Facing Forward
Judge me, YHWH, for I have walked in my integrity; I also have trusted in YHWH; I shall not slide. Psalm 26:1
Judge – David seems to make a very bold request. Can we echo his words? Are we ready to have YHWH judge us? Can we claim that we have walked in integrity when we appear before the Holy One of Israel? Each of us probably feels a bit of trepidation over such an event. We think of “judge” as the process of passing a verdict and handing out a sentence. And since we all know that we have sinned – and that we still sin – we might not be as anxious as David seems to be to have God pass judgment on us. We are more likely to say, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner,” than we are to invoke God’s judicial prerogative. Maybe part of our reticence comes from the change in meaning from shaphat (Hebrew – to judge) to judicare (Latin – to pass judgment).
Shaphat has a much broader application than simply pronouncing a sentence or a verdict. Shaphat really is a verb about governing. It covers all the elements of our form of government: legislative, executive and judicial. Consequently, when David uses the verb, he could mean the full range of kingdom actions. His word choice might cover the determination of the law, the process of instituting the law, the execution of its requirements, the arbitration of its application and condemnation and punishment. In other words, David is not necessarily asking God to pass a sentence over him. He is asking God to rule over him. He is declaring that he is ready, willing and able to take on the mantle of God’s servant. We could translate this verse, “Govern me, YHWH.”
Christians have the tendency to place a great deal of emphasis on sin. In fact, we are particularly attuned to the idea of personal sin. We see sin as the mountain to climb before we can be useful to God. We think of sin as the axe that will fall and condemn us to hell. We are acutely aware of our failures and we deflect our victories. For us, sin is about judgment and judgment is about condemnation. What’s startling is how lop-sided this view is when we really examine the biblical account. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Sin is very important. But it is woven into the fabric of acts of righteousness, good will, mercy, spiritual triumph, deliverance, praise, devotion and celebration. Under the Christian sky, we seem to have a constant forecast of gloom and doom. But the Hebrew view is founded on shalom, sunshine in well-being in life. To be ruled by God is to have shalom, even if life is filled with sin and repentance. The Jewish sages recognized that the yetzer ha’ra is essential for human being. That shifts the emphasis from sin to sacrifice. Brother Lawrence believed that when we sin, we are to confess immediately – and then immediately move on with God. The emphasis is not on all that I have done but rather on all that I am yet able to do.
“Govern me” leads me toward a life of obedience, free from the Accuser’s recall of past offenses. It is a word that looks ahead whereas “judge me” often directs our attention behind. David understood God as the God of shaphat. We need to shift our vocabulary. The difference is monumental.
Topical Index: shaphat, judge, govern, Psalm 26:1
Beautifully expressed brother Skip. This is how we as “followers of the Way” can walk in total freedom and victory in this world, “today”.
The Christian life (only) operates by voluntary surrender. David is asking YWWH to be LORD and Master over “all “His life. He has come to the recognition and realization, “the LORD, He is G-d” and is surrendering in totality to the Lordship and Headship of the G-d who is “the Judge of all the earth.” (Genesis 18.25)
This voluntary “surrender” is a necessary step in every born-again believer. This is where we give all we know of ourselves (I know- not a very pretty sight..) to all we know of Him. It is very similar to a wedding ceremony where each party “plights their troth” or exchanges vows. It is entering into a new and fresh covenant relationship in recognizing and realizing, the “judge of all the earth”, (Genesis 18.25)
I believe the second best question ever proposed was found in Exodus 5:2, where Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”
Do I “know” the LORD? How do I know Him? How is it I can come into a relationship with the unseen ONE? How well do I know Him? Do I have a history with G-d? Have I seen Him actively involved in my life? Can I trust His character to “do right?” Do I fear the LORD? Do I realize He is intricately and intimately involved in every breath and heartbeat that flows in and out of my being? Do I see Him as the Giver of all good things? Do I think of Him as the Lover of my soul? Do I remember Him upon the night watches? Do I think of Him when I rise up, when I lay down and when I walk about. Do I talk with Him throughout the day? Do I see His (unseen) hand of mercy? Has YHWH been merciful to me ,(the sinner)? Is it possible for this man to “enter in” to the presence of Elohim? Is there a Way? Who satisfies my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed like the eagles? (Psalm 103.5) Who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases? Who died for me in agony and blood and took the curse of sin upon Himself on the cross of Calvary?
Now, I’ll beg the question again, Mr. Pharoah. “Who is the LORD that I should obey Him?”
Pharoah said it himself. “I do not know Him.” He was right. He didn’t -and it cost him his life.
The way to victory is surrender. “Absolute Surrender” is the title of one of Andrew Murray’s books. He wrote over 200 books before the word processor was invented.
When a loving couple come before the altar of G-d to unite in holy matrimony, they hope to have 100% of the affection and attention of “the other.” When we “invite” the judge of all the earth to be our LORD, and enter into a voluntary blood-covenant relationship with “the Other’, we also are exchanging lives. Everything I have and am becomes His and everything He has and is becomes mine. My sin for His righteousness? My sin and shame for His purity? My hopelessness for His certainty? My grief for His joy? My fear for His love? My emptiness for His fulness? -(trade a nickel for a dollar anyone?).
To be governed is, to me, not so much surrender, as it is a placing of priorities in order. I owe my allegiance to God and in that as my focus, I can do (action) what is best for Him which means the best for me. I guess surrender looks like my dog who roles over onto his back and does nothing until I leave him alone. Then hegets up and goes about what he was goingto do in the first place. like the idea of being governed and assuming esponsibility for what I do.
YES! It goes back to the Garden of Eden again where this time we (like David) desire that HaShem lovingly govern, guide, educate and direct our desires versus taking things into our own hands and thereby introducing greater disorder into His order and our own lives. Great word for the day Skip. I shared your site with one of my “seeker” friend because he like many others feels God is far more ready to condemn than eternally bless. Just not so. More Christians need to be marinated in this way of viewing and experiencing the LORD.