Psalm 50:16-23
Today, the wicked… (v. 16) In Job and in our reading of past Psalms it has seemed to me like “the wicked” were outsiders or other nations – certainly not participants in regular Jewish rituals. But in Psalm 50 God has made it clear through the psalmist that He is speaking to Israelites: Gather to Me My faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice! (v. 5) That is, “the wicked” join in with and are those people who bring their sacrifices and offerings, who attend temple worship and make annual pilgrimages. Today we might see them in church on Sundays and active in various ministries, maybe even active leaders in their congregations! (Personal note and clarification: I am not making ANY suggestions as to St. Andrew’s members, but no doubt there are regular church attendees worldwide who behave like “the wicked” described in today’s reading.) The “outside world” sees many church people as hypocrites; Christians on the far right have certainly hurt the image of the church as a caring, loving body.
As I have said the past few days, I like to consider myself to be aligned with “those of honest intent”, not with “the wicked”. However, I don’t have to look very far back in my life to see that I have hated discipline (v. 17a) or have spoken against “my brother” (v. 20). In Job we read, “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” (v. 31:1) I need to make that covenant with my lips!