Down? Reflect and remember.

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

Psalm 77:1-3, ESV

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Psalm 77:11-12, ESV

Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 77:19-20, ESV

Psalm 77 expresses a dark time in King David's life. The opening verses are a lament about his "day of trouble" and what was evidently a time of doubt and despair. No one is absolutely certain why his "soul refuses to be comforted", why he moaned when he meditated and even prayed, or what instigated this faintness of spirit. It could have during one of those times when David had sinned grievously and was broken because of his rebellious heart. Nevertheless, he was down.

Two elements of Psalm 77 indicate a turning in his spiritual life at such times. One is to note the word selah interposed in the text several times (after verses 3, 9, and 15). This term, seen throughout the Psalms, is thought to signal a time to pause and reflect, perhaps think about what is being written. The second turning point for David is a action occasioned by the reflection. David wrote, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord..." (v. 11) and "I will ponder all your work..." (v. 12). In that hour of deep spiritual trouble David reflected and remembered.

What he remembered was what many historians and Bible scholars view as the defining moment in the epoch of the Hebrew nation: God's deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea. As a point of study it may be noted that a large number of the sea references in Psalms are specific remembrances of God's parting of the Red Sea. When David mentioned the sea in his Psalms he was most often speaking about that particular sea. And, when he spoke about it this idea flashed through his mind and spirit---

Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters (v. 19).

There's more to the reflection. You see, Israel had a way out of their dilemma at the Red Sea too. They wanted to turn back, to find graves in Egypt rather that die in the wilderness. They didn't think God had a way out for them.

That may have been David's anguish as he penned Psalm 77: he didn't have a way out of this spiritual down time. He seemed alone and disheartened. That is, until he reflected and remembered. And, that reflection and remembrance brought him to the sea again. And, when he thought of the sea---the Red Sea especially---he thought of God's majesty and power, that God had provided Israel a way out.

That's the guidance and direction I needed today, a reminder of the importance of reflecting on and remembering what God has done as a path out of those down times when we may feel alone, abandoned, and without spiritual resources.

Selah.

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Speaking the truth in love.

That person we've labeled as contentious may actually be attempting to teach us a thing or two. American culture has long recognized and emphasized teaching and correcting roles in formal and informal education. Today the responsibility of preparing our future generations has been entrusted to systems of early childhood, primary, elementary, secondary, and tertiary schooling, mostly public, government funded institutions. There are, of course, private schools at every level and a growing return to home-school models. Over-riding them all has been generation to generation teaching that preceded the complex design of contemporary education. The point being, our history annotates many levels of instruction---teaching, training, coaching, preparing, and correcting---in generational connections, family relationships, work hierarchies, and close friendships.

This Christian worldview that constantly counsels me provides strong biblical guidance in serving the instructional needs of our changing culture. Historically the family was the basic teaching environment. Parents were expected to teach their children the various curricula of foundational education. Early on churches and faith-based organizations accepted and implemented classroom teaching with their religious preferences being central to their instruction. Parish priests and nuns eagerly fulfilled their classroom duties. How many friends remember the nun's ruler as the primary correctional instrument? Much of this educational model was constructed on biblical guidance.

Even beyond the basic schooling, church people understood a believer's reliance on mutual accountability in teaching and correcting. It's not fashionable today, gifted and mature believers providing Scriptural guidance to those less mature. It's because so many in that mature category elevated themselves to a judgement seat over others. Even in the New Testament era this was a dangerous misappropriation of mutual accountability . And, most of us are fearful of crossing those lines. People who do over-extend their teaching roles even in church are thought to be contentious, judgmental spiritual abusers. The other side of that is that many of us, individuals to the core, don't want another human directing our lives. It is perhaps why there's so much care in the Bible about correcting and teaching others in church.

So, this role is superintended with relational boundaries. Teaching and correcting others is a sacred duty. Still, it must be delivered with Christian care and concern. Make note---

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him

back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his

soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5: 19-20, ESV

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.

If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or

two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two

or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses

to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18: 15-17, ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore

him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Galatians 6: 1, ESV

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have

nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but

warn him as a brother.

2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15, ESV

...speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head.

Ephesians 4: 15, ESV

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you

ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4: 5, ESV

Being judgemental is not our call. Instruction and correction often is. That's why I love Paul's counsel to speak the truth in love. Sometimes we need to tell another person the absolute truth. But, it should always be spoken with a loving, restoring spirit.

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It takes two to tango.

So, Mr. Contentious, meet Mr. Touchy Feely. Here's an explosive admixture for some fireworks. One has an arsenal of aggressive and offensive verbal weapons, the other an absorbent shield of feelings on their sleeve. Alone they're relatively impotent, the object of their own devices. When paired in the right circumstances there's potential for sparks and booms igniting everything and everybody around them. They're just proof positive that it takes two to tango, simply meaning that two humans are necessary for genuine interpersonal conflict.

Sure, some of us are argumentative, irritable, aggravating, provocative, and bothersome a good bit of the time. These citizens like to prod and probe, argue and criticize, and push others right over the edge of personal sanity. They're unavoidable because they're positioned in our normal surroundings---neighbors, co-workers, family members, and even fellow church members. We can adjust to their ways and learn to ignore their jibes and goading. We're taught to consider the source and pursue a more mature escape from their soul-stirring ways. Learning to overlook offenses, ignore insults, and resist our natural inclinations is a lesson plan for life.

Partner two in this combo is that person who is easily offended. The slightest annoyance can crush the chip on their shoulder and inflame their emotions to hurtful or angry levels. Learning to tip-toe around such people is another life-long learning curriculum. It's a difficult lesson plan too because human feelings are so delicate, sensitive, and diverse. Yes, the Scriptural instruction in our Christian worldview provides ample teaching about the place of others in our lives. Much of it is directed at those heavy-handed contenders who push us so strongly. Just the same, there's biblical guidance about being too easily offended as well. Take note---

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing

you.

Ecclesiastes 7: 21, ESV

Bearing with one another and if one has complaint against another, forgiving each

other, as the Lord has forgiven you, you must also forgive.

Colossians 3:13, NIV

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119: 165, ESV

In the Apostle Paul's inspired treatise on genuine love he reminds readers that love is not "easily angered" (1 Corinthians 13:5, NIV), translating for me that my loving relationship with others keeps my feelings more secure than being so easily offended. In his great lesson on the signs of the end of the age Jesus predicted that many would be offended (see Matthew 24:10). Evidently the dynamics of that period will bring our emotions into full view and many humans will take offense at what is spoken.

There are Bible teachers who believe we're in those times right now. The uncertainty of Covid-19 has certainly raised the ire of many. Debate and argument are the order of the day as we imagine the end of the pandemic restrictions and the emergence of a new normal, whatever it is. And, personal sensitivity is visible in every media outlet, most notably in the social media where anonymity and distance invite our feelings.

Contentious people thrive in a world like this one. Overly sensitive people, easily offended by the blather, are a significant element is our discourse as well. Perhaps we should all wear the armor of God as taught by the Apostle Paul, "that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). Yes, those schemes would surely include the boisterous tactics of contentious people, and the easily offended sensitivity of others.

It does take two to tango.

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