by God's Little Boy
© MakeshiftDarkroom.com 2017
Posted 2/18/17

Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one. (Psalm 53:3)

Most do not adequately comprehend the scope and depth of human depravity. If you flew past this first sentence without it profoundly resonating in your heart then you probably do not yet understand this truth as clearly as you ought. Depravity is probably one of the most consistently active principles in this present reality, and on this side of eternity. This is a sad fact, but it is true. Wouldn't it be better to say that love is more active? Yes it would, and Divine love is certainly, in and of itself, more powerful than depravity, but as much as it depends upon man, depravity more consistently prevails in the human experience. If you doubt this then you have not yet had a thorough revelation of the depths of your own depravity. This piece is not something that I have just sat down and ticked out in a moment of shallow inspiration, but this has come from a lifetime of contending with depravity in myself and in others while under the light of Biblical truth. This piece is not about inspiration or edification; it is about enlightenment and understanding, because the later is the foundation of the former.

One of the things that jumps out at me most whenever I read 1&2 Samuel is DEPRAVITY (complete and universal human depravity). If you missed it before you will not miss it the next time around. The account is filled with everyone failing everyone, not just those who are enemies but even those who are on the same side and serving the same cause and yes, even royal families. Comrades in arms, patriots, spouses, blood relations all dealing treacherously with one another motivated by lust and selfishly driven purposes. The poor innocent Mephibosheth was no innocent exception. Even the man after God's own heart (the good guy in the story) turns against God and his own friends, in sin. The entire account is a yawning open display of the depravity that saturates and plagues the human race in all of it's dealings. This is just as true in our day as we also find ourselves to be prisoners in this closed system of iniquity. The human race is roasted, toasted, and burnt to charcoal right down to the core– there's nothing left, we are completely gone. And it is man's first natural impulse to manifest his utter depravity just as easy as falling off a log. He may not always manifest it in all of it's potential, but that potential is always present in him in all of it's fullness and is most ready to emerge just when it should not.

We are really alone down here (in terms of human trust). We have NO ONE else that we can really trust but God alone. We are admonished not to put our trust even in the one who lies in our bosom (Michah 7:5). Cursed is the man who trusts in flesh. Think of it. Within this present world there is none in whom we can find refuge with our deepest needs and struggles. There is no one in whom we can safely confide. There are some more trusted than others, but they all have their limits and in going to them we may soon smart for it in one way or another. Our counsellors are all as sinfully depraved as we are. Should we need a good doctor behold, he is depraved and his interests are not purely for our best good. If we need a good lawyer behold he is depraved, and we become a rung in the ladder of his success. And if we need the comfort and care of a father behold, he too is depraved, and cannot be all that we need. Not even the sweetest frame can go very long without speaking or even thinking evil behind his neighbors back, and there are none that truly or consistently seek the good of his neighbor (if you doubt this, just throw money into the mix). We can't even trust ourselves, and if we point out another's depravity, behold, we are guilty as well!

"Also do not take to heart everything people say, Lest you hear your servant cursing you. For many times, also, your own heart has known that even you have cursed others." (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22)

Relational fractures are a certain reality in our world of total depravity. If The Great Apostle and The Son of Consolation were so sharply and thoroughly divided over such a small matter how will we escape? (Acts 15:39) This is just one of the reasons why creation is groaning, and we will not be fully clear of this curse until Jesus appears and we are changed, healed, and perfectly unified forever– in the final pending act of the redemption of our bodies.

The astonishing thing is that God still works with us and is actively involved with the human race in bringing about his purposes of redemption, just as he was completely involved in every event in 1&2 Samuel. He who is perfect, and too Holy to behold sin, is engaged with sinners in spite of their depraved and polluted condition. How could this be? There is only one reason; it is because of what the blood of Christ has accomplished on man's behalf and the peace that it has brought between us and heaven.

Depravity is, in my estimation, one of the most important doctrines to understand in all of theology. It is a good place to begin, and it will go on to be a lifelong study as our own depravity continues to progressively astonish us throughout our Christian experience. Most of the world actually believes that man is essentially good. This is an absolutely ridiculous notion that reveals a serious detachment from sound Biblical understanding. Man must first understand just how bad he is before he can know how good God is and how much we need him, and the ultimate redemption that he will bring to us in the end. Until then, we should not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and find our refuge and strength in God alone.

"From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." (Isaiah 1:6)

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