To The Heavens

Today's Readings
Esther 4-7 | 1 Corinthians 12:1-26 | Psalm 36 | Proverbs 21:21-22
Tomorrow's Readings

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O Lord.
Psalm 36:5-6

Although we may see among men sad and frightful confusion, which, like a great gulf, would swallow up the minds of the godly, David, nevertheless, maintains that the world is full of the goodness and righteousness of God, and that he governs heaven and earth on the strictest principles of equity.
John Calvin

Sometimes the doctrine of total depravity can seem to suggest that humanity is helplessly bound, and not a willing participant, in our sin nature. But the opening lines of this psalm lay any such claims of innocence exposed for a lie, for contrary to our self-image, transgression resonates within our hearts, inflaming ambition, covetousness and lust into malice and spite. But we flatter ourselves, thinking that our sin is hidden at the same time that we congratulate ourselves on our own goodness.

And then these words of praise are spoken: your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. It's sobering sometimes to consider what it means to believe in the midst of a world bent on self-love and rebellion. I wonder sometimes, what is this faith in a good God when all about us screams despair, emptiness, hopelessness and rage? Is it delusion? Have we believed in Christ because to do otherwise is simply too pessimistic? Is it desperation? Have we been taken by a lie in order to shut out the existential angst of an utterly meaningless existence?

But I always come back to Paul, who observed that those who seek wisdom find in Christ foolishness, while those who seek power find in him weakness and disgrace; but those who believe find in Christ the very power and wisdom of the eternal God (1Cor1). And so in the blackness of sin's night, still we cannot but see the glory of God, for we know his triumph on the cross signified his ultimate triumph over all of the dominion of the devil. And we know that with the devil's end we will be glorified, and that which was sown corruptible will be raised incorruptible (1Cor15) in the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom8).