Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

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July 8, 2013

Good morning, special ones.

This month is stacking up to be a thick one…thick with work as well as diversion. I wonder if it will allow the inclusion of any fishing.

Please have a good day doing what you need to do.

Love, Dad/Ray.

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8 July
Passage: Psalm 108-111
Focus: "My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.” Psalm 108:1.

Jesus states, in no uncertain terms, the two premier commands of the entire Word of God—

1. LOVE GOD PASSIONATELY.
2. LOVE PEOPLE INTENTIONALLY (Matthew 22:37-40).

Here’s how I am inclined to rate David against these two standards: On one hand he is a terrific role model in demonstrating the first, but a lousy role model in regards to the second. He seems to be wired with a deep judgmental attitude that views those who agree with him as his friends and supporters, and those who don’t are enemies who deserve God’s severest punishment. He presumes that his attitudes are reflections of God’s. And if he is not able to be the one to administer God’s severe punishment upon them, then he pleads with God to back him up and do it.

An example of David’s lousy role-modeling is the first 20 verses of Psalm 109 where he is fuming with imprecatory vengeance. He wraps up his tirade in verse 20—“May this be the LORD’S payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.” I can’t help but recoil at what he includes in “the LORD’S payment.” Consider this—“May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes” (109:9-10). That’s not all—“May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children” (109:12).

Question: If David had lived at the time of Jesus Christ, would he have welcomed and received Him as the Christ? Quite honestly, I don’t think so—unless he were given some special divine revelation on a par with that of the old prophet Simeon (Luke 2:25-32). The “Sermon on the Mount” with its “Love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek” stuff would likely have been enough to push David over the edge—maybe making him want to crucify Jesus right away. That was just too revolutionary! Who ever heard of such contrary nonsense?! Everyone knows you’re supposed to love your friends and hate your enemies!

I wonder—is that why Jesus prefaced His presentation of the second command with calling it “new?” “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Of course, Jesus is laying emphasis on the bond of love within the ranks of believers. That may not sound very revolutionary, but I think it is. How so? Because I think it’s actually easier to love an enemy at a distance than a brother up close and personal who has done you dirty. Again, in no uncertain terms, Jesus establishes this as one of the premium demonstrations of the Biblical Gospel—“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

Hmm. While we’re talking about new commands, how about a new version of an old song?—one I doubt you will ever find in a songbook.