Selwyn continues to talk about his fourth life conviction: ‘that there is a great deal of mystery in life, and simply accepting this is better than striving to find explanations’. His focus today is on our double-mindedness and inconsistency.
He uses Psalm 39 to provide an example of David’s double mindedness, verses 7 to 13, follow: ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You. Save me from my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth – each man is but a breath. Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.’
Selwyn introduces today’s study by saying: ‘We can learn a lot about God and His purposes for us from what is revealed in His Word, the Bible, there is, nevertheless, a vast area of mystery surrounding our lives. He will not disclose, for example, the (exact) time of His Son’s return. … But mystery does another thing also: it reveals our double-mindedness. … (In the verses of Psalm 39), ‘the psalmist is saying in effect, “It would be helpful, Lord if You were to think so little of me that You didn’t bother to discipline me, I will laugh and rejoice if You decide to stop intruding into my life.” … We might never see how double-minded and consistent we are if God did not sometimes allow us to be wrapped in mystery.’
I’m finding it a little hard to clearly understand the exact point Selwyn is making today – I can see the inconsistency of the psalmist’s words but I’m not sure how God’s mysterious ways help to highlight our double-mindedness. What’s your view on this?
I feel that the psalmist is having a problem with trusting that God’s discipline will produce a result that will be pleasing both to God and the psalmist – and he is being honest about feeling uncomfortable during the discipline and wanting it to end soon – to me, it’s still a struggle about fully trusting God – what do others think?
Double-mindedness
Selwyn continues to talk about his fourth life conviction: ‘that there is a great deal of mystery in life, and simply accepting this is better than striving to find explanations’. His focus today is on our double-mindedness and inconsistency.
He uses Psalm 39 to provide an example of David’s double mindedness, verses 7 to 13, follow: ‘But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You. Save me from my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth – each man is but a breath. Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more.’
Selwyn introduces today’s study by saying: ‘We can learn a lot about God and His purposes for us from what is revealed in His Word, the Bible, there is, nevertheless, a vast area of mystery surrounding our lives. He will not disclose, for example, the (exact) time of His Son’s return. … But mystery does another thing also: it reveals our double-mindedness. … (In the verses of Psalm 39), ‘the psalmist is saying in effect, “It would be helpful, Lord if You were to think so little of me that You didn’t bother to discipline me, I will laugh and rejoice if You decide to stop intruding into my life.” … We might never see how double-minded and consistent we are if God did not sometimes allow us to be wrapped in mystery.’
I’m finding it a little hard to clearly understand the exact point Selwyn is making today – I can see the inconsistency of the psalmist’s words but I’m not sure how God’s mysterious ways help to highlight our double-mindedness. What’s your view on this?
I feel that the psalmist is having a problem with trusting that God’s discipline will produce a result that will be pleasing both to God and the psalmist – and he is being honest about feeling uncomfortable during the discipline and wanting it to end soon – to me, it’s still a struggle about fully trusting God – what do others think?