What's Wrong With These People?

Psalm 10

"All his thoughts are, 'There is no God'" (10:4).

"He says in his heart…, 'He will never see what I do'" (10:11).

I watch the news at night and ponder the actions of certain men and women and ask myself: "What's wrong with these people?

Motives are mostly unknown, of course, but here in this psalm, David, Israel’s philosopher-king, reveals the thoughts of unjust men and women and why they act as they do: (1) They don't believe there is a God, or, (2) if there is a God, he doesn't care what they do.

In logic, these are a priori arguments, conclusions "from before," beliefs formed apart from rational or empirical evidence to support them. They're premises that folks adopt without thinking about them.

The idea that God doesn't exist or doesn't care what we do does seem well–founded, for bad guys seem to get away with bad behavior. "His ways prosper at all times... He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I will never meet adversity” (10:5,6).

But God does see. He takes note of the trouble that evildoers bring to others and the grief of those so afflicted (10:14), though troublemakers don't know it for God's "judgments (his standards and actions to enforce them) are high and out of sight." He judges from an unseen realm that "men of the earth" cannot see (10:18). 

But there is a comeuppance: God will "call wickedness to account till you find none." Or as Jesus put it, they will pay till the last farthing is paid (Matthew 5:26).

"There is no God and even if there is a God He doesn't care what I do." I would never cop to that premise, but I wonder how often I act as if I do?

David Roper

Two Gates

Psalm 9

"O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises in the gates of the City of Zion" (Psalm 9:3,4)·

Carolyn and I purchased two plots at Dry Creek Cemetery a few years ago, side by side. "The graveyard is ready for me,” as Job said (17:1).

Having my own grave site is a vivid reminder that I'm standing at the “gates of death.” Samuel Johnson, I think it was, said that the prospect of one’s dying “wonderfully concentrates the mind." Or, as a friend of mine says, “It makes you think about things.” 

I'm assured, however, that God will "lift me up" when my time comes. Jesus said that those who follow him, "will never, ever, under any circumstances whatever die" (John 11:26). He was thinking of my soul, of course. My body I will most gladly leave behind.

Death is not the end of me; it's the gateway to Zion, the City of God. Life doesn't end in death; It's perfected by it. 

I think now of some lines from The Golden Key, my favorite George MacDonald book: 

"You have tasted of death,” said the Old Man. “Is it good?”

“It is good,” said Mossy. “It is better than life.”

“No,” said the Old Man; “it is only more life.”

David Roper

9.23.19