Monday 30th December
Read Psalm 69:6-12
“Lord, the Lord Almighty,
may those who hope in you
not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
may those who seek you
not be put to shame because of me.
7 For I endure scorn for your sake,
and shame covers my face.
8 I am a foreigner to my own family,
a stranger to my own mother’s children;
9 for zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
10 When I weep and fast,
I must endure scorn;
11 when I put on sackcloth,
people make sport of me.
12 Those who sit at the gate mock me,
and I am the song of the drunkards.” (NIVUK)
One of the most challenging verses in Paul’s letters concerns his call to the Corinthian believers to ‘imitate me as I imitate Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). It is challenging simply because it paints a picture of our responsibility as disciples of Jesus to live such lives that anyone in the church could use us as role models for godly living. It is slightly terrifying.
In Psalm 69 we see why it is so terrifying. David is harangued and oppressed and hated by many (v1-5) and he knows he has brought it upon himself – he is guilty. What is most disturbing for him is it has undermined his ‘witness’ to God’s goodness and grace so much that people may turn away from God because of what he has done. The responsibility weighs so heavily on him for that reason. No amount of repentance seems to be able to undo the damage. In modern parlance, David has been cancelled. He is the butt of jokes and his Lord is diminished in consequence.
May we be aware each day of the eyes of others upon us as we reflect God’s goodness and kindness to others.
