A Chat with King David and the Apostle Paul About Life, Death, and God's Glory

 

As I approach my 75th Birthday, I can't avoid some thoughts about mortality. If I were a gallon of milk, the storekeeper would move me to the front of the dairy case--short shelf-life. I'm not whining, just being realistic.

In my devotions today, I read Psalm 6. I'm reading the Psalms from the New Living Translation. Verses 4 and 5 really piqued my interest.

   Return, O LORD, and rescue me. Save me because of your unfailing love. 

   For the dead do not remember you. Who can praise you from the grave? 

At the risk of being jumped on by my Theological watchdog friends, I don't think all of David's prayers

are  good models for my prayer life. Yes, I believe the Psalms are part of God's inspired word and therefore are "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16). Holy Spirit led David to record a poem about a time of struggle in his life. He was faced with formidable enemies (7 & 10). It appears that David was sick. He describes himself as being sick, in agony, and having blurred vision. 

Apparently, there was some sin in David's life. He speaks of God's rebuke and discipline. As I look through David's prayer, though, I don't see a request to be forgiven. In other Psalms, David freely confesses his sin and begs God to forgive him. Psalm 51:1-4 is a notable example. I can't be sure, but I think David had sinned. His sin placed him in a vulnerable position before his enemies and some bodily affliction had invaded David's life. Perhaps it was an illness that was directly sent from God in chastisement, or maybe what David describes is the general malaise that guilt and regret wreck on the health of sinners. At any rate, in the scenario that I think may be behind this psalm, David does repent and seek God's forgiveness, yet, as often is the case, the consequences of David's sin hang on. Sin can be like a nagging cold: "I feel fine, except for this nagging cough."

Don't think me arrogant, but I know more about sin and forgiveness than David. I am more sure of my status with the Lord than he was. I live on the other side of the Cross. I have the benefit of the New Testament. I can stand on this reality: "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1).

So, I come back to Psalm 6:4-5. Some may think that David was trying to make a deal with God. "Save me from this deadly distress and I'll praise You for the rest of my life." Perhaps, but I don't think so. I see in David's prayer a quality that I see in the Apostle Paul's musing and praying about life and death.

   “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,” (Philippians 1:21–25, NASB95)  

Within the minor-key song of the shepherd/warrior/king/song-writer of the Old Testament and the autobiographical thoughts of the Apostle who wrote much of the New, there is a basic truth that I need to hold to, live by, and pray in the light of--my life is not my own. It is God's. It needs to be lived for His glory and it ought to come to its end for the same purpose. 

So Lord, as I approach the fourth quadrant of a century of life on this earth, I ask that you will help me live for your glory. Use me as you choose. When I do come to death's door, may I approach that final transition holding onto the grace that has led me to this point. 

Whether by life or by death, be glorified, Lord.

An article worth reading, especially for those who preach the word, or try to:

 I am on Trevin Wax's mailing list, not his publicity team. :)
I do, however, find his weekly articles stimulating.

This one came to me at a time when I'm involved in some issues of "What does the Bible say about . . .?"
At first, I thought Trevin's excerpts from Augustine (I'm not a scholar on him) were too far in the direction

of being mushy, uncertain, or non-commital in one's hermeneutics. Looking a little more carefully, I think the article punches at errors on both sides.
Clearly the first article that Trevin references in his list which follows his own thoughts strives for an "avoidance of both the right and left ditches that run alongside the road of orthodoxy. I find the reference to Lewis's "Christianity-and" very helpful.

Like me, several of you in this email will be teaching and/or preaching God's word this weekend. Our world needs that--we need that! Give it your best, but know that's not enough, so let's pray for power, wisdom, and skill that goes beyond us.

https://mailchi.mp/f60e8083f6cd/theological-debates-need-less-pride-more-augustine?e=cbe6cfd979

Trevin Wax on doubt and surety, Thanks, Trevin

 I remember a while back, probably a couple of decades ago, when the "emerging church" was a thing. I read Blue Like Jazz, and the other book by that author, about a long trip in an old VW. I read Brian McLaren's book, "A New Kind of Orthodoxy," or something like that. I thought Blue Like Jazz was a

marvelously beautiful, skillfully written book, that in the end was a waste of great talent. I got so mad at McLaren's book that I wanted to throw it across the room. (That was in my pre-digital-book time.) I think a friend of mine did give the volume a heave.

It seemed that the books and the movement in general gloried in doubt. The "seemed" in that last sentence is not an expression of doubt. It's an attempt at humility. The authors bragged about being less sure than anybody else. Reading Trevon Wax's article. Reminded me of those days. I could feel Trevin's hand patting me on the back. "You were right, Howard. Hang in there." I love it when people tell me I'm right--except when I'm not. :) Then, if they are a credible corrector, I listen and, if need be, make the necessary corrections. I hate it when someone with absolute surety tells me I'm wrong just for thinking I'm right, and they act as if they are totally sure about that.

Thanks, Trevin.

You are right.

The rest of you would be right to read what Trevin says.

Treven's article: https://mailchi.mp/e3afdd6f30a1/enough-with-the-valorization-of-doubt?e=cbe6cfd979 

On the Eve of the Inauguration:

 When I put my ear to the cultural-ground I hear a mix of sounds. As one who has the privilege of being a "Minister of the Gospel" (I think that's what my ordination certificate says) I need to make sure that I listen to what I hear and speak truth into this cultural moment with wisdom, compassion, and proper tolerance. Here are some things I'm trying to remember. Perhaps they'll jog your thinking as well.

1. Politics is always messy. By that, I mean that no candidate or government official is all good or all bad. From a Biblical perspective, some are in closer alignment with what is right, while others are seriously out of line. I need to resist the urge to "gush" over those with whom I agree and acknowledge that most of the time those with whom I disagree have some redeeming quality. I need to be cautious about joining the cheering crowd on the bandwagon and resistant to throwing people under the bus.
2. All people are God's special creation. They bear God's image and are therefore worthy of respect. While the saying, "Love the sinner but hate the sin," is often overused and wrongly applied, it's not a bad general guideline. 
3. Yes, a sovereign nation ought to control its borders, and laws need to be respected and enforced. There is growing agreement that sanctuary cities and states are a mistake. Mayor Adams of New York is at least a partial convert.
   But, I have to acknowledge that many immigrants who crossed our border illegally did so for reasons that resonate with me as a husband and father. There are those who were carried across the border as infants. Legally they have no right to be here. Ethically, do I have a right to demand their deportation to a country that is as strange to them as it is to me? I need to avoid overgeneralization on this matter. To quote Micah, I need to, "do justice . . .love kindness, [a]nd . . . walk humbly."
4. Going back to point 1, in politics, nobody is always right, and nobody is always wrong. Mussolini did make the trains run on time. I've had to repent of some of my criticism of the underdressed Senator from PA. Go figure.
5. As we try to teach our kids when they play sports, I need to win humbly and lose gracefully. The words of Republican President Gerald Ford shared at Democrat President Jimmy Carter's funeral are a great example. These men held political convictions that separated them. Ford's loss to Carter in the Presidential election could have made them lifelong enemies. Instead, they formed a friendship that extended past the grave. Lord, give me that kind of grace.
6. Chiefly, I need to, whenever I can, avoid doing or saying anything that will detract from my ability to minister the Gospel.

Lord, I need your wisdom,  compassion, and discernment, especially over the next few days. Amen.