The Brokenhearted Psalmist

David, writer of both Psalms 34 and Psalms 69, has written about his times of having a broken heart. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalms 34:18, NASB). “Reproach has broken my heart and I am so sick. And I looked for sympathy, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.” (Psalms 69:20, NASB). King David has a lot of grief in his life and he is searching for the way to deal with it.

In Psalms 34, David has found the source of comfort. For some reason in Psalms 69, he forgets who he can put his trust in. Instead of finding comfort in God, the only One we can ever find comfort in, he searches for comfort in these no-name “comforters.” He is upset in Psalms 69 because he can’t find comfort. Thankfully later in the chapter David realizes his error. “But I am afflicted with pain; may Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high.” (Psalms 69:29, NASB).

The important comparison between these two chapters is that David is hurt and in pain. David needs comfort. We all at times need comfort and we need to know where to look for it. We need to be like David and realize that the only true comfort comes from God.

Do We Do the Work or Does God?

This is a huge question that must be addressed. To be honest I still don't completely understand what's going on. This question is so hard because the Bible seems to contradict itself. Even the same book of the Bible seems to support both sides. So, do we work in the process of sanctification or is it God that is sanctifying us? I'm going to point out Paul's letter to the Philippians, which holds what seem to be contradictory statements. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6, NASB). This supports the fact that God is working in us, perfecting us, until we are with Him again in heaven. In the next chapter Paul confuses us. First he tells us to work, then he tells us that it is God working in us. "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, NASB). So, which one is it? Is it us or is it God? Here's what I have come up with.

I think that it is both. We are working, but truly it is God working in us and through us. This may seem confusing (it does to me), but I think that the Bible does support this view. I've been reading through Exodus and I came across the story of Joshua's army fighting against Amalek's army. This is found in Exodus 17:8-16. To summarize, Moses tells Joshua to take some men out to fight Amalek. While Joshua does this Moses, Aaron, and Hur go to the top of the hill overlooking the battlefield. When Moses is holding up his hands, Joshua's army is winning. When Moses lets his hands down, Amalek's army is winning. Moses' arms get tired so Aaron and Hur both support each of Moses' arms (engraving above by Jan Lievens (1607-1674)). Can you see how this supports the theory that both God and us are working? Joshua and his army are down on the battlefield fighting. They are doing the work. Moses, with the support of Aaron and Hur, is holding his hands up to God. They are doing work. The outcome of the battle, however, is caused and determined by God. He is working through Joshua, his army, Moses, Aaron, and Hur. Joshua could have fought as hard as he wanted but couldn't have won if Moses' hands were down. It had nothing to do with Moses' arms, except for the fact that God caused the army to win while they were up and lose while they were down. All of these men learned that the must rely on God.

I think that this must be the way that it works. If it was only us working, then we wouldn't have a need for God. We could do it on our own. We could achieve sanctification without God's intervention. If it was only God working, then we would get really lazy. We would always have the mindset of "God will take care of it, there's no sense in me doing anything." If both God and we are working, then neither of these horrible situations will take place. We are working, but it is truly God working in us and through us.

Hard Thoughts About Forgiveness

What is your understanding of forgiveness?

If we are followers of God then we must forgive those around us. We shouldn't feel obligated to do this. We should want to honor and glorify God by forgiving others. Jesus says "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matthew 6:14-15, NASB). This is a heavy set of verses. Where does this fit in with "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." (Romans 10:10, NIV). Isn't that all we have to do to be forgiven of our sins and saved? Yes! If we do this, then our lives will be utterly changed. We will want to do everything we can to glorify God, including forgiving others. If someone is unwilling to forgive someone else for a wrong that has been committed, then have they really believed with their heart and confessed with their mouth? It is not my place to judge, my conclusion would be no because of what Scripture tells me.

Another thing that is important is that forgiveness isn't a one time thing. This is expressed in a question Peter had and the answer Jesus gave. "Then Peter came and said to Him, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" (Matthew 18: 21-22, NASB). By this, Jesus means, never stop forgiving your brother, no matter how severe the case. It is not our place to judge whether he is sincere or not. That is between him and God. God just tells us to forgive. We can learn from the past so that we can avoid that person sinning against us in the same way, but if he does it again we are called to forgive him. Jesus forgave the people who killed him as they were in the process of killing him. I think we can forgive the petty things that happen to us.