“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon His name. They called to the LORD, and He answered them. In the pillar of the cloud He spoke to them; they kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them. O LORD our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!” Psalm 99:6-9
Devotional Thought For The Day
As we contemplated last week, the greatest servants of God were fallen, sinful, and fallible people with clay feet, who often fell short of demonstrating the glory of God in their lives and work, and often failed to perform the will of God. The apostle acknowledged and generalized this same reality to the congregation at Corinth: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” [2 Cor. 4:7] So the psalmist reflects upon the foibles and failings of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. If this psalm was written by David, he would have been personally acquainted with Samuel, having been anointed by him [1 Sam. 16]. So the psalmist reflects upon the “wrongdoings” of powerful leaders in the past, Moses and Aaron, who were of the priestly office, and also those of a fairly recent leader, one of the great prophets, Samuel, and how God dealt with them in mercy and discipline. The list then is inclusive – and again, if David was the author of this psalm, perhaps he was contemplating his own wrongdoings and how God in His mercy had dealt with him personally.
The lessons are applicable to all of God’s people. The greatest saints are not past and beyond “wrongdoing” – as anyone who has lived among God’s people knows. We are not fully perfected until we “see Him as He is” and become “like Him.” [1 John 3:2] So, all are called to continue “walking in the light as He is in the light,” confessing our sins and rejoicing that God is a forgiving God to us as well. This does not mean that we give up our lives of sanctification and decide to do whatever we want – this is simply not possible for those who know what our forgiveness cost God and His Son. And there is still the matter of God “avenging” our wrongdoings; there is discipline from God and earthly justice that befalls transgressions and wrongs, even for Moses, Aaron, and Samuel. We must keep this reality clearly in mind so that we keep our own recalcitrant sinful nature in check. But we also follow the example of Moses, Aaron, and Samuel [and David] – confessing our sin, experiencing God’s forgiveness, calling upon His Name, and delighting to remain in close friendship and fellowship with God, the only True and Living God. God wills our sanctification, and so He continues to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and He also teaches “transgressors” His ways, so that “sinners will return to You.” [Ps. 51:13]
Many look at the “wrongdoing” of leaders and use this as excuse and justification for rebelling against them. We should take note that Moses remained God’s prophet and spokesman in spite of his wrongdoing and God’s discipline. Likewise, Aaron remained the chief priest of God’s people even after he had fashioned the golden calf. Samuel also remained prophet and judge of Israel regardless of his weaknesses and sin. So also David remained king and prophet despite the horrid nature of his wrongdoings. Our own leaders are weak and sinful human beings, and anyone who knows them becomes aware of their failings. This does not justify our disrespect of, disregard for, or disobedience to them. In fact, when we do so we become hypocritical Pharisees and judge ourselves – for we have the same sinful flesh and engage in the same kinds of wrongdoing, perhaps even greater wickedness. This does not mean that we come to accept and approve of wrongdoing, or neglect, when appropriate, to admonish one another, even our leaders, but in accord with Jesus’ instruction [Matt. 18]. However, the psalmist makes clear that we are to understand the nature of God’s gracious love toward His leaders and spokesmen, and that we take great caution in raising our hand against His anointed ones. After all, it is a dangerous and difficult thing to represent God to others, as God well knows. Note that “they called to the LORD, and He answered them.” God kept faith with them.
The wise will understand that this is wondrous good news for all of us – assuring us that God will also keep faith with us, that as we live humble and contrite lives of repentance and faith, He will always be a forgiving God to us. We will also come to rejoice that He is an avenger of our wrongdoings – so that He keeps our sinful nature in check as He continues to discipline and purify us, that we remain ever growing in faith and in love. As we experience the pain of such discipline, we too call upon His Name, and we are assured that He answers us. He alone knows all the niches of our hearts, and how best to forge us as effective instruments of His purposes, and how to keep us in the Way. So ultimately, we commit ourselves into His good and gracious hands, trusting Him in all things – as did Moses, Aaron, Samuel, David, and all of God’s people.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank You for the clear way in which You instruct us in Your Word, through the blessed lives of great believers and leaders of old. We thank You that You provide the same gracious mercy and forgiveness, instruction and discipline to us today, so that we do not fall into impenitence or unbelief. As we contemplate the deep and wondrous love and care that You exercise toward each of us personally, may we also exalt You and worship You, for You alone are holy. Keep us firm in faith and growing in love as You shape us and direct our lives to the praise of Your glorious grace. Amen.