The assigned readings for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost for Sunday, July 16, 2006 are Lamentations 3:22-33 (Israel in Exile); 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 13-14 (Bountiful gifts) and Mark 5:21-43 (two healings). Chosen for this week to explain and apply is Lamentations 3:25 which reads, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks after Him.”
Again we find a text that appears to contradict the message of Christianity. For who would want a parent who is good to you only when you wait for him or seek after Him? No, parents instead are known for their being good to their children no matter the attitude of the child or even the behavior.
In every religion, except Christianity, the god is one who will be good to his followers insofar as they are waiting on Him and seeking after Him. The order is clear: First, the person waits for and/or seeks after the god; second, the god decides to be good to such a person and save him. This is referred to as a religion of Law in which those who obey have made themselves worthy of salvation.
The problem in itnerpreting this verse in such a way is due to the fact that theologians of glory–who live under the Law as a way of meriting salvation–interpret such verses as this one as a command or imperative. The verse tells you what to do in order for your god to be good to you. Such an approach to the Bible makes even a verse like John 3:16 an imperative in the sense that God’s job is to love us insofar as we do our job of believing in Jesus Christ.
In contast to this “under the Law” viewpoint of interpreting such verses as imperatives. those who live under the cross interpret them as indicatives. The difference is as follows. For those who live under the Law, this verse means that insofar as you wait for God and seek after Him He will be good to you for you merit your salvation on the basis of this conditional promise. For those who live under the Cross, this verse means that because God has given you faith to believe in Jesus Christ as a gift, He promises unconditionally to be good to you.
Recall that this Old Testament book was written during the time of the Exile while Israel was in captivity and bondage. And yet the writer can still sing, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (verse 23). As Christians we learn from the Bible that there is nothing we can do to merit God’s favor. In fact, He is gracious to those who do not deserve to receive such gifts as the forgiveness of sins and the robe of righteousness. Law and Gospel. Simple yet profound in being able to distinguish the religion of grace (Christianity) from all other religions of merit.
Name:Tom Baker