Shew Yourself

Psalm 94

A somewhat current popular children's movie has one of the main characters who has heard something calling her singing a song "Show Yourself". A couple of dating sites for older people I have been on you are encouraged to write your profile in your own words hopefully to attract the type of response from those who are at least like minded. (My children might say, Dad, that's impossible with your mind.) So writing a profile is like writing "Serious inquiries only." But even if you do "attract" interest and you find a bit more than a general "Hello" there is very much deeper in both lives a "Show yourself” that is wanted. As each begins to open a little more each one assesses in their own time whether what is seen is part of what is wanted for the rest of their life. At twenty there's a leeway a bit broader than half a century later at nearly seventy.

As we grow as believers trusting in the one God alone there is so much more in so many ways to know about that God, much, much deeper.

O Lord God the avenger, O God the avenger, shew thy self clearly.

Psalms 94:1 GNV

When writing about yourself it should always be with the understanding that whatever you've written will bear out in how you conduct yourself and other proof of the veracity of what you've presented of yourself. But also there is so much in the perception of the one getting to know you. Each has their own background and from that their own concepts of even the words you use and the importance placed upon what is said or done. Even our "hopes" may get in the way.

A good friend had been to the San Francisco area and had brought back a little magnet scene with the name "Alcatraz", a momento of Alcatraz prison just inside the Bay from the Pacific Ocean. What the momento depicted was an inmate, a convict climbing down the outside of the prison wall. In jest I told my friend, "That's a little condescending." The play on words being "That's a little con(vict) descending." Normally I don't explain my play on words. I only do at this point to emphasize that what is said may be taken different ways in the mind of the beholder. If you say you're a Christian many people expect certain actions and attitudes from you depending on their past relationships with others who have called themselves Christians. But on a dating site it may just be nothing more than "that's what my family was" with no more thought to it. Yet others who truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ will very hopefully understand "I am far from perfect." As Paul wrote, "I die daily", explaining "I am not everything I should be." And yet some who are other believers express by action and attitude, "well, you should be!"

Looking back at how this psalm is started so many questions revolve around that word "Avenger". This brings questions that should permeate the thoughts and hopefully make the truth to be clearly seen, even as the writer desires, as the rest of the psalm is read. What are the conditions for vengeance? What vengeance is being requested for? Is it a just vengeance? Is it vengeance that God sees as being right? Is it vengeance that should best be taken at this time, or later? But all of these questions go hand in hand with, who is the vengeance to be taken on and why?

How many times I have heard everyone from a preacher to an agnostic, to an atheist say, "If I were God..." or "If there really is a God..." then this is how the result should turn out. These statements are made from a very minute amount of time we have on this earth, not even including thoughts of eternity. And from an insignificant amount of knowledge regardless the IQ of a person and ability to assess correctly any or even all of what their very extremely limited amount of knowledge is.

If, and when we call on God to avenge, to show Himself for who He claims to be our entire basis rests entirely on all the rest of who God is. In all of this there is one statement I remember reading and still wonder about:

In His promise to Abram (soon to be Abraham) of the Lord God we are told:

Then he said to Abram, Know for a surety, that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land, that is not theirs, four hundred years, and shall serve them: and they shall intreat them evil. Notwithstanding the nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. But thou shalt go unto thy fathers in peace, and shalt be buried in a good age. And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the wickedness of the Amorites is not yet full.

Genesis 15:13-16 GNV

All of that promise partially being held back because the wickedness of a people isn't yet "FULL"? And within this psalm is this psalmist just wasting his breath asking God to show His vengeance because the wickedness of a people isn't going to be full for another four hundred years?

Calm down Richard, now just calm down. (And for all you others whose thoughts may go wild at this point.)

This writer is appealing to the very character of God when he desires God to show this nature of Himself, Avenger, Judge (to those on the bad side of God's law). Very knowingly is noted of the ones the vengeance is desired for what Solomon will later write, that which God hates - a proud look. And then he mentions the wickedness and attitude toward God. And even as some who call themselves Christian today may say, God doesn't see it, God doesn't see the widows, the orphans, the poor being neglected or worse yet, being treated harshly simply because that is the circumstances they have in their lives.

A question I used to ask very frequently is, would Jesus pray this psalm as a prayer to His Father? As I pondered that just now the thought came to me of what Jesus said as the Roman soldiers carried out their orders, "Father, forgove them, for they don't know what they are doing." It really struck hard. Jesus didn't just say things to become popular sayings. Words that others like Stephen could repeat. No, Jesus had very deep thought, care, and concern for those Roman soldiers. "They are carrying out orders given to them to strictly follow. They really have no clue as to who this is they are crucifying here and now. They have no understanding this man, fully man, has done nothing ever to deserve being crucified, let alone the beating he had just endured. While these Roman soldiers were sinful men as we all are, Jesus didn't want their crucifying Him to be on their record before God the Father, the Judge of all the earth.

But back here in Psalm 94 this psalmist says these who are wicked know exactly what they are doing, and worse yet claim that God doesn't see it.

Understand ye unwise among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? or he that formed the eye, shall he not see? Or he that chastiseth the nations, shall he not correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall he not know? The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

Psalms 94:8-11 GNV

The thoughts of man, they are vanity. This takes me back to my childhood where a "vanity" was a piece of furniture where usually a woman would stand or sit and look at herself in its mirror while she "made herself beautiful". And that thought took me took me to what James had to say about looking into the perfect law of liberty.

For if any hear the word, and do it not, he is like unto a man, that beholdeth his naturall face in a glass. For when he hath considered himself, he goeth his way, and forgetteth immediately what manner of one he was.

James 1:23-24 GNV

This is such a great example of vanity. He clearly sees himself for what he is and straight way forgets it, just a glance in a mirror and, oh, I have other things on my mind. Or I have doctored up what I saw and that's good enough. Now forget about it. No matter how it plays out the thoughts of man are vanity.

In a way this psalmist sees what Martha and Mary didn't quite yet understand. "Lord, if you had been here our brother would not have died!" I am the Resurrection and the Life." This psalmist, much like they learned, saw that God was going to truly, clearly "show Himself".

In the multitude of my thoughts in mine heart, thy comforts have rejoiced my soul.

But the Lord is my refuge, and my God is the rock of mine hope. And he will recompence them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice: yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.

Psalms 94:19, 22-23 GNV

Like most of my meditations God pulls me apart to later put me back together as He knows I need best, in His time.