Today I read Psalm 109 and thought about the rewards of the righteous. Then, I read Proverbs 3 and rethought my thoughts. The Psalmist cries out, "Be not silent, O God of my praise!" And again, "...deliver me! For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me." The writer hopes for deliverance, but clearly isn't currently experiencing much of it. On the other hand, Proverbs declares with calm sincerity that "the wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace." Here are promises of good tidings for those who fear the Lord. Why do the wicked prosper? And why do the righteous often fail to do so?
Then again, there is a deeper magic in operation here. Isaiah's prophecies about Judah constantly refer to reward and punishment, to disobedience or pride as causative factors in the downfall of a people, be it Samaria, Assyria, or Judah herself. Underneath these seemingly unconnected prophecies, however, I see what I always hoped was going on, but never quite believed: God has a plan. Dare I believe it? Are we strong enough to recognize inequity and injustice in the world and still say with confidence that the Lord is in charge, or shall we all become philantrophic Deists? (Assuming we have that kind of cash, which I do not.)
And as for my cursory readings of Psalm 109 and Proverbs 3, I sense that I must be willing to read these passages with Christological eyes. Otherwise, readers become self-righteous blessing-demanders or despairing blessing-despisers. Rewards from the Lord DO go to the righteous, but only those called by the name of Christ may obtain this righteousness. It is alien, applied to us through Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit. This then, is the plan, the deeper magic, the ultimate narrative: throughout the vicissitudes of human history, God is busy bringing glory to himself by redeeming a people from every tongue and tribe. Do I tremble when the righteous perish? I might think of righteous Jesus on a cross. Do I disbelieve the confident wisdom of Proverbs, that the Lord rewards his own with blessing? I might consider the promise of the resurrection.
Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.
Posted by nickles at February 22, 2005 09:23 AM