Today’s
Scripture Reading (May 19, 2019): Psalm
25
It is the policy for most countries in the cultural west not to
pay ransom for any citizen that has been kidnapped outside of their native
country. The reason is simple; to pay ransom increases the chance that another
citizen might be taken to raise more money for the same or a different
terrorist group. The message is clear; kidnapping our citizens will not profit
you, and it may make your situation much worse. Families often feel
differently, but then again, they are looking at the situation from a different
perspective. They just want their loved one back, and, in the moment, don’t
really care about the possibility of a “next one.” But from a societal standpoint,
for the sake of the nation and its citizens, ransom is generally a non-starter.
(That does not mean that it always ends up that way, and it is those
“sometimes” when a ransom of some kind is paid that makes political kidnappings
something that still takes place in the dangerous parts of our world.)
David comes to God and asks for forgiveness for his sin, even
though David admits that his own iniquity is great. Essentially, he wants God
to pay his ransom. And it would make sense for God to refuse. After all, if God
forgives us for our sin just because we come to him and ask, does that not make
sin more attractive. I mean, maybe God should institute a probational period so
that we can prove our worth before he gives us his forgiveness. I am convinced
that many people who sit in the pews of our churches would be very supportive
of this kind of probation.
But David insists that God forgive him “for the sake of his name.”
David’s words imply that God wants his name to carry the meaning of forgiveness
and mercy, just as the nations of the cultural west want their names to carry
the meaning “we will not pay, nor will we forgive” the abduction of our
citizens. God wants his name to mean to all of those who are far from him that
they are welcome to come into his presence.
That is precisely the meaning that the Prophet Jonah took from
God’s name. We remember Jonah more because of a whale than we do because of his
theology. But it is clear from the part of the story that happens after the
whale that Jonah would have been one of those who would have supported a period
of probation on all sinners.
He
prayed to the Lord,
“Isn’t this what I said, Lord,
when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to
Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger
and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live”
(Jonah 4:2-3).
David’s
prayer was that he would be forgiven for the sake of God’s name. Jonah wishes
that God wasn’t so gracious and compassionate. But David knew that God’s name
was intricately linked to forgiveness. It always has been and always will be.
If we need forgiveness, God is waiting for us to come to him.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Psalm 26 & 27
No comments:
Post a Comment