Readings for today: Psalm 119:89-176
We live in a post-truth world. Our politicians don’t tell the truth. Our media doesn’t tell the truth. Even our public health officials don’t always tell the truth. Everyone it seems bends the truth to their own agenda. Their own needs. Their own feelings. Their own wants. Their own desires. Furthermore, we seem more committed to our personal ideologies than ever. Left or Right. Liberal or conservative. Democrat or Republican. Socialist or capitalist. You name it, we have an opinion on it. We take a side on it. And we consider those who oppose us to be dangerous enemies who must be dehumanized at every turn. If you don’t believe me, scroll through Twitter these days. Listen to any of the cable news shows for five minutes. Watch the press conferences of our politicians. It’s macabre theater.
The Psalmist points us in a different direction. He points us to the only sure foundation in life. God’s Word. God’s Word is eternal. “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89) God’s Word is the source of life. “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Psalm 119:93) God’s Word is perfect. “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Psalm 119:93) God’s Word is the source of all wisdom and knowledge and understanding. “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.” (Psalm 119:98-100) God’s Word teaches us what is good and godly. “Righteous are you, O Lord, and right are your rules. You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.” (Psalm 119:137-138) God’s Word is more precious than gold or anything of value on this earth. “Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.” (Psalm 119:127)
The fundamental problem in our world - and in our church today - is we have rejected God’s Word. We have turned aside from His Law. We have abandoned His commandments. Each of us have gone our own way. Each of us has turned inward towards Self. We have set up idols and we cling to our own understanding. It’s why we can never seemingly make any progress when it comes to the persistent sin issues of our day like racism. We keep trying to solve it using human means. We keep trying to bring about the Kingdom but without the king. We keep trying to make heaven come to earth by our own strength and the more we try, the worse things seem to get. The more we clench our fists, the more righteousness slips through our fingers. It’s a cycle that repeats itself in every generation. What we need is revival. A fresh movement of the Holy Spirit. But in order to receive such a gift, we have to be humbled. We have to be broken. We have to be forced to our knees in surrender. We have to taken to the end of our strength and wisdom and resources. This is what I see taking place around me today. Our world is on fire. Ideologies are only becoming more extreme. Hatred is on the rise. Violence and suffering will only increase. We stand on the brink of war. It may not be fought with armies but it certainly is being fought on the political and social and economic battlefields of our day. Only Christ can save us. Only Christ can deliver us. Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Only as we cling to the Jesus Truth and walk in the Jesus Way will we find the Jesus Life.
Readings for tomorrow: Song of Solomon 1:1-5:1