Psalm Meditation 1309 ¶Proper 11 ¶July 20, 2025 ¶Psalm 37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2037&version=NRSVUE ¶“Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” I need to hear this these days. It seems as if trusted institutions are crumbling before our eyes and we are left to worry and fret about our present and our future. There is some comfort in knowing that ours is not the first era in which folks have worried about themselves and their loved ones in the face of evil people and institutions. There is also an awareness that what seems like soon to God can be years and even a lifetime for us. ¶Trusting in God does not mean that we get to sit back and do nothing while God does all the heavy lifting. It does mean that some of us will be asked to be the hands and feet of God in the face of the rampant evils of the day. It will mean losing friends and being distanced from family. It will be a time of sacrificing, comfort, certainty, and security in order to follow the way of God. While the way of God is not without cost, it is also full of promise as the community of faith gathers to support those who serve God. ¶In every action and reaction we do well to ask ourselves if we are serving God or expecting God to serve us, to meet our needs, to do what we think is right? Chances are, we will discover that we have made some serious missteps in our walk with God. As we listen for the voice of God in our lives, we can rejoin the path that leads to faithful righteousness. “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.” ¶July 14, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1308 Proper 10 July 13, 2025 Psalm 33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2033&version=NRSVUE Oh God, when we are overwhelmed by wars and rumors of wars remind us that we are not to be afraid of those who believe that might makes right. They will not prevail because they stand against your way of love and mercy for all rather than a powerful few. It is so easy to despair in times like these when hate and fear appear to have the upper hand in the world. The power of their raging fear seems to be overpowering, runing roughshod over all who challenge them. They want so desperately to keep all the wealth and power for themselves. Their belief is so strong that it is tempting to believe that they are well on their way to victory, and that the rest of us might as well lay down and admit defeat. And yet. You are still the source of power and strength for those who feel helpless, hopeless, and worthless. Remind us these days that our hope is in your steadfast love and mercy, especially for those who find our hope in you. May we rest assured that the biggest and best weapons available in the hals of power are no match for the strength of your gentle, patient, and steadfast love for each and all of us. Amen July 7, 2025 LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 1307 ¶Proper 9 ¶July 6, 2025 ¶Psalm 29 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2029&version=NRSVUE ¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the loudest of the voices. It rises above the volume of the chatter that surrounds so many of us much of the time. That voice is one that is felt as much as it is heard. It feels as if it could break branches and bones by its very strength and volume. Other times the loudest voice is simply more and louder noise. It doesn’t add any more to the conversation, and the volume makes it easier to tune out. One of my seminary professors, responding to the recording of a sermon for preaching class said, “There is a man who substituted volume for lack of preparation.” ¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the one we have to strain to hear. The authority is speaking to those who will hear rather than to everyone. It is calm and calming giving us a sense of tranquility and an assurance that this voice is the one to which we want to listen. This authoritative voice does not rise above the crowd, it gathers a crowd of those who long to hear what is being said. It draws us away from the crowd into that place where truth and real power reside. ¶The voice of God thunders, and does so impressively. The voice of God can also be the ‘still small voice’ that speaks to our hearts and not just our ears. It is the voice that says, ‘do not be afraid’ in a way that calms the fears that rise within us. When we are not afraid, we can do what needs to be done at the same time we find peace within ourselves. ¶June 30, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1306 ¶Proper 8 ¶June 29, 2025 ¶Psalm 26 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2026&version=NRSVUE ¶There is a line between those who can say something wonderful about themselves without it sounding as if they are bragging. It was said of one of my colleagues, “He can brag in such a way that you are proud to know him.” It seems to be a rare gift to know who you are, to acknowledge the gifts and abilities you posses, at the same time being aware of any shortcomings that require help from one whose skills lie in that area. The rest of us say good things about ourselves in a way that turns people against us. It is obvious to everyone that we are bragging, asking for the pats on the back that we believe we deserve. ¶It seems that the psalmist is one of those who speaks well of themselves in a way that we are proud to read about. Yes, there is a need for vindication for something in the life of the psalmist, however, a good bit of the psalm is about the good things that God does for each of us at various times. The psalmist is asking that God, ‘redeem me and be gracious to me.’ from the situation at hand. It is not due to deserving God’s redeeming grace, it is because it is the nature of God to be gracious. ¶God offers the gift of redeeming grace to each of us, without forcing it on us. It can hardly be considered a gift if we are forced to accept it like it or not. So, whether we can brag in a way that folks are glad to know us, or we brag in a way that makes people roll their eyes even when what we say it true, God loves us. God loves us and wants us to accept it as the gift it is meant to be. We don’t earn it, don’t deserve it, it is a gift that God gives because it is the nature of God to love. ¶June 26, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1305 ¶Proper 7 ¶June 22, 2025 ¶Psalm 10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2010&version=NRSVUE ¶Oh for the days in which the wicked said, “There is no God.” These days it seems there are a number of folks who have replaced the God of the Bible with a divinity of their own making. They have exchanged many of the biblical attributes of God with their opposites. While the Bible tells us that God is love, there are many who emphasize the vindictive anger of God and call that a primary characteristic of their divinity. And mass media grab hold of this being because he is easier to grasp, and communicate to the masses because this divinity is like us. ¶Since this is the divinity we hear about the most it is the one we accept. When people live out the faith of the biblical God they are called empathetic as if that were a bad thing. Empathy, ‘the ability to understand others' feelings’ is seen as bad and weak. In this modern religion, understanding others is not necessary because they need to become like us, believe like us, act like us, as long as they don’t start asking for a part of the good things we have amassed by our own hard work, and probably some significant help from others. ¶The psalmist is faithful in reminding us of God’s empathy, “But you do see! Indeed, you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.” (10:14) The divinity touted so often by those in power is not the God of the Bible but the god of greedy, power hungry folks. This God only cares about the rich and powerful, those who have scraped and clawed their way to places of power for their own benefit rather than to serve those who are to be in their care. “O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, “ ¶June 16, 2025 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 1304 ¶Trinity Sunday ¶June 15, 2025 ¶Psalm 14 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2014&version=NRSVUE ¶I am sure that not everyone who does not believe in God is foolish. In some cases, the God in whom they do not believe has been forced on them to the point of trauma. Others have been gaslit to believe that God could not possibly love anyone like them. Still others have determined that in their scientific mindset there is no need for a divinity beyond the scientific models to which they cling. Are they wrong? Well, yes and no. The God they reject is a caricature of the God of the Psalms and the rest of the Bible. ¶God does look at each of us, especially any of us who believe we know all the ways of heaven and earth. Much like parents or mentors look on their charges and smile at how much they think they know about everything. Those of us who believe we are ‘practically perfect in every way’ are as perverse as those who believe that God is an imaginary friend of a group of very weird people. Any of us who know we have all the answers run the risk of being counted among the evildoers who draw or drive people away from God. ¶The psalmist wants each of us to be among those who do our best to do the right thing, and confess and atone when we mess things up. God is on the side of the poor, the oppressed, the ignored, and invites us to join in looking out for, looking after the folks who are not able to care for themselves in the current moment. ¶June 9, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1303 ¶Pentecost ¶June 8, 2025 ¶Psalm 19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2030&version=NRSVUE ¶When a maker displays a piece of art or craft of any kind, the skill level involved is on display. The piece itself speaks volumes of the skills and care taken by the maker. There is no need to ask about the quality of the piece, because the piece itself proclaims the handiwork of the maker. Something mass produced from lesser quality materials can be adequate for our needs, however a carefully handcrafted piece can be more than adequate, as well as a thing of beauty. A soulful piece of art, a item of handcrafted furniture, a hand-pieced quilt, and a masterfully grilled piece of brisket to name a few, are head and shoulders above a utilitarian project. ¶The psalmist rejoices in the glorious work of the hand of God in the various parts of Creation. The route of the sun throughout the day is a masterwork, worthy of our praise and thanks to God. In addition to the physical creation, God has given us the law. The law is more than rules to be followed blindly, it is the narrative of our relationship with God and each other at our best, worst, and everywhere in between. The law is instruction on how to treat ourselves, those we know and love, as well as those we would rather ignore. ¶As we look around today and beyond, the psalmist encourages us to see the beauty that is all around us; beauty that comes from skillful attention to detail. The beauty can be directly from God as we admire the beauty of the earth and environs, and it can be from the makers among us who strive for quality in their work. Some makers want their work to be noticed while others want to have their work so skillfully integrated into our routine that we do not notice the knowledge, skill, and creativity that makes their work disappear into the fabric of our lives. ¶June 2, 2025 ¶LCM