The wisdom of experience is always more easily consumed than knowledge gained in isolation. By that, I mean that it is simpler and more comfortable to trust someone who has lived through something when they speak about it than someone who is offering advice based on second- or third-hand experience.

My favorite musician of all time is Johnny Cash. Part of his intrigue is his musicianship. But the bigger draw for me has always been his authenticity. When he speaks, or sings, or wails, or rejoices…I <em>believe</em> him. And the fact that the majority of cover songs he did seem better than the originals attests to the realness of his craft. He was who he was, flaws and all, and he exposed himself in both weakness and strength through lament and praise with the outcome being a body of work that can actually <em>speak</em> to people.

In a lot of ways, he is pretty much like King David. Bear with me…

King David came from a place where God was mostly seen as the Giver of a list of rules to follow. So did Johnny Cash.

King David knew fame and success. So did Johnny Cash.

King David knew the depths of depression. So did Johnny Cash.

King David screwed up in massively huge ways. So did Johnny Cash.

King David threw himself at the feet of God in repentance. So did Johnny Cash.

King David took the worst of himself and the best and turned them into songs to help people understand their world and its Creator. So did Johnny Cash.

King David, “the hero of Israel’s songs” (2 Samuel 23:1), and Johnny Cash, “the man in black”, both experienced addictions, sadness, loneliness, struggle, and pain. But through both of their lives there is a resounding grace and hope that shows the intensely passionate love God so desires to pour over us. In the depths of their despair, they cried out to their Savior:

“Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil.” (Psalm 51:1-4)

“The beast in me is caged by thin and fragile bars…by night rants and rages at the stars, God help the beast in me….” (<em>The Beast In Me</em>, Johnny Cash)

And in the heights of their joy in the Lord, they could clearly rejoice in the promises of God:

“I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! and I’ll bless your name into eternity. I’ll bless you every day, and keep it up from now to eternity. God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to his greatness.” (Psalm 145:1-3)

“And the blood gave life to the branches of the tree. And the blood was the price that set the captives free. And the numbers that came through the fire and the flood clung to the tree and were redeemed by the blood. From his hands it came down from his side it came down. From his feet it came down and ran to the ground. And a small inner voice said ‘You do have a choice.’ The vine engrafted me and I clung to the tree.” (<em>Redemption</em>, Johnny Cash)

God uses people, typically simple and authentic people, to offer truths that we can use to see Him more clearly. These truths are not always pretty, as we are currently struggling to survive in a broken world. But the truths are always useful in showing us the clarity and richness of God’s perfect message of love and grace. And it is when the truths are given through people transparent in their struggles and grief, open in their joy and praise, that we are most easily able to see the love of God being reflected…

…whether they play a harp or an acoustic guitar.

May we strive for lives of authenticity as we continue to serve a God that is real.