Today's Scripture Reading (June 10, 2022): Psalm 51
Russian-born American writer
and philosopher Ayn Rand (1905-1977), in her book "Philosophy: Who Needs It" argues that "Rationalization is a process of not perceiving reality,
but of attempting to make reality fit one's emotions." Whenever we are
tempted to make excuses, we are trying to avoid reality and any responsibility
that we might have to it. Excuses try to fit reality into our perceptions and
our emotional state. Excuses argue that it is only our truth that matters; only
our perception and emotions make up our real world. And it doesn't matter
whether you understand that. Excuses make all of our truths relative. And all I
have to do is live up to my truth or my rationalization.
The ascription attached to
Psalm 51 describes the unfortunate circumstances under which the Psalm
was written. David's
words are written in the aftermath of
David's sin with Bathsheba, the murder of Uriah, and following a moment of uncomfortable accountability in the
presence of the Prophet Nathan.
David could have offered
excuses. He was a man and not expected to be perfect. David was the King of the nation, and therefore he was the
law of the land and could do no wrong. David could have tried to rationalize and excuse his
behavior. But he doesn't. Instead of offering excuses, the King simply asks for mercy. And he believes that he
serves a God characterized by mercy. David doesn't argue about his truth versus God's truth. He knows that, in the end, God's truth is the only truth that matters.
Charles Spurgeon quotes
Archibald Symson as he examines Psalm 51. And Symson makes this argument.
Men are greatly terrified at the multitude of their sins, but
here is a comfort—our God hath multitude of mercies. If our sins be in number
as the hairs of our head, God's mercies are as the stars of heaven; and as he
is an infinite God, so his mercies are infinite; yea, so far are his mercies
above our sins, as he himself is above us poor sinners. By this the Psalmist
seeketh for multitude of mercies, he would show how deeply he was wounded with
his manifold sins, that one seemed a hundred (Archibald Symson)
Symson's comment is the reality in David's case. His sin with Bathsheba multiplied as he tried
to cover it up. It was his sin with Bathsheba that caused David to be involved
in the murder of Uriah. Sin destroyed his relationship with some of his children, and the sin continued to
multiply. It wasn't
just one sin; it was many. But luckily, he served an infinite God
who possessed endless mercy. And as he pleads for mercy, it is that endless mercy that God had that David needed. And it was God's reality and truth that David needed. Because, even
though his sins were many, he knew that God's mercy was more.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
2 Samuel 13
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