Divine Examination for Reconciliation

“The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.” (Ps 7:8 AV)

This prayer request should be one for which we pray daily.  It is not a bad thing for the LORD to examine our hearts and lives so that we might be right before Him.  Yet, the context of this verse is a bit more specific.  This psalm was written on the occasion of a problem David was having with a man named Cush who was a Benjamite.  There is no record of this incident.  Many assume Cush was involved with Saul and was the mouthpiece of Saul to discredit David as he fled from his persecutor.  According to tradition, this man was sent among the nation to spread lies.  This was by design.  Cush’s strategy was to tarnish the reputation of David so David would struggle to find support.  The most effective gossip is that which is closest to the truth.  It would appear Cush twisted the truth just enough that it might be believable.  This resulted in many of Israel questioning the integrity of David.  When David asks the LORD to judge his integrity, this is not a general request to be cleansed from sin.  Rather, David is seeking God’s judgment and guidance regarding the difficulty he is having with another.  If there is fault, then David wants to know.  As best as he could determine, he is guiltless in this matter.  However, he does not take this for granted.  If there is any fault, he desires to make it right.  If not, then he is seeking the wickedness of the wicked to cease.

There are always cases in church problems when a disagreement gets out of hand.  The better part of valor would have been if the two parties started by asking the LORD to reveal personal liability in the issue.  Rather than point fingers at one another, it would be better if they pointed fingers at themselves, first.  Such was the case many years back.  I have two families who got into it over a misunderstanding over a ministry assignment.  The first came to church only when their ministry needed tending to.  The other has family members in that ministry.  The latter had a heartfelt belief that if the former was going to do ministry, they could be faithful to all services.  The latter, however, took advantage of the situation and started a competing ministry that dislodged the former.  The former left the church and never returned.  This issue at hand may have been resolved if the former admitted their faithlessness was an issue and they would recommit to attending more services.  The latter should have apologized for doing an end around and circumventing the proper process to manipulate a less than ideal situation to the desired end.  If both parties would have examined their faults first, then this situation would never have spiraled out of control.

When it comes to problems we have with others, we may assume we are more in the right than our adversary.  And, we may be right.  How much we are in the right, or if there is no wrong at all, should not determine whether we ask for a divine examination or not.  It should be asked for anyway.  If for anything else, for a clear conscience.  Be that as it may, it is my experience that very rarely is there one party totally in the right while the other is totally in the wrong.  David shows maturity and humility here.  In fact, this is a pattern of life for David.  Repeatedly we read in the psalms a similar request.  David wants to know he is right with God and man before He asks the LORD to deal with an adversary.  If he has done anything wrong, he seeks God’s forgiveness and tries to reconcile.  That is not always possible.  With Saul, this was never possible.  The effort has to be made, anyway.  David shows us the right attitude when we are at odds with someone else.  It is easy to see the faults of our competitor.  It is very difficult to see our own fault.  Reconciliation will not take place unless both parties are willing to see and admit to their part in the differences.  This begins with the sincere and humble prayer to the Father asking Him to judge us where we are unable to.  If we are to grow in the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, we must grow in grace towards one another.  This begins with self-examination.