Would We?

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31 KJV)

Sunday evening we participated in the Lord’s Supper. Among the scriptures Pastor read were:

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29 KJV)

That’s an excellent explanation of what happened at our Lord’s Last Supper – and how we are to prepare ourselves before partaking of one in remembrance of Him. As usual, I read further and found verse 31, which reminded me of a couple of verses in Judges:

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:16 KJV)

In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 21:25 KJV)

We are warned about this in:

Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. (Deuteronomy 12:8 KJV)

And, Solomon thought it important enough to address twice:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. (Proverbs 12:15 KJV)

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. (Proverbs 21:12 KJV)

That last one is of utmost importance to us - it should be how the Lord sees our hearts, and we must place ourselves in His hands to tell us what that is. This is where I agree wholly with King David:

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. (Psalms 26:2 KJV)

I also desire another of David’s psalms:

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. (Psalms 19:12-13 KJV)

God does know my heart, my desires, my errors. Because of this, I also pray David’s prayer:

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalms 19:14 KJV)

Just how would we judge ourselves without God’s insight?