http://gospeltranslations.org/w/index.php?title=For_the_Love_of_God,_Volume_1/April_27&feed=atom&action=historyFor the Love of God, Volume 1/April 27 - Revision history2024-03-28T11:27:58ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.16alphahttp://gospeltranslations.org/w/index.php?title=For_the_Love_of_God,_Volume_1/April_27&diff=19876&oldid=prevJoyaTeemer: Protected "For the Love of God, Volume 1/April 27" ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))2010-07-28T18:49:30Z<p>Protected "<a href="/wiki/For_the_Love_of_God,_Volume_1/April_27" title="For the Love of God, Volume 1/April 27">For the Love of God, Volume 1/April 27</a>" ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))</p>
<table style="background-color: white; color:black;">
<col class='diff-marker' />
<col class='diff-content' />
<col class='diff-marker' />
<col class='diff-content' />
<tr valign='top'>
<td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">← Older revision</td>
<td colspan='2' style="background-color: white; color:black;">Revision as of 18:49, 28 July 2010</td>
</tr><!-- diff generator: internal 2024-03-28 11:27:58 -->
</table>JoyaTeemerhttp://gospeltranslations.org/w/index.php?title=For_the_Love_of_God,_Volume_1/April_27&diff=19875&oldid=prevJoyaTeemer: Created page with '{{info}} ====APRIL 27==== ''Numbers 4; Psalm 38;'' Song of Songs 2; Hebrews 2 ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATURES of David is his candor. At his best he is transparently hones...'2010-07-28T18:49:24Z<p>Created page with '{{info}} ====APRIL 27==== ''Numbers 4; Psalm 38;'' Song of Songs 2; Hebrews 2 ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATURES of David is his candor. At his best he is transparently hones...'</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{info}}<br />
<br />
====APRIL 27====<br />
<br />
''Numbers 4; Psalm 38;'' Song of Songs 2; Hebrews 2<br />
<br />
ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATURES of David is his candor. At his best he is<br />
transparently honest. That means, among other things, that when there is an array<br />
of things going wrong in his life he does not collapse them into a single problem.<br />
Nothing could be clearer from '''Psalm 38'''. Commentators sometimes try to<br />
squeeze the diverse elements in this psalm into a single situation, but most such<br />
re-creations seem a trifle forced. It is worth identifying some of the most striking<br />
components of David’s misery.<br />
<br />
(1) He is facing God’s wrath (38:1), and (2) suffering from an array of physical<br />
ailments (38:3-8). (3) As a result he is full of frustrated sighing and has sunk<br />
into depression (38:9-10). (4) His friends have abandoned him (38:11). (5)<br />
Meanwhile he still faces the plots and deception of his standard (political) enemies<br />
(38:12). (6) He is so enfeebled that he is like a deaf mute (38:13-14), unable<br />
to speak, for his enemies are numerous and vigorous (38:19). (7) Meanwhile he<br />
is painfully troubled by his own iniquity (38:18).<br />
<br />
One can imagine various ways to tie these points together, but a fair bit of<br />
speculation is necessary. What stands out in this psalm is that even while David<br />
is asking for vindication against his enemies, he does so in the context of confessing<br />
his own sin, of facing, himself, the wrath of God. It is quite possible that<br />
he understands both his physical suffering and even the loss of his friends and<br />
the opposition of evil opponents to be expressions of God’s wrath—which intrinsically<br />
he admits to deserving. In this psalm David does not ask for vindication<br />
grounded in his own covenantal fidelity. He frankly confesses his sin (38:18),<br />
waits for the Lord (38:15), begs God not to forsake him (38:21), entreats God to<br />
help him (38:22) and not to rebuke him in anger and wrath (38:1). In short, David<br />
appeals for mercy.<br />
<br />
This is another face of the vindication theme (see the meditation for April 24).<br />
Yes, we want God to display his justice. In circumstances where we have been<br />
frankly wronged, it is comforting to recall that God’s justice will ultimately triumph.<br />
But what about the times when we are guilty ourselves? Will justice alone<br />
suffice? If all we want from God is justice, what human being will survive the<br />
divine holocaust?<br />
<br />
While pleading for vindication, it is urgently important that we confess our<br />
own sin, and entreat God for mercy. For the God of justice is also the God of grace.<br />
If this be not so, there is no hope for any of us.</div>JoyaTeemer