God: Notice Me! (Are you sure that's what you want?)

If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, O Lord, who could stand?

- Psalm 130

The implication of this verse . . . what it truly means, is something quite groundbreaking.

In the Hebrew, whatever was translated into "to note" must have meant something different than what we would think. If I "note" something, it means that I pay some attention to it, although in passing.

But think of the deeper meaning of "to note." It is more than just seeing or observing something. If you really "note" it, you will move the observation into your conscious thinking. You will store it away in memory. You will write it down and file it away. You might end up taking some action on it.

The Psalmist talks about God "noting," or "taking notice of," or "noticing." In the South, where my first child was born, her Southern side of the family were very keen on "noticing" a baby. Your toddler would crawl up to you while you were reading or watching TV. If you didn't look up, a nearby adult would say, whimsically: "Daddy - notice me!" 

If God were to make a conscious effort in observing us, and what we are doing wrong . . . if He really noticed . . . and jotted down some thoughts . . . if He stopped what He was doing to take care of us (i.e., like a mobster would "take care" of a rival gang member) . . then we would be in big trouble. We could not stand. He would sweep our feet out from under us and drive us to our knees. He would force us to look at the pain we have caused. He would show us how our selfish decisions have set the advancement of humanity, and of His kingdom, so far back that only His direct involvement (the Return of Christ) can make things right.

"Why would a loving God allow such evil to exist?" Why, indeed? If He took even a moment to notice us; to notice me, and to notice you . . . all of you, and all of us . . . then every hard and wicked thing we have done would be illuminated. We would see a dark side of ourselves that we didn't know was there. And the people that are the first to ask "Why would a loving God . . . " would be perhaps the first to see their own contributions to the world and its numerous messes.

Maybe it's not so smart to ask God to turn around and notice us; to pay attention to us. Is that what you really want?

Thank again.