Higher Math

Psalm 103:8-14

8The LORD is merciful and gracious;

he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.

9He will not constantly accuse us,

nor remain angry forever.

10He has not punished us for all our sins,

nor does he deal with us as we deserve.

11For his unfailing love toward those who fear him

is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.

12He has removed our rebellious acts

as far away from us as the east is from the west.

13The LORD is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

14For he understands how weak we are;

he knows we are only dust.

It’s time for the second grade math test. The students are ready with their pencils, but as the test sheets are handed out, they become totally confused. It’s a college-level calculus test! The students can’t even understand the symbols, much less solve the problems. They are ready for two plus two, but they’re being asked to find the functional coordinates for simultaneous equations.

One kid tremulously raises a hand. “Uh, Miss Jones? We can’t do these problems.”

“What’s wrong with you?” she barks. “You’re supposed to be smart kids. If you ever want a degree in math, you’ll have to solve problems like this. Get busy.”

But they’re in second grade! They need a teacher who understands their level, who pushes them gently but doesn’t demand answers that are beyond them.

Some people seem to think God is like that overdemanding teacher, insisting on perfection when they keep slipping up. They worry about all the “bad grades” God must be giving them as they struggle to do the right thing but often fall short. But Psalm 103 assures us that God understands our weakness. He is “tender and compassionate,” a loving Father. He is still troubled by our sin, but he keeps loving us. And through the blood of Christ, he removes our sin from us “as far as the east is from the west.”

O how in this thy quire of souls I stand—

Propt by thy hand—A heap of sand!

With busy thoughts—like winds—would scatter quite,

And put to flight / But for thy might;

Thy hand alone doth tame

Those blasts, and knit my frame.

HENRY VAUGHAN

Bible Networking

The fatherly love and mercy we see here is echoed in Jesus’ story of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32).

Notable Quotable

“When sin is pardoned, it is never charged again; the guilt of it can no more return than east can become west.”

STEPHEN CHARNOCK