Tuesday, October 6, 2009
He and Me
(Psalm 18:16-24)
Scripture emphasizes both the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. For centuries theologians have sought in vain to reconcile the nuances between the two. Such nuances will remain, however, forever unfathomable because they are as deep as the person of God. Rather than argue one against the other, the reverent Bible scholar accepts both—along with his own limitations in reasoning out the deep things of God.
In verses 16-19, David praises God for acting in sovereignty on his behalf. He pictures God as rescuing him from drowning (16), delivering him from enemies (17), and helping him through trials (18). According to David, God not only rescued him; but God also brought him “into a large place,” a place of freedom and blessing. In all of these things, David appears to be the passive recipient of God’s gracious sovereignty.
In verses 20-24, however, the emphasis is different. Here, rather than representing himself as passive, David portrays himself as actively pursing God’s favor through obedience and personal righteousness. In other words, David recognizes that God’s sovereignty responds to man’s obedience (and disobedience, as the case may be). Does this mean that man can manipulate God? No! It does mean that man reaps what he sows and is responsible for his actions as well as their consequences—be they good or bad. You see, it’s not just He; and it’s not just me. Life is a He-me proposition—the details of which will require eternity to unfold.
