ONLY BY GRACE

This psalm is a song of lament by a man oppressed by enemies. Paralyzed by fear, deeply depressed, and close to despair, he prays. Traditionally such prayers were offered in the evening, with the expectation that God’s answer would come in the morning (v. 8). The psalmist recognizes that he cannot approach God with any sense of entitlement based on his own merits. His appeal for help is founded on God’s name, character, and ‘unfailing love’ (v. 12). He knows all about grace! Moreover, he knows the problem is not his alone, as he acknowledges that ‘no one living is righteous before [God]’ (v. 2), a phase reminiscent of Paul’s ‘no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law.’²

We may be uncomfortable with the psalmist’s desire in the final verse to see all his enemies annihilated, but he is praying ‘in line with the Old Testament covenant tradition according to which blessings and curses for the obedient and disobedient, respectively, are equally real.’³ Today, of course, we have the benefit of understanding God through Christ, who has taken our judgment on himself.

You will find when we look at Ezekiel next week that there is much here that would have resonated with him – such as ‘in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble’ (v. 11). Ezekiel had experienced the enemy pursuing and crushing him in the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem (v. 3). Ezekiel would have been mindful of all God’s past interventions for his covenant people (v. 5), but would have tempered that encouragement with his recognition of the sins of the people, which had led to the exile. Ezekiel’s strong faith in a God of faithfulness, righteousness, and unfailing love echoes the psalmist’s, but perhaps would not have asked God not to hide his face (v. 7), following the vision of chapter 1!

Think back to times when you have cried out for God’s mercy. How did he answer?