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BEHOLD
YOUR GOD! (1) "If only you would slay the wicked, O God!" (v19) The flower Lysichiton Americanus is very beautiful from a distance. But at closer range it proves less attractive, discharging as it does an odour of rotting flesh to attract flies for pollination. No surprise that it's commonly termed Yellow Skunk Cabbage. Psalm 139 has been called 'the crown of the psalter' and displays soaring poetic imagery. But on closer inspection one cannot avoid noticing an unpleasant smell. Verses 19-22 express unmitigated hatred against the wicked and call upon God to slay them. Such a request (v19) may seem shocking. But we should be slow to condemn it. The psalmist is certainly loyal to God. He's careful to specify that it's God's enemies he's cursing. He refers to bloodthirsty people who hate God, who rebel against God and who abuse God's name with evil intent. Perhaps the smell isn't in the psalm but in the world? Pope Pius XII ruled the Roman Catholic church throughout World War II. He was responsible for much commendable humanitarian work amongst prisoners. But he is chiefly remembered today as the man who refused to criticize Nazi atrocities. For the sake of his Church it seemed politic at the time to sit on the fence. But there is little sympathy now for that position. History does not usually admire moral fence-sitters. And this psalmist is not a fence-sitter. He has taken sides. God's enemies are counted as his enemies (v22). Is that really so bad? The psalmist is also honest. He's not secretly the same as the God-hating rebels he curses. He unequivocally surrenders himself to God (vv23-24). So he's no hypocrite. He's truly different from those he condemns. Above all, the psalmist is wise - wise in three areas: Understanding. Psalm 139 reveals a remarkable grasp of theology. It tells us that theology is founded upon God's knowledge of us, not vice versa. This makes theology uniquely different from all other sciences. Theology is not formulated through the philosophical exploration of our world. Such studies lead only to agnosticism - or worse, idolatry. True theology starts with divine revelation that is personally experienced. Through that received revelation our world can then be examined and understood. This explains why clever people may be unable to grasp spiritual truth that is often understood by simple people. "Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" (1 Cor 1:20). The psalm goes on to describe God's other characteristics - all of which are related in terms of personal experience. Not only is God all-knowing (vv1-6), he's all-present (vv7-12) and all-powerful (vv13-18). This means that we cannot hide anything from God and we can't escape his presence. It also means that we're mad to ignore his purposes for our life. Is not proud rebellion against this God to be condemned? Can we really despise and denounce the psalmist's imprecations? Intention. The psalm-writer's wise intention is to be led in "the way everlasting" (v24). He appreciates that God has provided a way with a future, and he entrusts himself to that. Action. In his wisdom, the psalmist also recognizes the indispensable need for surrender. His theology has led him to humility and repentance. And that means taking sides as vv19-22 so plainly show. There can be no fence-sitting for the true penitent believer. Perhaps we all need to review our attitudes to the omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent God Psalm 139 describes. Those who haven't surrendered to this God and entrusted their lives to his perfect purposes need to do so without delay. But both believer and backslider also need to remember that this God can't ever be fooled, hidden from or defied. Behold your God! |
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© Holy Trinity Lyonsdown |
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