Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your
gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally,
brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things–-which
things you have also learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice
these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:4–9 ESV)
Understanding human behavior involves examining the inner core of
a person – the heart. The issues of life come out of the blending of intellect,
emotion, and volition (will). In the center of the Bible, the heart of the book,
are three writings that help manage these three attributes of the human condition.
The book of Job deals with the Volition; it is all
about the will. Three friends tried to force their will upon Job, and Job
attempted to force his will upon God. A verse often quoted by people to affirm
faith is usually quoted outside its intended tenor (Think: Satire). Job is
upset, feeling he is being victimized by God, and says, “Though He slay me, yet
will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15) He is not affirming faith but expressing
arrogance: “Though God shames me by his actions, I will honor him with my
attitude.” Job was telling his friends that his attitude was superior to God’s
actions. Therefore, the Lord should yield his behavior to Job’s perspective. Eventually,
Job is confronted with a clearer vision of reality and places his Volition back
under the care of the Almighty.
The book of Proverbs gives attention to the Intellect.
Godly wisdom needs to transform human thinking. The numerous pithy sayings shape
the mind to correctly live with a sense of awe and wonder before God, producing
humble and truthful affections for Him.
The book of Psalms is filled with every type of Emotion
– joy, anger, love, hate, affection, jealousy, surrender, revenge, arrogance,
humility. Not a human feeling is omitted in the ancient hymnal. It permits us
to give God our rawest emotions, venting the heart and stabilizing the mind
during the teetering moments of reaction. People are to regularly yield to the
Lord both the thrills and frustrations of life, preventing them from growing into
misguided bliss or raging bitterness.
In 2017, I spent Pentecost Sunday in Jerusalem. After attending church
in the Old City, I sat on the south steps of the Temple Mound and reflected on
the sermon Peter preached a week after the risen Savior ascended into heaven. For
me, it was a hope-filled meditation: Approximately 2000 years ago, in a morning
gathering at the Temple, the Holy Spirit empowered the newly created church and
mass conversions soon followed.
Not wishing to be jostled by the typical afternoon crowds in the
narrow passageways of the Old City, I walked along the broad roadway adjacent to the Kidron Valley. When eyeing the traditional site of the Garden of
Gethsemane, I wondered about Jesus’ final journey to the place of agonizing
prayer. What was he thinking and feeling? A few issues were discussed with his followers
while traveling, yet he left the Last Supper distraught about the immediate
future. In the quiet moments, when not conversing with friends, what were his
thoughts?
The gospel narratives show the Passover meal as filled with
emotion; Jesus experienced both deep affection and great disappointment. He then
headed to an olive orchard with a heavy heart. Short from experiencing death, this
time of prayer would prove to be the worst agonizing moment a person could ever
endure. What happens when emotions are depleted and disjointed? Lovers of God are
often drawn to the centuries-old songs of the covenant, the Psalms.
Thinking about the Psalms came naturally to Jesus. In trying
circumstances, he would quote from the songbook. Consider a statement made
while being crucified on the cross: the heart-wrenching moaning, “My God, My
God, why have You forsaken Me!” (Literally: “Why are You so far from helping Me!”)
Was he quoting Psalms 22:1 as a Messianic testimony? In the emotion of the moment, was He signaling the crowd of onlookers
to recall the psalm’s entire lyrics; was He challenging them to ponder the whole
poetic prose?
Devout Jews would have immediately detected the framing of His
cry. This was not a random thought but a familiar song, regularly sung. They
would recognize his torturous groaning in its proper context. Psalms 22 would appear
both individually reflective, as well as corporately prophetical. The song was reinforcing
his love for both friend and foe in the definitive time of Passion.
At Gethsemane, the site of an olive press, a crushing experience
was awaiting him. Would the terrain toward the garden have caused a song of
comfort to come to mind? If so, which Psalm aligns with the Kidron Valley while walking to a place of prayer? May
I suggest:
The
Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes
me lay down in green pastures (the
Garden), (Matthew 26:39)
He leads
me beside still waters (Kidron brook), He restores my soul.
He leads
me in paths of righteousness, For His name's sake. (Matthew 26:42)
Even
though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death; (Kidron valley)
I will
fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me.
You
prepare a table (of prayer) before Me, in the presence of My enemies; (Matthew 26:25)
You
anoint My head with oil (Gethsemane),
My cup overflows. (Matthew 26:39)
Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my [remaining] life;
and [then]
I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23, transposed)
Was this the Psalm that would strengthen Jesus for his ordeal?
Maybe not, maybe another, but the collection of Hebraic songs was created for times
like these.
Consider another example from the life of Peter: The letter entitled
“2 Peter” was initially viewed with suspicion and became the last manuscript added
to the New Testament. The penmanship and content caused facets of controversy;
it was unquestionably different from his first letter. Yet, when considering the
content of Mark’s gospel as coming from Peter, then the letter entitled “1
Peter” may also have been inscribed by someone helping him clarify and organize
his thoughts, possibly Silas or Mark (1 Peter 5:12-13). Second Peter may be the
only document actually penned by him, giving the clearest picture of his
testimony, his message, and his personality.
The letter shows the feelings of the emissary shortly before his
execution, when emotions were unsettled and restless. Was he meditating on a
Psalm while imprisoned, awaiting his impending doom? Are there clues in 2 Peter
that indicate an ancient poem was filling his thoughts and settling his nerves?
Before reading his final letter, hopefully without interruption, consider
Psalms 90 (the prayer of Moses):
Lord,
you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were
brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting
to everlasting you are God.
You
return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of Adam!”
For a
thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a
watch in the night.
You
sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is
renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the
evening it fades and withers.
For
we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have
set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For
all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a
sigh. The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet
their pride is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. Who
considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?
So
teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O LORD!
How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your
steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for
as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen
evil. Let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their
children. Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work
of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! (Psalm 90 ESV)
Now read 2 Peter. Was this Psalm transforming his emotions with
grace and truth, bringing his feelings into harmony with heavenly thoughts,
while contemplating his final task and immediate future? Maybe!
The risen Savior promises those who follow him: “Let not your hearts
be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1–3 ESV)
The best posture for your heart (Intellect, Emotion, and Volition)
connects the Helper, sent from the Heavenly Father on Pentecost Sunday, with the
contentment of a spiritual song. Let the Psalms fill your life with calmness
and confidence.
