Biblical Realism

August 23, 2018

Psalm 90 which used to be a staple of Christian funeral meditations has fallen upon hard times lately. It’s not quite culturally appropriate to say that God “turn(s) man to destruction,” or to say, “We have been consumed by your anger, and by your wrath we are terrified...all our days have passed away in your wrath.” Even many Christians cringe a this kind of talk.

But it is there in Scripture, and no amount of explanation can make it disappear. A Christian might be tempted to say, “We’ll, that’s Old Testament. The wrath of God was satisfied when it was poured out on Jesus on the Cross,” and in a way, that is true. The problem is, this psalm rings true to life as many people experience it. Their expectations lie unfulfilled, their dreams broken in the dust.

The Bible is true to life. It doesn’t sugarcoat or soft-sell it. Disappointment, perplexity, suffering and loss are just as much a part of life as are joy, love, and peace. Even for those who love and are faithful to God. Having faith doesn’t mean everything is always “happy, happy, joy, joy.” What it does mean is found later in this psalm where the writer says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom,” and, “Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands.” These sentiments are two sides of the coin. We pray for wisdom as we consider this often difficult life, and we ask God to establish our efforts apart from which those efforts are transitory at best. 

I am thankful tonight for the realism of the Bible and for its down-to-earth approach to life’s challenges that give believable hope for those who struggle with those difficulties.