This year, I’ve been going through the Bible using The One Year Bible, New Living Translation. Now, I typically do not care for this “version” as it is more of an interpretation than a literal translation. The entire point of this version is to offer readability and to make the text “come alive” more easily. I kind of immediately take offense to this purpose because I feel that we should really be reading what was written. It’s the job of the Holy Spirit to illumine the text, it is not some translator, editor, writer, or publisher’s job. However, this was a gift and I thought it would be nice to give me a new perspective. And it very much has – the different wording makes me notice certain passages that I haven’t noticed before. Often, however, I then look up the verses in what I call my “Real Bible” (New American Standard version) to see what was really being said. So, I will give them credit for giving me a new perspective. Maybe until I actually learn Hebrew and Greek myself, I should be wary of being such a translation snob, but that’s another issue.

That aside, today’s reading really caught my eye. Before I get into it, I have to clarify something. This particular publication of the Bible is arranged into daily readings so that you can complete the Bible in a year (hence the name). For instance, today I read out of 2 Chronicles, Romans, Psalms, and Proverbs. So, Old Testament, New Testament, and… well, Psalms and Proverbs! That’s how each reading is arranged. Sometimes it’s annoying because you’re jumping around, but sometimes the readings all line up to give an interesting perspective on the Bible’s entire message. Today was one of those days.

2 Chronicles 6:30b:

Give your people what their actions deserve, for you alone know each human heart.

Solomon, NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! This is the worst possible thing you could ever pray for!  Now I am usually down with Solomon.  I share his heart in that much of what we toil after in this life is meaningless.  I love his wisdom writings.  Dude was brilliant and honest.  But this is going way too far, Mr. King Solomon Fancy Wisdom Britches.  No disrespect, but I don’t think you realize what you’re saying!  The last possible thing we should ever ask God is that He will pay us back for what we’ve done.  Do you (reader, not Solomon) know the implications of that?  Do you know the mighty wrath of God?  No, you don’t – at least not to its fullest because you’re still alive.  We can only read about it in His Word. But if the fact that mere mortal language cannot begin to describe the holiness of God, imagine that same idea applied to the terror of God.  The examples in the Bible of divine retribution probably don’t come CLOSE because we can’t even explain it with our words.  That’s terrifying.  Never ask for that.  (For those of you conscientious BBBs who have already looked up the context of this verse and are sitting there shaking your head at me for leaving it out, I do realize that Solomon sandwiched this between prayers begging for God’s mercy.  But I still think he should have never even uttered those words, regardless of what he cushioned them with.  It’s not like God won’t notice.)  

Romans 8:1-2:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

Thank you, Paul!  I like Paul, too.  He’s tough to read, but man – he knows not to ask for God’s wrath.  He pleads with us to plead with God for His mercy.  For His mercy is as great as His wrath.  Whoa – stop and think about that. I think most of us have experienced at least a little of said mercy or said wrath, so we have an inkling of how they are infinitely glorious and inifinitely horrendous, respectively. We like to dwell on the infinitely glorious because it makes us feel all happy inside. That’s good – but what if we tried thinking about it in contrast with the infinitely horrendous. It highlights the depth of that mercy, along with its price, and reminds us of what we owe. I don’t know if God’s mercy should give us warm fuzzies as much as it should terrify and humble us in the face of inscrutable holiness and grace.

Psalm 18:1-2:

I love you, LORD; you are my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.