His mercy endures forever

 

I’m thinking today about my struggles with failure and sin by reflecting on a tale of two kings in Scripture.  Their examples have much to offer us as we start our second month of the new year.

The book of Sirach exalts David for his skill and acumen as a warrior king, features complemented by those of a gentler nature, including his support for music, art, and the liturgical customs of worship in the temple [Sirach 47:2-11].  His deep and abiding faith and love for God supported both of these dimensions of his life.  We also know David as a man sometimes drawn toward sin, who like us needed his sins to be forgiven.  Even as David’s virtuous life is praised, it is God who is praised for His mercy, forgiveness, and love in dealing with him and the rest of God’s people.   

Mark’s gospel presents another kingly example for us to consider [Mark 6:14-29].  Sadly, Herod is not an example of heroic virtue.  He showed himself to be foolish, vain, and easily manipulated.  He lost his way.  Instead of seeking the Lord and trying to find the path of righteousness, he lived in fear and remorse, perhaps numbed by the trappings of his earthly power.  When he heard about Jesus, all he could think about was his own past sin and imagine the coming retribution.

In some ways, I feel sorry for Herod. Like Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth, he was haunted by the guilt of murder.  He knew that John the Baptist was an innocent man and a prophet of God, but he chose to kill him anyway.  Herod knew enough about God to fear His justice.  But he didn’t know God well enough to understand that His mercy endures forever [Psalm 118] and His forgiveness is offered to a repentant heart.  Herod couldn’t grasp that grave sin – even murder – could be forgiven, and so he was forced to live in fear of impending doom and without the hope of salvation.