Sometimes the psalms make me uncomfortable. They are too blunt. Sometimes they just go too far for my sinful
sensibilities. Sometimes they seem to
claim too much. Take today’s psalm for
instance.
“Vindicate me, O LORD …,” say most of the
modern translations, but the King James is closer to the original. “Judge me, O LORD, for I, in my integrity, I have walked….” (my translation) The author, King David, is so emphatic
pointing to his integrity, so bold to call on God to judge him, and so
confident that God will find him to be in the right! He displays audacious hope in the LORD being on His side.
“Prove me!”
“Examine me!” “Try me!” “Test my heart!” “Test my innermost self!” The word translated “mind” in all the modern
translations literally means “kidney” – the most internal self.
I think that I would shun that kind of
scrutiny. How about you?
“I wash my hands in innocence and go around
your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.” Here
we see the source of David’s confidence before the LORD. He has approached God’s altar. The sacrifice has been offered. His sin is atoned for and his boldness flows
from thankfulness for God’s “wondrous” deeds.
Centuries later we know of no more wondrous
deed that God has done than giving His only begotten Son to us to die as the
sacrifice to atone for our sins and to rise for our eternal life. It is because of Jesus’ sacrifice that we
approach the throne of grace with confidence.
We draw near to God’s altar to receive Jesus’ body and blood for the
forgiveness of our sins, and in that forgiveness we are judged.
Be very clear about that. We can audaciously say, “Judge me, O LORD,” in the hope we have in
Jesus because in Jesus we have been judged.
Jesus stood up to take our judgment and pay the penalty for our sin on
the cross. When Paul says, “I have been
crucified with Christ,” his confidence is that Jesus atoned for his sin and
that God’s word of judgment for the rest of his life is – “forgiven, holy, and
redeemed.” That is our confidence as
well.
Therefore, when we gather to worship, our
focus is on the salvation Jesus has provided for us. We say, “I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells,” because it is in God’s house where God
meets us in Word and Sacrament to give us the forgiveness that makes us so bold
as to make such over the top statements as David does throughout the
psalms.
O that we always felt this confidence. More often our hearts are riddled with
doubt. “Do not sweep my soul away with sinners…,” is
more in line with our normal response to God’s judgment. But
in truth our feet are on solid ground when we rely wholly on Jesus’ sacrifice.
Father, You forgive sins because You are so great and loving toward
us. Although You gave Your only begotten
Son to die for me, I sometimes fear and doubt that my sins are fully
forgiven. Help me by the power of Your
Holy Spirit to trust your promises, and make me an example of forgiveness and
salvation to others, testifying to the wondrous things You have done for
me. Amen.
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