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Repentance II: In the middle of conflict ...
Wednesday, Sept 10, 2014. Recently I have been watching a film about world war I. We have been celebrating the begin of the war hundred years ago - celebrating it in the sense that we try to understand what happened and learn from it for today.
Are we the same? …
But the world is as difficult today as it has been when the war started at the beginning of the 20th century. There are enough conflicts today, in the middle east, in Africa, in eastern Europe. Did humans change? Has mankind developed - and if yes, where did it develop? The human genetic disposition did not change very much in the past 1000 or 2000 years. We are still the same humans we have been when the Old Testament has been written, though our cultural environment has developed, of course.
In the middle of conflict I usually realize that I am not free of guilt. When you act, and when you are under pressure, you will probably make mistakes. And also some of the dark parts which are in you will come to the surface.
As long as everything works well in your life, you probably do not see a need to question what you do. But as soon as things generate difficulties, you will take time to review what you did or what you do. You will start to critically look into your basic actions, into your mode of operation, into your motivation. We are thrown into conflicts, and we are pushed to question where we are. Psalm 6 is written in such a situation, let us listen:
Psalm 6 …
O Lord, Deliver My Life 1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith.1 A Psalm of David. O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long? 4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment. (Psalm 6)
The Psalm is quite typical, in the sense that the author realizes his own guilt, but also the evil which comes from others. Turning around, giving up evil behaviour, repentance is a key step in many psalms. It is important to start this learning process: realize your own guilt, the bad parts of your soul. But repent, turn around, give up what is pulling you into the wrong direction.
In the state of devastation, here David reaches a turning point. Where he turns to the Lord, he comes to new hope. Healing here also means healing of motivation. Healing includes repentance, turning to good behaviour, to good motives, to good goals. David is realizing the steadfast love of the Lord. He is (re-)discovering grace. And at that point the time has come for God to act and to help! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts