The Greatest Blindness on Earth
All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.
PSALM 6:10
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The Greatest Blindness on Earth
[My enemies] stand there in their sense of well-being as a threat and a menace, and they glory in themselves as if all were well with them. O God, they do not know how devoid of all blessing they are! It would be good for them if they came to their senses and realized how very shameful and poor they are in the sight of God. For the proud in spirit and the worldly-wise cannot but be satisfied with themselves, feel secure, esteem themselves highly, never feel foolish, always say the right thing, do the right thing, have holy intentions, stand out among others, and acknowledge few as their equals. This is the greatest blindness on earth; for to the extent that they think, esteem, and consider themselves great in these things, to that extent they are despised and dishonored before God. It is the psalmist's wish that they realize this, for they would be different if they came to their senses and were terrified at themselves.
From Seven Penitential Psalms, on Psalm 6 (Luther's Works 14:146)
February 1
PSALM 6:10
+
The Greatest Blindness on Earth
[My enemies] stand there in their sense of well-being as a threat and a menace, and they glory in themselves as if all were well with them. O God, they do not know how devoid of all blessing they are! It would be good for them if they came to their senses and realized how very shameful and poor they are in the sight of God. For the proud in spirit and the worldly-wise cannot but be satisfied with themselves, feel secure, esteem themselves highly, never feel foolish, always say the right thing, do the right thing, have holy intentions, stand out among others, and acknowledge few as their equals. This is the greatest blindness on earth; for to the extent that they think, esteem, and consider themselves great in these things, to that extent they are despised and dishonored before God. It is the psalmist's wish that they realize this, for they would be different if they came to their senses and were terrified at themselves.
From Seven Penitential Psalms, on Psalm 6 (Luther's Works 14:146)
February 1
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