How long, 

O you sons of men, 

Will you turn my glory 

to shame? 

How long

will you love worthlessness 

And seek falsehood? Selah

Psalms 4:2 NKJV

David is hurting here. 

And it's like he is not being seen for who he really is. 

No one gets him.

No one is really listening.

Instead they're believing lies, "loving worthlessness", just doing nothing that's going to help.

It's like they don't really want to hear, don't really want to see. 

And David feels the shame, because he has to carry the shame. It feels like it's his, it feels like what is good in him has been turned into something ugly.

And the accusation burns because that's what I do.

I don't listen. 

I believe a lie becuase it's easier than facing the truth.

I don't make space for people to express how it is for them. 

I let them sit in that shame.

Yet the One who I follow does not do that. Jesus steps towards the hurt, the hurting, listens, questions, shares a meal, a drink.

He takes on himself the shame and restores honour. 

Jesus says "I see you as the wonderful good person you were always made to be" (Ephesians 1:4)

And he calls me to follow Him. 

To see people as He sees them, to listen, to make space, to bear with, to step towards, to remove shame, to bring healing and hope.

Selah

An interlude 

Time to take a breath

To sit with David's story and see it in our lives and the lives of those around us. 

David was not OK here.

Selah.

In our not OKness, take a breath.

Breathe in Jesus wide open grace and love for you.

And exhale.

Selah 

#psalms

#psalm4

#sundaypsalms

#selah