Friday 03 March 2023

Psalm 5:1-8

Background 

After denouncing human wisdom as deceitful and empty, Paul now turns the argument around to introduce a very different take on wisdom. As with so many of the ideas he develops, wisdom is open to the corruption of sin (Galatians 3:22), but can also make a way for God’s love to flow into the life of the world.  

The love of God (agape) is introduced here and becomes a major theme in this Letter, developed especially in chapter 13, which is Paul’s poem to faith, hope and love. Greek uses at least four words for different aspects of love, and agape describes love within the covenant relationship between God and humanity. We respond to God’s love for us by loving God in return. Paul expresses this here in language that would later be recognised as Trinitarian, describing how the Holy Spirit from God enables us to understand the gifts God gives us through Christ.  

It is this dynamic relationship of love between God and God’s people that makes Christians mature. Learning to love God, we grow away from self-centredness and begin to focus on the presence of God in ourselves, other people and creation. "We love, because God first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This is what makes it possible for us to share the authentic wisdom which belongs to God. As we grow into Christ-like maturity, we are increasingly open to the wisdom of God. This is true for all Christians. Though not everyone has yet reached maturity (1 Corinthians 3:2), everyone has the potential to do so – there are no ‘second-class’ Christians.  

This tension between human wisdom and God’s love-focused wisdom is most clearly seen in people’s responses to the Cross. Those who are wise in human terms see the Cross as failure and foolishness. Those who recognise God’s wisdom recognise that the Cross is the ultimate expression of God’s love for creation (Philippians 2:5-11), at the heart of "what God has prepared for those who love him". 

To Ponder: 

• Paul writes in Greek, which has at least four words for love (love within the family; erotic love; friendship; love for God). Is this useful, or does it risk breaking the links between ideas that belong together? 
• Where do you recognise Christian maturity in your own life or that of others? Where do you need the help of God’s Spirit to grow towards greater maturity?