September 25thPsalm 119 (3)
‘THE INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE OF THE GUILTY’
“Self-justification is the most prevalent source of error.” (theologian H. Richard Niebuhr).
What does it mean? Why does it matter? “Self-justification” is making the case for yourself, for your importance, worthiness, your value.
We get caught up in our own self-justifications. It happens in personal relationships, often with those closest to us. We try to make our own case over against our spouse, the in-laws, a brother or sister, the neighbors, other people by referencing our own virtues, generosity and tireless contributions, and so on…! We mostly run this tape in our minds. But occasionally it bursts out of our mouths in a self-justifying rant when we feel put upon, unloved, unappreciated or unnoticed.
Listen to the closing verses of this long psalm: 119.169-176.
Let my cry come right into your presence, God;
provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word.
Give my request your personal attention,
rescue me according to your promise.
Let praise cascade off my lips;
after all, you’ve taught me the truth about life!
And let your promises ring from my tongue;
every commandment you’ve given is right.
Put your hand out and steady me
since I’ve chosen to live by your counsel.
I’m homesick, God, for your salvation;
your law is my delight!
Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well,
use your decrees to put iron in my soul.
And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me!
I’ll not forget your commandments. [MESSAGE adapted]
These verses make some familiar pleas: pleas for understanding, for grace, for help, and for life. The psalmist has affirmed his or her loyalty and trust throughout this long prayer but verse 176 is striking:
I have wandered away like a lost sheep;
come and find me
for I have not forgotten your commands. [NLT]
It is striking, says OT scholar J. Clinton McCann, that, in face of all the expressions of obedience and loyalty throughout this psalm that the final vs sounds like a confession of sin. The word ‘lost’ literally means ‘perishing.’ This final vs is a reminder of what the psalmist has affirmed all along: The faithful are saved by grace. Their lives and their futures, like ours, belong to God.
So, does ‘self-justification work? Nope. It doesn’t ever achieve what we hope, which is peace of mind.
The Christian message is that we are justified by God’s grace alone. We cannot justify ourselves by our works, effort, resume or the group to which we belong. We are justified by God’s free gift of grace. The gift of God’s mercy and grace is the ground upon which we stand. In his great letter to the Roman Christians, Paul insists on this truth:
“Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, we are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3: 23).
In his provocative book UnApologetic, Francis Spufford calls the church “the international league of the guilty.” The heart of our faith, and the good news of the gospel, is God’s grace for sinners, for flawed and imperfect people, who regularly screw up — which would be all of us.
Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let Thy goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee…
PRAYER
O God,
Early in the morning I cry unto you.
Help me to pray
And to think only of you.
I cannot pray alone.
In me there is darkness
But with you there is light.
I am lonely but you do not leave me.
I am feeble in heart but you do not leave me.
I am restless but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience.
Your ways are past understanding, but
You know the way for me.
Amen. [Dietrich Bonhoeffer]