Luke 18:12-14 ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me, a sinner!’ tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The book of Psalms has songs that proclaim the blamelessness of the singer, making a direct link between his purity and the blessing of God. And it is true, lives that are free from iniquity are “blessable” in the sense that there is favor with God and a lack of encumbrances in keeping bad behavior going and/or covering it up.
The praying Pharisee in Luke 18 undoubtedly had a habit of such confession, and his self-aggrandizing testimony of his observance of points of Mosaic Law was undoubtedly accurate in fact. But it was tyrannically proud.
In those Psalms, there were real enemies, often those who were actively out to take the life of the psalmist. Those adversaries were uniformly proud and oppressive towards others. It was in righteous defiance that those songs proclaimed God’s favor on the pursued one. It was NEVER done in a way to accentuate the shame of those seeking God with lesser righteousness in their lives.
The tax collector stood “far off” – in his penitence keeping distance from the altar and the righteous ones who claimed it as their own. He readily admitted his sin, in utter brokenness and hiding nothing. He asked for God’s mercy – and received it. To add to the psalmist’s ingredients for a blessed life – the broken and contrite heart God that will not despise (Psalm 51:17).
Corporate worship and prayer where people are focused on other people robs the congregation of the power of voices raised together and corrupts the offering itself with foolish human rivalries and criticisms. One who takes continual notice of those with whom one worships offers nothing to God. And, as Jesus said, that person goes home unjustified, for there is broken relationship and unfinished business with the Lord.
Let me leave reputation, testimony and self-consciousness aside and edify the poor in spirit; indeed being poor in spirit myself, that we might together find ourselves in the presence of God.
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