God's Work

Debbie:
Psalm 43
Once again the Psalmist seems despondent but knows that God is the source of strength and hope even if the words of praise are difficult right now. In the end the Psalmist says with confidence,
“Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
for I shall again praise God,
my help and my God.”
At one time or another we have all felt downcast, sad, hurt. The Psalmist, in essence saves himself a conversation with someone and has it with himself (herself) “It’s going to be okay, trust God, the words aren’t coming right now, but that’s okay . . . God is good.” The Psalmist can have this kind of conversation with himself (herself) because of the relationship the Psalmist had with God.

Romans
Today’s passage describes in no uncertain terms that it is God’s work, God’s action, and God’s grace that saves humanity. It is no action of our own. The difficulty comes when Paul uses the words “God has mercy on whomsoever God chooses… God hardens the heart of whomsoever…” I think if we are honest we will admit that we don’t like this language because it makes God sound whimsical. But we must move it out of human thought and struggle with this in the bounds of justice and righteousness. God has mercy on whomsoever God chooses and God hardens the heart of whomsoever God chooses. Rarely in scripture is this referring to an individual but rather a community. And it has to do with issues of obedience, justice, mercy, peace, love… this statement is not a statement of capriciousness, but a statement that Paul makes about a God who loves this world with an amazing love.