Why, George, Why?

Psalm 38:13-22

13But I am deaf to all their threats.

I am silent before them as one who cannot speak.

14I choose to hear nothing,

and I make no reply.

15For I am waiting for you, O LORD.

You must answer for me, O Lord my God.

16I prayed, “Don’t let my enemies gloat over me

or rejoice at my downfall.”

17I am on the verge of collapse,

facing constant pain.

18But I confess my sins;

I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

19My enemies are many;

they hate me though I have done nothing against them.

20They repay me evil for good

and oppose me because I stand for the right.

21Do not abandon me, LORD.

Do not stand at a distance, my God.

22Come quickly to help me, O Lord my savior.

George Herbert, an Elizabethan poet and contemporary of William Shakespeare, came from a Welsh family famous for its statesmen and soldiers. But in his thirties, Herbert felt God calling him to the ministry, so he gave up wealth, glory, and position to become a parish priest.

“Why, George, why?” came the question. To his friends and relatives, his call to the ministry didn’t make sense. Finally he turned to Psalm 38:15: “You must answer for me, O Lord my God,” and he wrote a poem called “The Quip”:

Yet when the hour of Thy design

To answer these fine things shall come,

Speak not at large; say, I am Thine,

And then they have their answer home.

Unlike Herbert’s problem, David’s problem was complicated by his own sin, and he admitted this. His enemies were accusing him falsely, but if he protested, it would seem as though he were claiming to be sinless. So he turned to the Lord and said, “You must answer for me, O Lord my God.”

Though their situations were somewhat different, both Herbert and David knew that the best answer oftentimes is simply no answer—at least on our part. Like Jesus before Pilate, we can trust that the Lord knows our heart and that he will one day see that we are vindicated.

Be still, my soul! The Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, he faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul! Thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

KATHARINA VON SCHLEGEL

Bible Networking

See how Christ responded to the charges against him. Read Isaiah 53:7 and 1 Peter 2:23.

Notable Quotable

“When we answer back, we may win a battle and lose the campaign; but when we are silent we may lose a battle but shall win the campaign. It is well to sacrifice a passing victory for the sake of the final triumph.”

W. GRAHAM SCROGGIE