Only Broken People
Dear Hope Family,
It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken. Psalm 119:26
My husband shared this verse from his morning reading with me recently, surprised at the audacity of the Psalmist to tell the Lord when it is time to act. The verse resounded with me, justifying my own pleas that He act. But I know that the way God acts is rarely the way we would ask or with the people we would prefer.
My family just resumed watching The House of David, a live action historical drama that begins with the disobedience of Saul and the anointing of David to be king after his fall. Right now we’re in the easy part, where David is faithful and courageous. It’s easy to see why he was called the man after God’s own heart. And yet we all know what’s coming: adultery, murder, a forbidden census, the abdication of discipline of his own sons. This is your heart, God, my own heart asks? This is who you pick to save your people?
As I study Exodus in preparation for teaching it this fall at our Women’s Bible Study, I’m struck with the same questions about Moses, an earlier shepherd in the story of God’s people. This was the best man you could find to deliver your people? Rejected by Israel, reluctant, untrusting of God’s ability to use him. This is how God acted when his people cried out for him to act, by choosing this broken, unimpressive man. Another man with blood on his hands.
God uses broken people. God only uses broken people. The very people who have transgressed God’s law are used to deliver them from transgressors and oppressors. They are His people, broken and sinful, but redeemed. Because when God acts, there will be no question of whose power secures deliverance. It was not David’s or Moses’, not by their strength or eloquence or even their own faithfulness which failed them. It was by the strength and faithfulness of our covenant keeping God who hears the cries of his people for him to act. And he shows up, ready to use broken people, ready to deliver us in his way. And his way is ultimately another Shepherd, a second David, the Passover Lamb this time sinless yet taking on the sins of his broken people to redeem them.
This school year, we’ll be studying Exodus, the account of God’s deliverance of Israel and his setting apart of a broken people redeemed by the Passover Lamb. Please plan to join us for our Women’s Bible Study (Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings) or Men’s Cohorts (various days and times). Registrations with fuller details will be coming soon.
Blessings,
Sarah