I was recently preparing a meditation on Psalm 47 and it occurred to me that it expressed some of what I was trying to say about God’s use of the church and clergy with all of their frailties and limitations. I share it to contribute to our conversation about the nature of God’s redeeming love.
“He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves.”
It is curious that the psalmist refers to Jacob, his old name, rather than Israel, the name God gave him when he blessed him at the Jabbok. (Genesis 32:24-32) Up until that moment, while Jacob showed flashes of faith, the dominant feature of his personality was that of a conniver, or as his name suggested, a striver who was quite willing to trick and take advantage of others in order to better himself. Yet, like David at a later date, God seems to have a fondness for rascals.
Perhaps it is a sign of God’s patient work at redemption. The psalmist celebrates the anticipated future of God’s triumph. “Clap your hands, all you people; shout to God with loud songs of joy . . . He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.” The fact that this psalm is read as we celebrate the ascension recognizes that God’s triumph over evil does not come in a manner that most people expect. His victory is bought a brought about by a slain lamb (Revelation 5:9) who chose to rule as a servant.
The rascals of the world, including churches that act like rascals occasionally, are not beyond hope. Jacob became Israel, one who wrestled with God and man and prevailed. (Genesis 32:28) We frequently do not understand how God’s purposes can be accomplished in a world that is so resistant by a church that frequently is more interested in survival rather than faithfulness. Yet that same church hears the Scriptures, sings the songs, and prays the prayers through which God can work redemptive miracles.
“God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.”
Such thinking doesn’t make me comfortable with the condition of the church but it does give me hope that maybe God did know what God was doing when the church was established.
