days in the desert, but I will bet it wasn’t anywhere close to looking like He was pulling rank on the Serpent.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I am writing this prayer, I remember Gethsemane and Peter; all hot and bothered, wanting to defend Your honor and cut off the guy’s ear with the sword. Peter resorted to violence to defend holiness and You rebuked him.
People are doing that today against all sorts of evil things. And those, in your Name. Shades of Matt 7…
Please help me to see things with your eyes and heart, remembering Your Word, not what I imagine your word to be.
Amen.
Ricky Two Shoes