Warts and All

The Bible is a real piece of writing.  It is not something which sugarcoats reality.  One thing which has to be said of its portrayals of the patriarchs, prophets, and other saints is that they are pictured as Oliver Cromwell once spoke of himself, "warts and all."  The men and women who have become the Biblical heroes are flawed like the rest of us.  "Warts and all" is how we see them.

 

One of the most read and powerful sections of the Word of God is the part known as the book of Psalms.  At its core it is like a collection of prayers, acts of praise, and words designed to glorify God.  They have been recited, or recorded, or remembered by most who have set out on the faith journey with God.  But, as wonderful as they are, they speak the words of real people.  We do not always pray the best for those around us.  Sometimes our anger and hurt results in our venting deep feelings before God which hardly speak of one who is seeking to love as Jesus calls us to love. 

 

The 64th Psalm is such an honest Psalm.  It is a prayer of pleading for protection from those who would destroy with the deadly power of malicious words.  "Hide me from the secrets plots of the wicked...who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows..." (Psalm 64:2-3)  And what does the one praying desire for God to do to these enemies?  "But God will shoot His arrows at them, they will be wounded suddenly..." (Psalm 64:7)  Maybe praying for God to shoot down our enemies is something other than loving them.  But, if such is where we are, it is better to say it than deny it.  God can hear even the worst of desires from us and still work in our hearts to bring us to a far different and better place.