“KNOW THYSELF”
Additional Reading Luke 4: 1- 13. “The Temptations Of Jesus”
Text Psalm 71: 4-5
” Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth”.
The ancient Greek dictum,” Know Thyself”, was carved in stone at the entrance of the temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece. The” Know Thyself” inscription has encouraged people of all ages to search for self-understanding. Consequently, that undertaking quickly reveals that the essence of one’s life is not to be searched for in the world outside but within one’s self. “To know oneself seems to be the easiest thing of all, yet it is the hardest,” concludes one ancient philosopher. And so it remains to this hour.
Now, we will accept this challenging invitation to Know Thyself by first exploring the experiences of David, Israel’s one-time famous king, as told by himself in Psalm 71 of The Old Testament.
It becomes clear to readers at the outset of this Psalm that David’s self-knowledge takes him immediately beyond the confines of the present world. Consequently, an unrelenting search inside himself reveals that God is waiting, ready to satisfy his quest.
“You have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth. From birth, I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.” (Psalm 71: 4-6).
It remains a fact established over aeons that by accepting the challenge to “Know Thyself,” one must, from the outset, know that humans can only know themselves by knowing God first.
But notice David is not granted immunity from the pitfalls that seem to be woven into the very fabric of man’s world. Instead, threats become the cornerstone of emerging faith, and victory lies hidden in the fiercest temptations. Wise is the man who, like David, calls to memory faith’s prior conquests when threatening foes are on his very threshold.
“Know Thyself” is the consciousness of God being present within a person. And therefore, one can survey all worldly situations with the aid of divine introspection.
It is remarkable how David, in this Psalm, portrays the make-up of a human being; body, mind and Spirit, still used in modern Psychology to describe the connection between all three aspects of our being, the mental, the physical and the spiritual. (2)
Quite naturally, David, a resident of a worldly community, shares its material and physical and mental features. Therefore David is acquainted with the critical nature of some fellow citizens. Their suspicions often result in physical threats and wholesale condemnation of another person’s successes. But, like a basketweave throughout the first portion of David’s Psalm, consciousness of the immediate danger to his body prompts him to seek refuge and deliverance from his God, thus revealing his spiritual stance.
Nevertheless, the preservation of the body is part of one’s identity in the physical world, where tradition dictates that one is responsible for defending himself against all threats. Consequently, the mind urges David to fight fire with fire as the only legitimate response to protect the body from imminent threats. To do otherwise is considered a sign of weakness. ” May my accusers perish in shame. May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.” David concludes.
(vs 13)
But, in David’s case, running parallel throughout this weave, there is the memory of a more noble thought: “From birth, I have relied on You. You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.” David’s return to his origin is not a new beginning out of nothing but a restoration. And so it remains for everyone who answers the call to ” Know Thyself”.
As He prepares to begin His earthly ministry, the New Testament record of Jesus, the Son Of God, deals with the cruel onslaught of worldly temptations. In the end, Jesus demonstrates the essential requirements for his followers: “Love the Lord, Thy God, with all thy heart, and thereby be enabled to “Know Thyself,”
PRAYER TO FOLLOW THIS MEDITATION
O God of such tender love, mercy, and wisdom that I am
lost in wonder, praise and awe.
I marvel that You placed us incomplete in this world where so many attractive resources promise to satisfy our pressing quest for completion.
You also reserved a private space for each one of us. From here, you gently reveal with love to everyone that to become overpowered in the world’s riches and eventually name them ‘mine’ is to remain incomplete forever.
You whisper from Your dwelling place within me, “Hold all the world’s riches in your spirit, thus transforming them into things of lasting beauty, and finally give them back to the world transformed by the love of God! Thank You, whispering, God, I trust You to lead me aright. Continue to lead me to know myself and express a living, passionate love for You as Jesus did. Amen.
Hymn: Be Still My Soul
NOTES
- Scripture references are from the NIV translation.
- Meaning of Body Mind and Spirit
mind body and spirit meanings – Search (bing.com)
3. Hymn Youtube as indicated at the site.