Experiencing God’s Worth While Deserving Nothing
“… worth more than life” — competing for a price — these are the words in Job 10:22-25 (NIV).
God compares His children to a precious ointment (verse 26) that He will send to the patient when that person comes to Him in need. It’s a valuable thing to be offered such high-tech medicine as if to affirm a statement of truth.
The ‘ol’ word ‘deserving’ in this context is ‘used’ – meaning to be worthy.
But, consider this: according to the ‘Webster’s Bible Commentary’ (phenomenon [ AWK]) website, the original Greek word is *de academic, which translates to ‘to debase,’ i.e. to make oneself less worthy; deracism.
There is a crucial truth here to be considered: what a person is worth is how they are recognized, or, put another way, by the way, they are treated.
Let’s consider some Scripture verses (verses 4-14) that are classed as ‘wisdom verses,’ for they help bind this idea together with concepts of practical protocol and interpersonal respect:
In this stream of thinking, it’s best to remember that every person is unique and their individual beauty or grace stands out.
Let’s also remember that there are two general periods in anyone, and we observe this in part by how they treat or do not treat themselves i.e., how they cover their sin – the ‘don’t steal’ platform as it’s featured in the modern world.
Don’t steal
Here, for instance, we see in Isaiah (and other prophets) how little the Lord letteth the humble to be treated as noble, lofty, and superior. Even a meekness is a form of worship when we ‘don’t steal’ it from others.
The humble are not impervious to rebuke. Certainly, there are individuals, and there are families who behave in this way, and they may be hurt in various ways.
The point remains, however, that it is not for us to dominate people. If we do, this is envying, which is a spirit of which the evil one is possessed. There is no need. God protects us and nobody else; if we ‘take it upon ourselves’ to be arrogant, false, or disrespectful – any of these could be the work of the Evil One. These are his puffed-up ways – they’re manufactured, not known to God. Whenever we take it upon ourselves to be self-righteous, others are going to be led to these same modifications of their own accord, and they’ll have no other choice but to imitate our pattern.
Why, then, do we get a quiet guffaw out of being spiteful and belittling, or of judging and accusing, or of setting up Pharisee-like religion? Essentially it’s because these are all indirectly the work of the black heart of the devil alive within us. Seeing what God sees, we’re to be wary at all times.
Furthermore, and unfortunately, religious people also tend to have a tolerance for this tolerance of the 72nd Psalm – they may allow it to mar deeper down.
The heart of this psalm is a passionate one, drenched in fear. It runs cold to injustice and is fermented, as is its inspiration, in the touch of God.
Yet, it is not to be read by everyone. Those who are philosophically minded may find it repulsive. Those who are agnostic or secular or spiritual may not care to acknowledge its existence and if they do, they may find it too preachy or legalistic to take it on board.
The heart of this psalm is a passionate one, drenched in fear. It runs cold to injustice and is fermented, as is its inspiration, in the touch of God.
Might this be one psalm among many in this mood to be more comforting to us as we run ourselves ragged from one purpose or passion to the next? It’s a great comfort when we know God is infusing us with his infatuation.
