Psalm 36
An oracle within my heart concerning the sins of the wicked:
There is no fear of God before my eyes; my sobriety comes and goes with each passing wind of temptation to lust or sloth; I put up no determined resistance to what is contrary to Holiness. Rather, I flatter myself that if I pay no attention to sin, the transgression will fade to insignificance, the evil wondrously mitigated. Though I discover my iniquity myself, speak condescendingly to my neighbor, despise and belittle my brother, and am embittered against the one who sees my faults, I will conclude that it is but natural; the offense is not great; “God? Who is He?”
When I speak pompous words of intent and activity, I cover myself with filthy deceit. Self-promotion, pride, emptiness more wicked for the fullness it professes – these sins fill my heart and spill from my mouth. True wisdom has long since departed; the mind of man and the heart alone cannot achieve the wisdom of God however vigourously they knock about, poke in the corners, and work to stir up and inflate understanding. A man in sin continuing can know nothing of wisdom, for wisdom, true wisdom, leads to what is God.
Goodness and that man who reconciles himself with ‘one more time’ have chosen paths and gone their ways. A hundred earthly acts of good may be garnered to overshadow his wretchedness, but he cannot reach the goodness of true godliness; he cannot do good anymore than he can stand on water. The works of man cannot produce the righteousness of God.
I have turned from holiness; there can be no good. Even at rest my sins multiply in me and against me; my mind pursues what is not right, it nurtures grievances, it dwells on humbling experiences sighing. But I am unable to sigh and cry over sin; I do not abhor sin – it is my precious, my bosom friend, my heart’s familiar one. It is mine, my pit, and I am loathe not to fall into it.
This is me. Ah help! Oh hope! Where is there freedom, where is my saving from the ‘right way’ of death?
Your mercy, O Lord; if it were not in the heavens,
Your faithfulness, if it was not so high as the clouds,
Your righteousness is rugged and stable,
Your judgments, who can fathom them?
By these we are preserved; by these the birds of the air and the beasts of the field yet live – You uphold them; and You are our preservation.
1 comment:
Sadly, I had an 'inspired' response written which disappeared when I went to get an account set up and I do not have the strength to drudge it up again. Maybe it contained too much of the flesh anyway. It is only that the reality of what you say is so universally true and yet also so universally lost upon the majority of Christendom today. When shall we be free of this our enemy within? Oh, to rise up and overcome in one mighty battle and be done with this endless warfare; but in His wisdom and providence, it is not to be while we yet remain in this life and thus our sonship is to be proved over time through 'fightings and fears, within, without.' May we unite our hands and our hearts to uphold one another even as Aaron and Hur upheld the arms of Moses. "It is required of a steward, that he be found faithful." Lord, grant us the grace to be such faithful servants. Faithful in repentance, faithful to cry out again for grace, mercy and strength, faithful to slay the enemy one more time, lest he rise up and declare victory over us. Oh, our God, you know our hearts, you know our weakness, strengthen us for the days yet remaining, that we may yet be useful for your Kingdom. Grace to you dear brother,
Dave
Post a Comment