Why are we here?
What's the point
of our lives?
Is there any
point to anything at all?
As we continue
our walk towards Easter, I want to consider the answer that the author of Psalm 19 gives us to such questions. But I'm going to take a kind of backwards approach to the Psalm.
You know, sometimes when you get a really complicated
novel it's only when you get to the last page that you really start to figure what it's all about? Psalm 19 is a bit like
that! The assertions that the Psalmist makes right at the end of the Psalm make sense of the rest of it. The very last verse
describes how the Psalmist sees his relationship to God: "Oh Lord, You are my Rock
and my Redeemer."
He describes God as the rock, the foundation
upon which he builds everything else in his life. God is also his redeemer. To understand the concept of redeemer we need
to look back at Leviticus 25:47-49.
There we read, “If resident aliens among you prosper, and if any of your kin
fall into difficulty with one of them and sell themselves to an alien, or to a branch of the alien's family, after they have
sold themselves they shall have the right of redemption; one of their brothers may redeem them, or their uncle or their uncle's
son may redeem them, or anyone of their family who is of their own flesh may redeem them; or if they prosper they may redeem
themselves.”
Redemption was a term used to describe being
set free by a family member, a next of kin. We are familiar as Christians to the idea that Christ died on the cross to redeem
us. We know how Jesus encouraged us to see God as both Our Father and His father
(and by implication Himself as a brother and a friend in the faith). We already
then have this concept of God as Rock and Redeemer.
Life's purpose, life's meaning, suggests the
Psalmist is discerned through having a personal, dynamic, relationship with God. As
Christians we would take that a step further and say that just such a relationship is possible through Jesus Christ, the dynamic
element being that of the Holy Spirit, the source of true spiritual life.
I’ll suggest three ways that the Psalmist
suggests this dynamic relationship with God effects the way we live. Again, I'm
working backwards.
1.
A dynamic personal relationship with God affects the way we see our personal lives. (verses 11-14)
“Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them
there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden
faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion
over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
One of the realities of human existence is that
we don't see ourselves as others see us. We only see ourselves through our own eyes. We have blind spots. We have character
flaws and habits that we are totally unaware of. The Psalmist prays, "Clear me from hidden faults…. Do not let them have dominion over me."
He acknowledges that his life is neither all
that it could be nor all that it should be. His intention is that through his
dynamic relationship with God, there will be a process of self improvement.
If you spend anytime in a book shop you will
see there is a huge market for "Self -Help" courses. You can buy books that cover everything from "Teach yourself Brain Surgery"
to "Rocket Science for Dummies." We can be full of great ideas and big dreams. The psalmist has the sense to realize that
self accomplishment isn't enough. There has to be a relationship as well. There has to be a motivation, a reason and a purpose,
a purpose that’s bigger than just ourselves.
That purpose is nurturing our relationship with
God. Why are we here? We were created for fellowship with God. It is only in relationship to God that our life has any true
center or eternal meaning. Without a relationship with God we are born just to
die. In a relationship with God, we become children of promise.
Our relationship with God provides the motive
for wanting to be the best that we can be. If we believe that God believes in us, believes enough in us to send His son Jesus
Christ to be our redeemer, then we will not treat our relationship with God as one of the little things in our lives; it will
be the defining thing of our life.
When the Psalmist says “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable,” who is he asking that his life
be acceptable to? Acceptable to his family? Acceptable to the people he worked
with? Acceptable to his friends? Acceptable in the eyes of the community in which he lived?
Acceptable to Himself?
How about a faith reality check here! Let us
ask our self, who are we seeking acceptance from in our life? The psychologists
tell us that being accepted is one of our basic human needs. The opposite is rejection, something that is hard to handle,
unless you are secure in some other relationship in your life. In whose eyes are we seeking to be acceptable?
The Psalmist tells us his concern. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD
, my rock and my redeemer.” A dynamic personal relationship with God affects the way we see our personal lives.
2.
A dynamic personal relationship with God affects the way we see the Scriptures. (verses 7-10)
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD
is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired
are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.”
I don’t know how, when, or where you do
your personal bible reading. I know some of you feel guilty that you are not
more diligent in the task. Do you know why you feel bad about that? Because God, through His Holy Spirit, is prompting you
to understand the Word of God that is in the Scriptures. That’s what God wants you to do. But you don’t do it
and then you feel bad.
The Bible is God’s love letter to our heart.
We should feel bad about not reading it. If your lover sends you a letter, and you say, “Oh, I’m to busy, well...
it’s not that important... I’ll get around to it sometime...” what does that say about your relationship
to the one who sent you the letter? It says the relationship isn’t there. You’re only being loved, not loving
in return. The Psalmist describes God’s Word as more to be desired than gold, as sweeter than honey, rich, warm, images
appropriate to a love relationship.
I don’t know how you can follow somebody,
if you don’t know where they are heading. I don’t understand how a person can be a disciple of Jesus, unless they
are being 'discipled' by the Word of God. If we want to follow Jesus, then the
scriptures must be our guide. Where else are we going to find out what God wants
for our lives?
When I’m talking about reading the bible,
I’m not talking about some dry, arid, process of academic study. I’m not talking about taking a course in “the
relevance of biblical hermeneutics” or “how many angels can dance on a pinhead.” I’m talking about a conversation. I’m speaking about messages from the heart of God that turn
your heart to doing God’s will.
I’m talking about scripture reading that
is grounded in prayer, that seeks to know the will of God in order that we can do the will of God. Think of a passage like
one of the other lectionary readings for this morning about casting the traders out of the temple. Some people will read that
and will get into arguments about, “Well, does this justify the use of violence?” or “Was this a symbolic
act to challenge the powers of politics and religion that oppressed the people?”
I’m talking about saying to God, “Lord,
I know your Word tells me that my life is meant to be temple of the Spirit. What are the things that need driving out of my
soul, so I can be more prayerful and more in tune with You?” And then acting on what you feel God is showing you! A
dynamic personal relationship with God affects the way we see the Scriptures.
3.
A dynamic personal relationship with God affects the way we see the world around us.
The very first verse of Psalm 19 declares “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.” When our relationship with God is right, then we see the creation in a different light. We start to see how all things
are connected. That we are not simply a random collection of atomic particles drifting through space and time on a pointless
quest to oblivion.
We start to see the world around us and the resources
around us and the things that make up our lives and the people we share our lives with, not as resources to be exploited or
for us to take advantage of, but treasures to share and rejoice in and be thankful for. For me my relationship with God is
kind of like the difference between a black and white television and a color television with a whopping big screen, surround
sound, and high definition picture.
Sure, you can go through life just getting by.
Sure, you can see a few things as black and white and everything in between as shades of gray. But nurture your relationship
with God, and things start to become Technicolor, cinematic, vibrant, pulsing, and alive with meaning.
Over 2000 years ago Jesus died on the cross to
make the way for each of us to have that dynamic personal relationship with God. God sends the Holy Spirit to revive us and
renew us as we place our lives in God’s hands. The same God, who raised Jesus Christ from death, promises to lift our
lives to a higher level as we seek to do God’s will with the resources that God provides.
About these truths the author of Psalm 19 would
say, “Amen and Amen.” I encourage us all to seek a deeper relationship with God, that we may say with the Psalmist,
in full assurance of faith, “Oh Lord, You are my Rock and my Redeemer!"
To God’s
name be the glory. Amen.
