God’s Remarkable Response to David’s Sin

Psalm 38 finds David in a low place, brought low by his sin. Whereas in other Psalms he lays claim on his innocence and seeks deliverance, here he bemoans of his guilt.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones because of my sin. -Psalm 38:3

In this couplet, David suffers a strickenness in direct result of his sin. We find it throughout the Psalm.

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,

I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.

But David’s desolate condition is not merely the result of sin: he suffers too from the hand of God.

I know this because verse 3 informs me of it. The lack of health and soundness in David’s body is given two causes. These are God’s indignation and David’s sin, and they are inextricable.

To think that God is so gracious to be ambivalent to our sin is to misunderstand God and to belittle the devastation of sin. It is also to misunderstand grace.

Sin is not a mere quirk or untimely hiccup, it is an offense against God.

Grace is not overlooking sin, but acknowledging it face on and atoning for it. Hearing the vulgar rebukes of his mockers, Jesus, pinned to the stake cried, “Father, forgive them! For they know not what they do.” Jesus embodies perfect grace.

And God would not be God if our sin did not stir within Him an indignation. He is the Holy One.

God cares too much about us to be the ambivalent friend. Indeed, God disciplines those he loves, that they might not suffer continually from their sin. David tangibly describes God’s discipline in verse 2:

For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

The greatest reminder from this Psalm for me is that my sin affects God and rouses from Him a response. Here it is called indignation. Paul later calls it grief (Eph 4:30). It is remarkable that the Infinite, Perfect, and Immense Creator of the Universe could have such an affection for me that my minute comings and goings could sway Him–Him! That truth is indeed too marvelous to behold.

We could never comprehend the complexities of the emotions of God, nor the perfect means by which God mingles his love for his children with his hatred of sin. But as we grow nearer to his heart, the more wisely will we live and the more fully will we love. While my sin is forgiven and atoned for, it still stirs the heart of my Father. May I be sensitive to Him and desire deeply to please Him. God help me!

God, Genocide, and the Big Red Button

To read the Bible is to grapple with the ugliest shades of life. Shades of darkness, terror, incest, war, rape, and the like. Contrary to our childhood Sunday school classes, many of the stories are starkly graphic and disturbing.
Why?

Well, it is unfortunately true to life. It is not unfortunate that the Bible is continually relevant for thousands of years, but rather it is unfortunate that life is indeed so grim.

The following passage reveals a grim moment.

Thus says the LORD of hosts,

“I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”

– 1 Samuel 15:2-3

In this passage, we see the LORD commanding Saul to destroy the Amalekites, and later, He enables Saul to essentially do so. Some escape (we see their descendents harassing future Israel), and Saul does not follow his order completely. But largely, this genocide does indeed occur, which raises some questions: why would God order a war of this scale, eliminating even the women and children? And how can this God be good or trustworthy?

My intention is to show that God is good–indeed the source of all Goodness and in Himself Goodness perfected.

It is common for a pastor or teacher to give all of the reasons why such a commissioned catastrophe would be warranted. And, granted, surely there are many. The sins of the Amalekites is no small measure. And for Israel to remotely survive, they need to be defeated. But even such an explanation would likely be challenged by many who argue for the innocence of–at least–the children. So, the argument that the Amalekites got what was coming to them, may not stand in the eyes of our culture.

How then, can God still be good?

God is still good here only if indeed we and the Amalekites have total depravity–meaning, the only way God is righteous is if the children are truly unrighteous and if unrighteousness’ penalty is death.

There is no room in the Bible for the humanist view that people are innately good. Our world should convince us otherwise, but those that disregard diety must–for the sake of their sanity–find goodness somewhere. In the Bible, God is God and the only one that is Good. He is perfectly just in taking life. He owes us nothing. To our American, man-centered brains, this bewilders and frustrates. We want a God that is man-centered: working tirelessly for our “glory.”

But do we really?

Do we actually want a God that is man-centered in His workings? A God that would never be capable of killing the Amalekites?

I contend we do not.

Our souls were made for basking in glory. We cry and quiver and shout in stadiums and theaters and National Parks–places designated for displaying glory. But even our best worldly commencements and parades and victories fail us. Our sports icon spouts off racist remarks. Our American hero cheats on his spouse. Our elected officials make mistakes. Under the costume or uniform, we know that it’s a lie. Their glory is tainted; our satisfaction in vain.

A God who intentionally purported such glories of man, would do unto us the worst evil. It would be like being served a veggie burger when one asked for beef.

God is good because He is committed to glorifying Himself to us. It is indeed only what will satisfy us. A God so committed to man that He would be incapable of judging people or killing the Amalekites is no God at all. He would be but a cosmic prostitute–a play-thing for self-enjoyment.

It is difficult to overcome a man-centered worldview, even as a Christian. But a thorough knowledge of our depravity should help. We should know that inwardly we are all tainted pictures. None deserve their life–not to mention an eternal one. And yet God gives more grace. And yet He loves. It is refreshing to return to a true consciousness of our sin, for confession begets repentance. And repentance is the true calling of a perfect God to a broken man. Praise God for His relentless invitation to repent in the midst of our deep depravity.

Samuel’s Burden to Pray

In an address to the people, Samuel, the part-priest, part-prophet, part-judge of Israel, says the following when the people urge Samuel to not stop interceding on their behalf:

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.” – 1 Samuel 12:23

Oh Lord, may I realize the depths of my sin by neglecting to pray for those you have put around me! Samuel’s statement touches on an oft-neglected obligation: the command to pray.

It is common to hold prayer for others as beneficial, loving, and–unfortunately–entirely optional. We can forget that Jesus says things like “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44), meaning, “like yes, actually do it.” Samuel feels deeply this burden of prayer, equating ceasing it with sinning against the Lord. I think, at best, I might view my neglected prayer as (maybe?) sinning against those I’m failing to pray for, but likely not against the Lord!

There are likely two reasons I see why we wouldn’t pray:

1. We don’t actually believe that prayer works.

For whatever reason, we haven’t taken to heart God’s command to pray. Perhaps we are discouraged about unanswered prayer in our past, perhaps we doubt God’s ability or desire to hear us, or perhaps we think that God’s sovereignty rules out His desire to work through our prayers. Whatever it is, we must wrestle through these doubts.

2. We don’t actually love the people for whom we are called to pray.

This is true for everyone. Due to our humanity, we will fall short of how we are to love. But, luckily, if we can realize this, our first step is confession and prayer to the Lord, who can impart a Godly compassion to us. Praise God that we are not left alone in our sin, but by His Spirit, God will continue to mold his children into the likeness of Jesus.

May we, full of faith in a God who hears prayer and love for the people around us, feel too Samuel’s burden to pray.