Wed, Jul 8, 2009
I Feel Your Pain
18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
Did anyone ever really believe Bill Clinton when he said "I feel your pain"? I have my doubts. Bill Clinton doesn't seem like a person who would be drawn to empathetic feelings. Feelings of power, yes; feelings of self-assurance, certainly; feelings of superiority, probably; but feelings of empathy? NAH!
We need to talk more about God as an empathetic figure. Someone who really can relate to what we experience on a day-to-day basis. It's hard to share your trials with someone who was born with a silver spoon in their mouths; you know that they know nothing about what you are experiencing. David is calling out for God, not looking for sympathy, but empathy. The difference is subtle but important; sympathy is sharing feelings of loss or pain; but when a person is empathetic, they IDENTIFY with the person's loss or pain.
In this verse David lays his heart bare to God and pleads for God's attention. In my mind's eye I picture a small boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, who comes crying to dad. He's fallen off his bike, and because he wasn't wearing the knee pads mom told him wear, he's skinned both knees. He's hurt, distressed, and in pain. And to make it worse, he knows that if had obeyed and worn the knee pads, he might not be standing there with the big crocodile tears. He goes to the one that he knows will forgive him; because, well, dad did the same stupid thing when he was a child. (no, this is not a real illustration from my own personal history!) Dad is capable of doing three things: first, he is capable of giving his son his undivided attention. (not hard when the kid is wailing his head off). Second, he is capable of identifying with his son, and thus being empathetic, because he has experienced the same circumstances; and third, he is capable of forgiving his son for the neglect of wearing the safety gear. Dad doesn't have to forgive; but he wants to, because his child is already in pain.
That is how I picture David in this verse. Is God empathetic? Absolutely! The writer of Hebrews made it abundantly clear - look at what he says in chapter 2:
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
It was no accident that God sent the supreme sacrifice to earth in the form of a man. No, this was intentional; God choosing the human body so that He could be entirely, completely, and universally empathetic. I love the words of that old hymn . . . Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
That's God. He's saying I FEEL YOUR PAIN. And meaning it!
and take away all my sins.
Did anyone ever really believe Bill Clinton when he said "I feel your pain"? I have my doubts. Bill Clinton doesn't seem like a person who would be drawn to empathetic feelings. Feelings of power, yes; feelings of self-assurance, certainly; feelings of superiority, probably; but feelings of empathy? NAH!
We need to talk more about God as an empathetic figure. Someone who really can relate to what we experience on a day-to-day basis. It's hard to share your trials with someone who was born with a silver spoon in their mouths; you know that they know nothing about what you are experiencing. David is calling out for God, not looking for sympathy, but empathy. The difference is subtle but important; sympathy is sharing feelings of loss or pain; but when a person is empathetic, they IDENTIFY with the person's loss or pain.
In this verse David lays his heart bare to God and pleads for God's attention. In my mind's eye I picture a small boy, maybe 6 or 7 years old, who comes crying to dad. He's fallen off his bike, and because he wasn't wearing the knee pads mom told him wear, he's skinned both knees. He's hurt, distressed, and in pain. And to make it worse, he knows that if had obeyed and worn the knee pads, he might not be standing there with the big crocodile tears. He goes to the one that he knows will forgive him; because, well, dad did the same stupid thing when he was a child. (no, this is not a real illustration from my own personal history!) Dad is capable of doing three things: first, he is capable of giving his son his undivided attention. (not hard when the kid is wailing his head off). Second, he is capable of identifying with his son, and thus being empathetic, because he has experienced the same circumstances; and third, he is capable of forgiving his son for the neglect of wearing the safety gear. Dad doesn't have to forgive; but he wants to, because his child is already in pain.
That is how I picture David in this verse. Is God empathetic? Absolutely! The writer of Hebrews made it abundantly clear - look at what he says in chapter 2:
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
It was no accident that God sent the supreme sacrifice to earth in the form of a man. No, this was intentional; God choosing the human body so that He could be entirely, completely, and universally empathetic. I love the words of that old hymn . . . Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood; Sealed my pardon with His blood. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
That's God. He's saying I FEEL YOUR PAIN. And meaning it!
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