We Receive What We Are

“With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.” (Ps 18:25-26 AV)

Why is it that we expect the LORD to treat us better than we treat one another?  Why is it that we expect the LORD to treat us better than we deserve?  He does, by the way.  But He is not obligated to.  David is stating the above because of his difficulty with Saul.  He has done nothing to deserve the treatment he has received at the hand of Saul.  He went to battle against Goliath and the Philistines on behalf of Saul.  He served his king faithfully and humbly by commanding his army for the glory of Israel and her king.  He treated his daughter well as he wife and friend.  David behaved himself wisely before God and man and what he received in return was fear, threats, and intimidation.  This is why he was able to make the statement above.  He could ask for the LORD’s intercession because he had done everything in his power to walk right with Saul.  Not too many of us can make that statement.

There are those who want justice and fairness in the interpersonal struggles of their lives, not realizing they might just be half the problem.  As a pastor, I have had countless opportunities in such situations only to sadly discover the one seeking counsel against another cannot see his or her own part in it.  I have seen marriages crumble, friendships erode, and members leave churches all because they could not see their own part in the strife that existed.  They want the church, the pastor, and even God to see their point of view, not willing to look humbly at their own part in the strife.  It reminds my of my children.  Never mind that the first child disrespected the property of his sibling.  The fact that he got punched for it was the real infraction.  Mom or Dad has to punish that injustice.  It would be unfair if something didn’t happen to him.  We want God to make everything right but we fail to realize that if He did, we would not escape unscathed.

If we want the LORD to deal with injustice, then we had better make sure we are right with Him and right with the one whom we seek to see judgment.  Have we apologized for any and all part which we may have had, even if it is minor or a matter of negligence as opposed to direct injury?  Are we willing to admit that we may be part of the problem?  Are we willing to do whatever it takes to reconcile before we ask for judgment?  Perhaps the real reason He has not shown Himself merciful, upright, and pure is that we are not.  Maybe the reason He has shown Himself froward towards us is that we are froward towards the one on whom we want justice.  Just a thought.