Teaching through Psalms over the course of the last months
has been a joy. Yet, it reminded me of one of the greatest challenges in Bible
study: the challenge is to listen to the Word of God rather than simply using
the Psalms as a book of verses to solve a random set of personal psychological
challenges.
The Danger of Using God
We respond seriously against the thought of being used. In David
Copperfield, Charles Dickens created one of his most impressive villains:
Uriah Heep. A man of humble origins, Uriah attaches himself humbly to the
honest practice of Mr. Wickfield. At the start, he seems a humble servant, but
over the course of the story it becomes clear that Mr. Heep is anything but
humble. He was using Mr. Wickfield to swindle him out of everything he owned,
as well as the hand of his unwilling but lovely daughter. Heep saw the
Wickfields as a target to manipulate for his own benefit.
One of the ways in which we approach Scripture in the modern
church is to view Scripture as a set of random prescriptions:
- Psalm
23 when you are worried
- Psalm
91 when you are sick
- Psalm
139 when you feel lonely
It is a legitimate way to interact with Scripture, but if it
is the only way we interact with Scripture, we are in danger of spiritual
narcissism — a sulking and unsatisfactory state of affairs that brings a person
to stand before the God of the universe and ask, “So what do I get out of
this?”
The Central Theme of Scripture
This is far worse than old Uriah Heep taking advantage of
dear Mr. Wickfield. When our world shrinks down only to include our own
interests, the main theme of Scripture and the central need of our souls are
lost.
We must understand that God is the most important reality in
all the world, seen and unseen. His will, provision, and glory are the primary
concern of all existence. Anything that puts us at the center of everything is
sure to bring misery.
“Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give
glory.” — Psalm 115:1
The Message of the Psalms
This brings us, really, to the central theme of the book of
Psalms. From beginning to end, this book reminds us that God’s glory is the one
needful thing that truly matters.
Whether we find ourselves in situations of pain and want or
fullness and joyous satisfaction, we are only in a good place when the Lord and
His glory are at the center of our lives.
The Psalms teach us not merely to seek comfort from God, but
to become instruments of praise to His wonderful name.
“Whom have I in heaven but thee?
and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.” — Psalm 73:25
“Let every thing that hath breath
praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” — Psalm 150:6
