Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24
Luke 13:22-14:6
Psalm 79:1-13
Proverbs 12:26
Choices. We blogged about them yesterday, and today the theme continues. Reading today's psalm, I was struck by what the psalmist chose to do in the face of the devastation Israel had suffered, amidst "the dead bodies of [God's] servants [left] as food for the birds of the sky". He could have taken advice from Job's wife - "curse God and die" or challenged God, demanded of God the way one of the robbers crucified next to Jesus did.
But that's not what the psalmist did. He inquired of the Lord - "how long? Will you be angry forever?" He asked - he didn't demand: "may your mercy come quickly to meet us". He acknowledged dependence - he didn't insist on entitlement: "for we are in desperate need…help us, God our savior, for the glory of Your name".
In the NT reading, what a different choice is made. Jesus asks the Pharisees to decide whether or not it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. The Pharisees try to avoid taking a stand - they remain silent. But in doing so, the content of their hearts was revealed just as clearly as the hearts of Job's wife and the robber.
Father, our choices lay bare the condition of our heart. Whatever the circumstances we face, may our hearts lead us to approach you as the psalmist did: with acknowledgement, humility, obedience and surrender. Help us to ask for our daily bread, but choose to see Your will is done - not ours.
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