Temptation

British Literature. It’s my favorite class essentially and the class that is providing the most inspiration in my daily life. Today we talked about one of my favorite stories in the whole world: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.



When I was little I always liked stories about King Arthur, and one of my all time favorite stories was a series called The Squire’s Tales. These books centered around Sir Gawain’s young squire as the two went off on adventures. The second book housed this famous Old English tale. And for that reason I have always enjoyed the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in fact Gawain is probably my favorite knight in King Arthur’s court.

But he has good cause to be my favorite! He’s actually probably the second best fighter (second to Lancelot of course). Not only that but he actually has about the same, if not more stories than Lancelot. Somehow our culture has made him less significant, but in the days of Arthurian legend he was a big deal. Unlike Lancelot Gawain is not well known for bravery or strength. Instead his virtues are continence (sexual purity), courtesy, liberality (generosity), loving kindness and plenty. He is a very chivalrous fellow, actually known as The Maiden’s Knight.

Gawain is in many ways a very good man.



The story of the Green Knight centers around a rogue knight who emerges on Christmas eve challenging Arthur. He says that he will willingly take the blow of an axe on his neck, if he may strike the same blow to the man who gives it to him. Gawain steps forward to take the challenge. When the man picks up his head again and puts it back on Gawain knows he’s made a mistake

But regardless he goes to the knight’s requested meeting place a year later to fulfill his oath. On the way he stops at a castle and stays with another knight. The knight their offers Gawain an exchange. He will give everything he gets hunting to Gawain if Gawain gives everything he should receive around the castle. Thinking it a good deal Gawain accepts.

The next morning his host’s wife is on his bed. She tries to coax Gawain into an affair. Due to his virtue he denies her, but she gives him a quick kiss before leaving. That evening he exchanges the kiss for the gain from the hunt.



The pattern continues with the kiss until the third day when the lady gives him a green girdle. She says he will be protected if he wears it and no man will be able to chop off his head. By the vow he made Gawain should rightfully give the girdle up to the knight that evening. Instead he keeps it a secret.

When he goes to challenge the green knight he wears the belt. His head indeed does not get struck off, but when the green knight is finished he calls Gawain a liar. It is the same knight who hosted Gawain the days before. He has caught Gawain in the act of lying. Gawain quickly realizes the mistake he has made and is repentant. He returns to Arthur wearing the green girdle on his arm as a sign of his shame.

The story made me think more on temptation, for that’s what the lady is to Gawain. She tempts him first with her body, which Gawain righteously refuses, and then with a smaller more obscure sin. Gawain lies and breaks his word. He gives in. This story really made me think more about the issue of temptation in the Christian life.

 

I listened to Psalm 23 today. It's interesting. Many people find Psalm 23 a psalm for hope, and certainly it has some of that connotation for me as well. However, it also has become a way of pulling myself back to God. I guess in a way it serves as my shepherd's crook, jerking me back to God when I try to stray too far.

 I received that idea when I read the series The Mark of the Lion by Francine Rivers over the summer. In the first book a thirteen year old boy named Prometheus is introduced as a minor character. He's a sex slave, living in a homosexual relationship with another man. In the second book Prometheus finds Christ and tries to escape from his past sins. He laments at one point to Hadassah, the protagonist, that he cannot seem to get away from his sin and is often tempted. He fears that God will never forgive him for what he has done in his past. When Hadassah parts with him, Prometheus becomes even more troubled. He fears that he will not be nearly as accountable without her, but Hadassah tells Prometheus that whenever he is tempted he should recite the Shepherd's Psalm, or Psalm 23.

At first I was puzzled by that. It didn't seem to be a very good verse to distract from temptation, but when I looked a little closer I found it was. A verse about temptation still focuses on the point of temptation. Psalm 23 gently leads the mind back to its true focus. God.

Today I recited that Psalm to myself. I have found myself doing that on many occasions when tempted with sins like lying, cheating, lust, or impatience. I find that Psalm 23 draws me back to God. I remember what's really important. I feel the psalm sums up some of God’s greatest attributes such as love, grace and forgiveness. It also reminds that God is our provider, our comforter, our help in trouble, our shepherd and our loving father. Through this verse there are many key ideas that when I look at it remind me of how I am sinful, but still loved, and (somehow) forgiven for everything.



It starts out: The Lord is my Shepherd…instantly that reminds me of him finding me as a lost lamb and drawing me back. He is good and kind and looks over me. Even if I have sinned I find this verse of comfort.

I shall not be in want: give up my petty wants and fears. I constantly find that worry draws me away from God. I get so focused on trying to find a job, or trying to finish homework that I don’t pay attention to my God who will provide for me when times are hard. God is constantly watching over me and will take care of me. I don’t have to worry

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul: Again this goes back to worrying and constantly being up and about and doing work. God gives me rest. He replenishes me and makes me new. I also have to remember this relates to sin. God restores me and makes me new, even though I make mistakes. I do not have to be ashamed.



Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for you are with me: even when faced with temptation or when struggling through trials God never leaves me. He is constantly with me.

Your rod and your staff they comfort me: God protects me and looks over me. He never lets me into more temptation than I can face.

You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies: God provides and looks after me, even in the face of evil and sin.

You anoint my head with oil: I had my head anointed at a worship event this month and it was really incredible. The chaplain drew the symbol of the cross on my forehead and I felt like I was truly marked as a follower of God. And it’s true I am. I am set apart. God chooses me and marks me as his own, even though I have sinned and made mistakes. He forgives me.

My cup overflows: God blesses me greatly. My life is filled with the love of Christ and for that reason I should resemble Him as best I can. This means trying to avoid temptation and show what being a follower of God means. But even when I mess up God still loves me more deeply than I can ever imagine.



Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life: Even though the life of Christ is not easy and there are constant temptations I am still loved, always. God forgives.

I will dwell in the house of the lord forever: I am a part of God’s family and He loves me.

 

So I encourage that in the face of temptation you try out this verse. It can be very handy to have verses stored away for specific times. One boy in our speech class got nervous when he got up. He immediately said “Can someone recite Philippians 4:13 or something?” I almost laughed, unused to kids blurting out Bible verses as I come from a public high school. But he’s right. It was good to have a verse on hand for the times he was nervous: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Similarly we should have verses to help us when we face the temptation to lose our temper, or cheat, or say something mean, or gossip. Scripture is important.

Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The word of the lord is powerful. Use it in your daily battles against sin. Sir Gawain might have had his sword and armor in real life. He even had God, but he forgot to cling to the truth and the word in order to avoid sin.