:: greatness is a life well-lived ::

The Bible is bothersome

I'm currently reading through the Bible chronologically...just finished Ruth and about to launch into the era of the kings of Israel. I saw this blog post by Paul David Tripp and thought it was fitting. It's rather bothersome to read through the Bible and find that each of these "saints" and heroes of the faith had glaring character flaws -- all of them! -- and some horrific, terrible sins that plagued them all their days. As I'm reading, I'm often disgusted and annoyed and frustrated at the stupidity and stubbornness and rebellion these people display. It's so bothersome. The sins and evil are sometimes overwhelming...and it's easy to read disconnectedly and think, "well, I'm not that foolish. I'm glad I'm not that bad..." but as this following poem says, we are that bad, I am that bad.

I wonder perhaps if one of the purposes of the horrific, violent, depressing Old Testament is to help us see how desperately humanity needed (and needs) a Redeemer, how amazing and wonderful the coming of Jesus Christ is in the course of history, how desperately we still need a Redeemer because our sins and wickedness continue. And yet, throughout the Old Testament, God's Character remains the same - He longs for a people of His own who will respond in trust and obedience; He promises His presence all along the journey; He punishes disobedience; and He is full of compassion, mercy and unfailing love. What a story! Bothersome (because I can't hide from my own sinfulness) but Wonderful (because of God's Character and Purposes)!!

Now, here's the poem by Paul Tripp....

Aren't you glad you're not like David,
Such blazoned sin, how could he?
Aren't you glad you're not like Saul,
Making up his own rules, what was he thinking?
Aren't you glad you're not like Cain,
Violence against his own brother?
Aren't you glad you're not like Rebekah,
Such planned deceit?
Aren't you glad you're not like the Israelites,
So easily seduced by idols?
Aren't you glad you're not like Absalom,
How could he be so jealous?
Aren't you glad you're not like Elijah,
How could he forget God, be so depressed?
Aren't you glad you're not like Nebuchadnezzar,
How could he be so obsessed with power?
Aren't you glad you're not like Samson,
How could he be so easily deceived?
Aren't you glad you're not like Jonah,
How could he run from the Father's call?
Aren't you glad you're not like the Pharisees,
So religiously right, yet spiritually wrong?
Aren't you glad you're not like Judas,
Selling the Messiah for a little bit of silver?
Aren't you glad you're not like the Corinthians,
So much better at division than at serving the Lord?
But wait.
You are like them, and so am I.
There is simply no denying it.
Their stories are a mirror into which we see ourselves.
We too are jealous and easily deceived.
We too are proud and obsessed with power.
We are better at division while we run from God.
We too get angry and get seduced by idols.
In sorrow we must say,
We stand with David,
And Saul,
And Rebekah,
And Jonah,
And Elijah,
And the rest.
These stories are for us to look into and see us,
so that we are not able,
to buy into,
the lie of our own righteousness.
But instead,
Run to His mercy,
Hold onto His unfailing love,
and finally rest,
In His great compassion.
Aren't you glad you can step out of the darkness of self-deceit,
and admit who you are?

posted on Paul Tripp Ministries, Sat 7 April 2007

posted by FaithChristine @ 09:46