Wake Up Calls - Blog Transfer

People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed? (Pr 19:3 TM)

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again (Ps 71:20)

I have been trying for weeks to connect the dots and get some thoughts to gel. Proverbs 19:3 from The Message lays the fault for a ruined life squarely where it belongs - at my feet. The psalmist in 71:20 seems to be tossing responsibility back at God.

Since Adam, we have tried to shift responsibility for our poor decisions on whomever else was available. Adam even tried to blame God for his decision to join the forbidden fruit fiasco. The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree... (Gen 3:12)

But I think the psalmist is expressing a different truth. God makes me "see" troubles. As part of my education I have had to go down to the depths of the earth (Ps 63:9) and lie among the dead. But ultimately, from the dead, He will restore my life again.

Prior to my final debauch I had received numerous "wake up" calls, but I repeatedly hit the snooze button. Seems I still do sometimes. When the serpent tempted Eve, his tactic was to create confusion about God's instructions, to make room for doubts. "Did God really say....?" (Gen 3:1)

My brain still looks for wiggle room, responding with "Well.... not in so many words." But what was His intent in leaving me with an instruction manual, available in so many translations and paraphrases? It was to make certain I could find the answers to my questions, and maybe spare me some pain.

Sadly, I have had to learn from my mistakes the hard way. I think He allows me this out of His love for me. It is not that He is unsympathetic. He will restore my life again. I include the 71st Psalm from The Message, without permission. But I do thank Eugene Peterson for his brilliant paraphrase.

Psalm 71 1-3
I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation. Be a guest room where I can retreat; you said your door was always open! You're my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.

4-7
My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough—
my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I've hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I'll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
but you take me in stride.

8-11
Just as each day brims with your beauty,
my mouth brims with praise.
But don't turn me out to pasture when I'm old
or put me on the shelf when I can't pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: "God has abandoned him.
Pounce on him now; no one will help him."

12-16
God, don't just watch from the sidelines.
Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
and daily add praise to praise.
I'll write the book on your righteousness,
talk up your salvation the livelong day,
never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God,
I post signs marking his right-of-way.

17-24
You got me when I was an unformed youth,
God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I'm telling the world your wonders;
I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray.
God, don't walk off and leave me
until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
ways, O God.
God, you've done it all!
Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face.
I've been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
turn to me, be tender to me,
And I'll take up the lute and thank you
to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I'll make music for you on a harp,
Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
I let out lungsful of praise,
my rescued life a song.
All day long I'm chanting
about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
slink off looking ashamed.