Today's readings are Psalm 78.9-16, Numbers 20.1-21, and Luke 20.19-44.
Our Scriptures today remind us of the depravity of mankind. Depravity is a word that most of us don't like to use very much any more. It means that we are bad by nature. In fact, it implies that we are evil in some way in every part of our being. When we say people are depraved, we don't mean that every person is as bent on doing the worst evil deeds possible all the time. But we do mean that everything good we would imagine contains some sort of evil, at least in the sight of God.
See how the people of Israel respond to God's merciful protection by grumbling? See how Moses and Aaron take the credit for God's providing the people with water? See how the scribes and chief priests decide to crush Jesus' statements because they realize he is talking about them? See how the Saducees want to vindicate themselves above the other religious parties? No matter who we are, we are bent on defending ourselves, showing ourselves to be martyrs, showing that we are right, or getting the credit for what we haven't really done. That's our nature.
Compare this to the view of life in our Psalm for today. The people turn back from God's covenant, forgetting his provision. But God works his wonders. Our God is the one who is consistent. God is the one who claims glory rightly. May our Lord grant us repentance and faith that we can trust in his care for his people.
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