Melts Downs

Last night, Pastor Rayburn preached on “When Life Disappoints You”.  He talked about disappointment in relationships, in circumstances, in ourselves (regret) and in God.  Powerful.  He said, “God is not afraid of your emotions.  He would much rather you be honest with Him”.  It’s a good thing. 

It used to irk me that David could be the way he was and get away with some of the things he did.  He lived under the law and should have been stoned a time or two.  Yet…he always found forgiveness in the arms of the Father.  Didn’t understand it for the longest (we’re talking years).

Then God directed me to study David and Job together.  I thought it was odd but as I looked at their lives one thing became clear.  Job believed in the act of sacrificing; David believed in the sacrifice.  And yes, there is a difference.

Job was continually running around offering sacrifices (doing something) just in case someone sinned. His seemed to focus on the sin instead of on the promise of God.  On the other hand, David focused on the promise and not the sin. 

Remember, Job is one of the oldest stories in the Bible so he wasn’t under the law.  He was under grace (just like we are today).  At the end of the story, Job sees God for who He really is. I wonder, did Job raise this set differently because of his encounter with God?  Hopefully, he enjoyed them more and was less stressed.

There is no denying David was flawed but it was a rare occasion for him to repeat a sin once he acknowledged it.  His was great at admitting it, seeking forgiveness and leaving it behind him. (Exactly what we are supposed to do today.)  David wrote several Psalms that talked about the coming ultimate Sacrifice for man’s sin.  He looked forward to that day, yearned for it; put his trust in it.  He always ran to God with his sin instead of away from Him.  It made the difference.

I was a doer like Job and I’ll admit there were emotional melt downs along the way.  Did the study turn me completely around?  Let’s just say I’m still a work in process.  But…I’m getting better at admitting, repenting and forgetting (the hard part). 

I do know this; God has been through all of my melt downs and has been extremely patient with me over the years.  For this I give Him thanks.