C, The Third Sunday after Epiphany - Psalm 19:12-14 "Presumptuous Sins"

Psalm 19:12–14 (ESV) Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

These are the words of King David.  Why does he end this psalm in this way?  We’ve all heard variations of these words before.  Usually as a prayer… May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

Often prayed at the beginning of a sermon, pastors pray that they preach God’s word acceptably in his sight, to the congregation.  Hopefully, this preaching comes about through the pastor allowing the Holy Spirit to guide his meditations in God’s word, so what is preached is what the Lord God needs his people to hear.  So therefore, pastors pray that the hearer’s meditations are also acceptable to the Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.

So why does David end the psalm this way?  He wants to be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Why does the pastor pray this way?  Pastors, faithful to the word of God, know they are accountable to God for what is taught and preached to God’s people. 

In the letter to the Hebrews we hear, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.”  (Hebrews 13:17a ESV)

And from the epistle of James, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1 ESV)

Although David has many liberties as king, he knew as the leader of the liturgical congregation of Israel, David does not presume anything.  He does not gauge his blamelessness nor his innocence by his position or how he feels!  But rather, he is counselled by the warnings in God’s word, spoken by the likes of Samuel and Nathan, and those who came before.

Again, we should ask, “why does he the king, listen to God’s word of warning?”  David knows his true hidden self, in the face of God’s word!   He is a leader in constant learning in the face of death.  David does not have to think too hard to remember, both his failures, and the forgiveness of his failures.  He also knows his rise to power came at the Lord’s hand, in the wake of King Saul’s presumption, removal from leadership, and death.

King David knew he was a sinful man forgiven and sustained by God after his lustful adultery with Bathsheba and its coveting that led to the murder of her husband Uriah the Hittite.  Just as Nathan the prophet was sent to call David out for these sins, David knew of Saul’s fate sealed by the judge and prophet Samuel who revoked his life and leadership saying, “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” (1 Samuel 15:23 ESV)

David knew that being presumptuous was deadly and he didn’t want what happened to Saul, to happen to him.   Like David, we cannot declare ourselves innocent nor blameless, nor do we want our death to be eternal.  The knowledge of death brings a baptised Christian back to the foot of the cross, where like David, we seek the mercy of he who created all things, and continues to sustain us and his creation, despite our corruption and creation’s corruption. 

This knowledge of death comes as a shock to humanity who’ve made the presumption that their goodness will save them from death.  Especially those who no longer believe God exists, nor created life, justice, and love.  Without God, life is shallow and hopeless.  Without God, justice is every man for himself.  And without God, love is nothing more than human yearnings, boiling in the bowels of desire.

In fact, this is the definition of presumption.  The Hebrew word for presumption is the same word for cooking or boiling stew.  This reminds us of the presumption of both Esau and Jacob when Esau despised and sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of boiling stew. Like Esau, we all know how the smell of boiling food can entice presumptuous desires within us.  Similarly, like Jacob, we know how to act with hidden deceit, cooking up presumptuous plans to get what we want, to get our own way!

But these are not God’s way.  Presumption is meditation without Godly wisdom.  Presumption takes the will and ways of the heart and leads a person to death.  Presumption works in the realm of unwise jealousy and selfish ambition.  As we hear, “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” (James 3:15 ESV)

How often does your frustrations lead you to presume you’re better than your neighbour, to force your way as the way!  This is playing God.   Our presumption works contrary to God’s word, especially the wisdom and meekness of God’s word implanted within.  Presumption opposes the way of Jesus.  Presumption uses the truth of Jesus’ word to serve one’s own imperfect truth.  And presumption foolishly leads one to believe the human spirit over against the Holy Spirit for life.

This is why like King David we call out to God and pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10–12 ESV)

Three times David says,  renew a right spirit within me, take not your Holy Spirit from me, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Like David, every believer’s spirit needs to be sustained by the Holy Spirit.  Presumption makes us forget we are human, or at least what being human is, and tricks us into putting God aside in favour of everything else.  Presumption makes fools of us!

Being recreated, not cast away through repentance and forgiveness, restored and upheld by the Holy Spirit, David says, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.” (Psalm 51: 13 ESV)

And he does just that here in Psalm nineteen.  Don’t be fazed by the numbering of the Psalms.  They were liturgically ordered and numbered years later.  Nevertheless, David reigned thirty-three years in Israel, and constantly struggled with the sins of his humanity, especially within, when threatened from others, tempting him to look to himself instead of God.

And so, David not only teaches the congregation of Israel. But he himself is taught by the words of this psalm and others he authored and authorised for use as he leads the congregation in Jerusalem.

From Isaiah sixty-two Jesus proclaims, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18–19 ESV)

After saying this he says, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4: 21 ESV)

David sought not to be presumptuous and trusted the Holy Spirit to lead him with the Word of God.  In meekness, Jesus came to implant the fulfilment of his word within us.  The Holy Spirit was upon Jesus to do this, and the Holy Spirit continues to work faith within us and remove presumption from within.

We hear in James, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21 ESV)

Jesus is the Word made flesh implanted in us by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit counsels us to remain in what we’ve received through being baptised into Jesus’ wisdom and meekness.  This is the wisdom and meekness that overcomes your humanity, your presumption.

The words of Psalm nineteen are fulfilled in Jesus, as are all of the Psalms. 

Jesus perfects the law of the Lord, reviving the soul; Jesus’ testimony is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts or teachings of Jesus are right, rejoicing the heart.  Jesus has kept the commandments of the Lord pure, enlightening our eyes, to allow the Holy Spirit’s enduring cleansing with Christlike meekness and wisdom.  The rules of the Lord’s law of liberty are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired is Jesus than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.  Moreover, by Jesus’ words is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great eternal reward.  Let us pray.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, by ourselves we cannot discern the errors of our human spirit from the new person you have recreated each of us to be!  Thank you for daily sending the Holy Spirit with your implanted word, to expose and set each of us free from the desires and deeds that frustrate and cause us to seek our own way.  You declare me, and other repentant sinners, innocent from hidden faults.  Help us to believe this equally of ourselves and of others. Keep back your servants, from presumptuous sins seething within; let them not boil up and have dominion over us!  In feeling the bubbling dread of our guilt, lead us to innocence through the confession of our transgressions.

Lord Jesus, let the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart be sweet desirable honey and gold in my life, and in the lives of this congregation, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. 

B, Post Pentecost 15 Proper 17 - James 1:26-27 "The Heart of the Matter"

The texts before us today seem to be a strange mixture from sexual love, to being doers of the word, and to ceremonial washing according to the tradition of the Jewish elders.

The first is the Song of Solomon, with its characters, a man and a woman, yearning to be with each other, physically and emotionally — sexually. 

The epistle of James, appears to dive into a justification debate where James seems to contradict Paul in saying, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.” (James 2:24 ESV) James claims that just being a hearer of the word is insufficient for those who have been brought forth by the word of truth.

Finally, we hear Jesus engage with the Pharisees who question why Jesus’ disciples do not wash but rather eat with defiled hands. To which Jesus gives a list of evils that comes from within the heart and defiles a person.

One might ask, “What is the heart of the matter?” in these seemingly random texts here before us today.

However, these texts can engage us in what is arguably one of the most confused areas of the Christian life, which surround two of the simplest words, “be” and “do”!

What is it to be a Christian?  What is it to do Christian things, or activities?  Does your identity, who you are, come from what you do?  Or do your deeds happen because of your nature?

If you were to ask someone, “why don’t orange trees produce apples?”  I suspect after strange looks they would reply, “because orange trees produce oranges and apple trees produce apples!”

In the same way, we are called human beings!  Therefore, from our being human we do human things! 

Who upon waking up, had to tell themselves to wake up?  That’s the job of an alarm clock, or a full bladder!  Who here having woken, had to tell themselves to breathe?  No! You were breathing already before you thought about doing anything.  The doing of human things occurs  because we are human beings, being human!   

So why is it we get the being and doing of Christianity so confused and back-to-front? How do you hear the following?

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”  (James 1:26–27 ESV)

What do you make of the word “religious” here in the text?  Are you religious?  What is your religion?  Most of us would think of religion as what is our denomination; our religion is Lutheran!  Or failing that; our religion is Christian!  But is this what the text is asking of religion?

Let’s hear the statement again, but with a variation.  If anyone thinks he is Lutheran and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s Lutheranism is worthless.  Or, if anyone thinks he is Christian and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s Christianity is worthless.  Is Lutheranism or Christianity, the same as religion, as being religious?  Understanding, what is being religious, will remove the confusion of the doing and being of Christianity? 

Many people are religious, but most are not Christian.  Then again those who are faithful Christians are not necessarily religious at all.  Those on the fringes of the congregation are often heard saying, “Pastor, I’m not very religious!” And they’re surprised by my standard response, “that’s good I’m not religious either!”

So, what is the heart of the matter?  What is religion?  What is Christianity?  Is there a difference?  I believe there is!

This is where we can look at the relationship of the man and woman in the Song of Solomon.  Not just the physical/sexual relationship but the spirit of the relationship that blesses the proper workings of a relationship in marriage.

The yearning of the couple to be with each other is exactly that… to be with each other!  This is more than just sexually but to be a part of each other’s lives.  The blessings of doing things in the relationship are in addition to being in the relationship!  The spirit of a healthy marriage is to be with each other.

Or picture a poet, a writer and reciter of verse.  How dysfunctional would it be for a professional poet to never publish what he’s written.  Or, to never recite it in the hearing of others.  The heart of a poet, the spirit of a poet is to produce poetry for public pleasure.

What is the spirit of religion, and is it the same spirit that’s found in Christianity?  The reality is Christianity is religiously extreme.  Christianity and religion are similar but they’re spiritually different and it’s what brought Jesus into conflict with the Pharisees.  The same similarity but spiritual difference is where we find it difficult to differentiate between being religious and being a believer in Jesus Christ.

At its heart the spirit of religion is a yearning to transit death into an afterlife of sorts.  All religions have some set of works for this to occur, be it Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and the various new age religions in vogue today.  However, Christianity is different in that at its heart only one man was ever religious, in the true sense of the word, and that man is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Greater than the yearning of a man and woman is the spirit of Jesus’ love for humanity and for God.

Jesus came into conflict with the Pharisee party, not because they and he were different, but because they were the same.  Although the same, their spirit, their yearning, was for a very different purpose.  Remember that Jesus said at the sermon on the mount, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 5:20 ESV) To put it in terms of religion, Jesus wants you to realise that unless your religion or deeds exceeds that of the Pharisees, you won’t be going to heaven!

That disqualifies every one of you, and me too!  The righteousness of the Pharisees was exceptional, but it was not good enough!  Similarly, if you seek to be doers of the word like a Pharisee, that too, is not good enough either, despite what James seems to tell us!  However, Jesus’ righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees!  What he did as the Word incarnate in flesh was, a deed, “a doing of the word” second to none.

The heart of the matter is the spirit of desire that dwelt in Jesus is different to all others who seek to be doers of the word, or doers of anything for that matter!  Jesus tells us the heart of every human produces evil things and these defile every person.  The heart of the matter is the spirit of a person is not a doer of what pleases God. 

In this way Jesus is the only one whose religion exceeds that of the Pharisees.  He not only exceeded their righteousness, but it was done in the spirit God intended it to be done.  Unfortunately, all pharisaic righteousness done in Jesus’ day, right through to today, is a righteousness or religious activity that glorifies the self, and says, “Look how good I am because of what I’ve done!”

The spirit of Jesus’ religiosity or righteousness says, “Look at what I’ve done for you, because I love our Father, and seek to do his will!”  Yours and my religion or deeds are worthless, whereas Jesus’ religion or deeds are worthy!”  His deeds gift us and grace us with our Christian being!

But what of James’ command to be doers of the word and not only hearers?  This is where we are to know the heart of the matter.  To not only be hearers of God’s word but to believe the word is  implanted within.  The Holy Spirit works in you, so you allow it to work.  The Holy Spirit wills you to believe in the one the Father has sent, namely Jesus Christ, implanted within.

The heart of the matter is not your human heart, that’s the heart of all your trouble.  For us to be doers of the word, requires us to believe, allow our human being to be daily drowned in repentance, so a heart of faith in Jesus might be lived in us by the Holy Spirit. 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17a ESV)  What are these gifts?  Forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, in Jesus Christ.

In the weeks to come, James continues to differentiate, in following chapters, between the dead deeds of unspiritual religiosity and the deeds of those who trust in the implanted word, which allows us to endure in the gifts of God that lead to eternal life!

Humans do sinful human things because we’re being human. But you do Christian things because the Holy Spirit is making you holy, having heard and received the implanted word, Jesus Christ the word made flesh.

The heart of the matter is: you not only do the works of faith; that is, believing in Jesus Christ (John 6:29).  But trusting in Jesus, you do even greater works than the works he did while on earth (John 14:12). Amen.