But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
— Psalm 5: 11
People who study the Bible often talk about the importance of context. Taking a verse out of context can entirely change its meaning. Except sometimes it doesn’t.
Psalm 5 starts as a lament of King David. He mourns the sinfulness of wicked people. He complains about their arrogance and their lies. They offend God and because they offend God, David is offended, too.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
In “Hearts and Deeds” we listened to Paul’s statement that we are saved not by works but through faith.* We compared this to James’s emphasis on what we do. Today James restates his case. This time with a directness that borders on being blunt.
In essence, James wants us to think about the connection between what is in our hearts and what we do. Can a person believe and yet act like they don’t believe?
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Some people have told me that they feel put off by James’ letter because of his emphasis on what they call “works.” There seems to be a lot of confusion on this point. Paul spends a lot of time in his writings defending the Gentile Christians against the demands of Jewish law. Time and again he returns to this theme which is summed up in his letter to the Ephesians:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2: 8-9)
The “works” that Paul refers to are a kind of righteousness defined by the laws of Moses. These are the laws of the covenant or agreement God made with the Israelites through Moses. (If you would like to know more about this covenant in general terms read Deuteronomy, chapters 27-30.) Under this agreement, the Israelites were to remain faithful to God. Not just in their actions, but in their hearts as well. God taught the Israelites the difference between right and wrong actions in the hope that their hearts would follow.
For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
As we discussed in “You Break It You Buy It” a glass angel with a broken wing is no longer “new” in the eyes of the Curio Shop owner. In the same way, if you commit murder the whole law is broken, just like that angel. Even something as minor as disrespecting the poor brother in Christ breaks God’s law of loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Using the logic James puts forth, the one who discriminates between the rich and the poor has broken the law. Unlike people, the Law does not discriminate. Once you break the law, the law condemns you to the same place all other lawbreakers go.
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse…
— Proverbs 2: 10-12
Are there practical benefits to having wisdom? It depends on who you are and what you are looking for in life.
I do not like pain. I avoid it as much as possible. For this reason, I avoid taking unnecessary risks. I think everyone else should think the same way. I cannot fathom a point of view that embraces pain.
Some years ago in the course of my job, I met a young man who seemed impervious to pain. During the few weeks, I knew him I learned that he had an affection for high-risk sports. He would regale me with stories of the adventures he’d had and then tell me what it had cost him in broken bones. I am pretty sure he had broken almost every bone in his body at least once.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
There are a lot of curio shops at the beach. Each shop is filled with hundreds if not thousands of little curiosities. Many of them are glass or porcelain. They are things that easily break. Some shops have a little sign on the shelves that says, “YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT.”
Now you might say that breaking a wing off of that little glass angel was not such a big deal. With a little glue, you can make it “as good as new.” The problem is, no matter how good you are, the break is still there. It is no longer “new.” As far as the store is concerned, it is now worthless. So if you are the one who broke it, you buy it.
The law is kind of like that little glass angel on the shelf at the curio shop. Break one little chip off of one wing and POOF the whole thing is broken.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
— Philippians 4:6
One affirmation everyone likes to hear is that everything is going to be okay. I know I do. Especially when I’m in a tough spot.
It is easy to be happy when everything is going well. It is when things go bad that we become anxious. Like when you suddenly realize that the car to your right that was supposed to stop at the stop sign is still moving. That gets people’s adrenaline up! Another fun event is being called into the boss’s office without warning. They usually don’t do that to pat someone on the back.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.
But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.
— Psalm 5: 4, 7
Have you ever noticed how many stories are based on the Bible? The Bible story is based on Jesus coming into our world. He offers us a special relationship. He is wonderful. But something bad has happened. The people Jesus loves have been taken captive by his arch-enemy, Satan. In the battle to free his people, Jesus is killed. Then, amazingly, he comes back to life.
In the movies, the hero often follows a similar story arc. A great sacrifice is needed. Sometimes the hero or heroine even dies. Once in a while, the hero comes back to life. (If you have ever seen the movie, Princess Bride, you know what I mean.)
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Yesterday, in verse 8, James quotes God Himself from Leviticus 19: 18b saying, “… love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Jesus repeats this when tested by the Pharisees. Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37b-40)
When James quotes the “royal law” he is on very solid ground. He follows this up with his statement that showing favoritism is a sin. He tells us that God’s words themselves convict the person who sins in this way.
So how does this work? This doesn’t sound like Paul’s letters to the Gentile churches where we learn that we are no longer under the law! (Romans 6:14 for example.)
