We Are But Flesh
Psalm 78:1-39 • Psalm 78:40-72
Joel 1:15-2:2(3-11) • Rev. 19:1-10 • Luke 14:25-35
When you get to some reading like today, it helps to remember Psalm 78:38–39:
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
I like the King James version here for its poetic turn of phrase, “For He remembered that they were but flesh…” Now you don’t have to like the KJV or read it regularly to appreciate the relatability of this verse of scripture. Surely as we go through our imperfect lives it is helpful to remember that the God of the Universe, the Author of Reason, Being itself—gets that we are human. Isn’t that comforting? While we as human beings like the sons of Zebedee would often call down thunder and lightning on those that displease us, God, compassionately sees us in a different way.
I can’t pretend to know exactly what is going on when we read in scripture of the wrath of God. When we read of plagues and smiting. Sometimes it feels like a good smiting is warranted. At least when it isn’t us. Man I’ve wished for some smiting at times. What I do believe and have some experience of, is how God mercifully leads us to where we can be. In the 14th chapter of Luke the Lord tells us to be prepared for sacrifices. He warns that we must be ready to commit our entire selves to Him. Whether it’s the loss of family or friends, our hard baked “knowledge,” or even just our pride, we must be ready to give up whatever stands in the way of us following Jesus. That can be a tough pill to swallow. Especially when we think we are right about most things.
Thank heaven God is full of compassion and knows that we are but flesh. God knows your struggles. Even the ones you don’t know are struggles. Still, He calls you. He wants you. Let that soak down over you every day like a warm shower. God. Wants you. The one reading this. So much so, that He is willing to have an infinite amount of patience with you. He asks us to count the cost in following Him because He wants us to understand we are being called to carry the cross. Not the uh, extra green stacks of Benjamin Franklins. But He’s right there to walk it with us and make our burdens light. Perhaps next time you come up against something hard to understand in scripture, take a moment to think about the compassion of God, and that Reason itself will not be unreasonable. While our understandings may be imperfect, there is another way. He is the way.
God love you.
Written by Jonathan Wright
Jonathan is a native of Atlanta, GA and a relatively new member of St. Paul’s. He moved to the parish from the Cathedral Church of Saint Mark in Salt Lake City, UT where he became an Episcopalian.