Psalm Meditation 494
Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2009
Psalm 119:161-176
161 Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162 I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.
165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
166 I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I fulfill your commandments.
167 My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.
169 Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
170 Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.
171 My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.
172 My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.
173 Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.
174 I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.
175 Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.
(NRSV)
If I remember correctly, this psalm is made up of 22 groups of verses with the first word of the group beginning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each set of 8 verses has something good to say about God’s law. In a time when it is commonplace to make fun of laws and lawyers it seems out of place to actually praise any kind of law. We may have gotten so used to having laws and folks who do their best to enact and enforce laws fairly that we forget how important those laws can be. I know there are people in all parts of the world who deal with laws that are used as weapons of oppression rather than as tools of freedom so I am grateful to be among those who see laws in a fairly positive light.
Among those who are oppressed by human law it is good to know that God treats people with justice and fairness and tempers those with mercy. God actually bothers to teach us the laws rather than waiting for us to discover what the laws are by breaking them and being punished for the transgression. When kings rule with absolute power and make up laws to suit their particular wants and needs there is great comfort in laws that apply equally to all persons regardless of their economic and political situation. While there are consequences for breaking God’s laws the psalmist continually finds that God is willing to seek us out and bring us back into the protection of the very laws we transgress.
As we complain about the numerous silly, unpopular and unhelpful laws we find on a regular basis we do well to remember that there are many people around the world and in our own communities who do not have the luxury of complaining about the laws and the how and the if of their enforcement. We might also take comfort in knowing that even as human laws are enforced differently depending on the folks involved in any given situation the laws of God are “my delight.”
© November 30, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Psalm Meditation 493
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2009
Psalm 94
1 O LORD, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the stranger, they murder the orphan,
7 and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive."
8 Understand, O dullest of the people; fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise?
11 The LORD knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath.
12 Happy are those whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,
13 giving them respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, "My foot is slipping," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who contrive mischief by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.
(NRSV)
One of the most magnificent things about the Psalms is that they put into words the best and worst that humanity has to offer. At the very least thoughts of vengeance cross our minds from time to time whether we bring those thoughts to action or not. It is good to know that folks before me have felt what I am feeling with enough energy and commitment to those feelings to express them in some way. To feel that the claim has enough merit to take it into the presence of God reminds me that not every vengeful thought of mine needs to be carried out.
Psalms of this sort may also remind us that we are not above reproach. It is possible that someone has these thoughts directed toward us. We take advantage of others, intentionally or not and bring them to the point of calling down God’s vengeance on us because we are proud and ignorant of their needs and wants. How many people do we walk or drive past on a daily basis who we fail to see because we are focused on our own wants and needs to the exclusion of theirs. Sadly, we can be pretty oblivious to the damage we do to others in the pursuit of our own needs and desires. Fortunately, God does not respond to every call for vengeance from those who call for it.
How am I guilty when others call for vengeance against me and people like me? Pleas of ignorance of their needs does not excuse me for acting against people. So, as we call down the vengeance of God on others we do well to examine ourselves as well. Who has been damaged by my actions? How do I repent and make amends? What do I do to keep it from happening again? Where is God calling me in response to the sins committed against me and those I commit against others?
© November 23, 2009
First Sunday of Advent
November 29, 2009
Psalm 94
1 O LORD, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth!
2 Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!
3 O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?
4 They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.
5 They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.
6 They kill the widow and the stranger, they murder the orphan,
7 and they say, "The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive."
8 Understand, O dullest of the people; fools, when will you be wise?
9 He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10 He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise?
11 The LORD knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath.
12 Happy are those whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,
13 giving them respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, "My foot is slipping," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who contrive mischief by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.
(NRSV)
One of the most magnificent things about the Psalms is that they put into words the best and worst that humanity has to offer. At the very least thoughts of vengeance cross our minds from time to time whether we bring those thoughts to action or not. It is good to know that folks before me have felt what I am feeling with enough energy and commitment to those feelings to express them in some way. To feel that the claim has enough merit to take it into the presence of God reminds me that not every vengeful thought of mine needs to be carried out.
Psalms of this sort may also remind us that we are not above reproach. It is possible that someone has these thoughts directed toward us. We take advantage of others, intentionally or not and bring them to the point of calling down God’s vengeance on us because we are proud and ignorant of their needs and wants. How many people do we walk or drive past on a daily basis who we fail to see because we are focused on our own wants and needs to the exclusion of theirs. Sadly, we can be pretty oblivious to the damage we do to others in the pursuit of our own needs and desires. Fortunately, God does not respond to every call for vengeance from those who call for it.
How am I guilty when others call for vengeance against me and people like me? Pleas of ignorance of their needs does not excuse me for acting against people. So, as we call down the vengeance of God on others we do well to examine ourselves as well. Who has been damaged by my actions? How do I repent and make amends? What do I do to keep it from happening again? Where is God calling me in response to the sins committed against me and those I commit against others?
© November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Psalm Meditation 492
Reign of Christ Sunday
November 22, 2009
Psalm 69:1-16
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6 Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord GOD of hosts; do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me, O God of Israel.
7 It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother's children.
9 It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10 When I humbled my soul with fasting, they insulted me for doing so.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help
14 rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
(NRSV)
When someone outside of our comfort group does something bad or foolish we have a tendency to paint everyone else in that group with the same broad brush of guilt by association. In this case it seems to be the psalmist who bears some guilt for foolish acts. There appear to be repercussions that go beyond the actual act that will cause problems not only for the psalmist but for all of the psalmist’s people. In many cases we have no problem thinking and talking as if, “those people are all alike” until someone puts us into a group of ‘those people.’
Like the psalmist, most of us are guilty of some foolish act that will reflect poorly on us. If we are not a part of the in crowd our action will also reflect poorly on the rest of our group. Because some clergy are guilty of sins involving sex or money there are folks who will see all clergy as sex fiends and money grubbers. Whatever your profession, religion, ethnic or social background there are those who will expect you to be as bad as the worst in your particular group.
We may begin our ‘us against them’ mentality to protect ourselves from being hurt in some way by ‘those people.’ At the same time we keep ourselves from experiencing the richness that individuals with experiences beyond our own can bring to bear on our own experiences. In every relationship there is a risk of getting hurt by the other. In every relationship there is the possibility of being enriched by the other. Yes, some of ‘those people’ will hurt us as is true of those within our particular group.
God continually calls us to risk and grow. It is scary and exciting. We will make mistakes and do foolish things. God is and will be with us each time we make the choice to risk toward relationship.
© November 16, 2009
Reign of Christ Sunday
November 22, 2009
Psalm 69:1-16
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?
5 O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.
6 Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord GOD of hosts; do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me, O God of Israel.
7 It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face.
8 I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother's children.
9 It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10 When I humbled my soul with fasting, they insulted me for doing so.
11 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help
14 rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
(NRSV)
When someone outside of our comfort group does something bad or foolish we have a tendency to paint everyone else in that group with the same broad brush of guilt by association. In this case it seems to be the psalmist who bears some guilt for foolish acts. There appear to be repercussions that go beyond the actual act that will cause problems not only for the psalmist but for all of the psalmist’s people. In many cases we have no problem thinking and talking as if, “those people are all alike” until someone puts us into a group of ‘those people.’
Like the psalmist, most of us are guilty of some foolish act that will reflect poorly on us. If we are not a part of the in crowd our action will also reflect poorly on the rest of our group. Because some clergy are guilty of sins involving sex or money there are folks who will see all clergy as sex fiends and money grubbers. Whatever your profession, religion, ethnic or social background there are those who will expect you to be as bad as the worst in your particular group.
We may begin our ‘us against them’ mentality to protect ourselves from being hurt in some way by ‘those people.’ At the same time we keep ourselves from experiencing the richness that individuals with experiences beyond our own can bring to bear on our own experiences. In every relationship there is a risk of getting hurt by the other. In every relationship there is the possibility of being enriched by the other. Yes, some of ‘those people’ will hurt us as is true of those within our particular group.
God continually calls us to risk and grow. It is scary and exciting. We will make mistakes and do foolish things. God is and will be with us each time we make the choice to risk toward relationship.
© November 16, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Psalm Meditation 491
Twenty fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 15, 2009
Psalm 44:1-17,26
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down our assailants.
6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face
16 at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, or been false to your covenant.
26 Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
(NRSV)
There is an interesting tension at work in this psalm, a tension of which we too must be aware. How much of what goes on in and around us is the work of God and how much is our own effort. I know folks who take credit for all the good things that happen to them and pass off the blame to others, including God, when things don’t go well. I also know folks who take the blame when things go wrong and give glory to God when things go well. Can it be that God is a micro-manager who can’t let us succeed and fail on our own? Can it be that God is too far away to be concerned with what we do on a day to day basis? Or is it that God presents us with gifts and skills to use and then sits like a parent on the sidelines cheering us on.
Most of us learn early that it is rude to take too much credit for a success and that it is damaging to take too much blame for a failure. People of faith also recognize that God is in the mix somewhere and is willing and able to take a portion of the credit and blame in each of our lives. There is a place for ego as well as humility in the events of our lives. We have every right and responsibility to be proud of the things we accomplish. At the same time we do well to recognize that others have contributed to our successes. The most humbling failure usually has blame to pass around outside ourselves even as we do well to let ourselves be humbled by our faults and failures. Through the highs and lows God is there to cheer us on and to give us comfort.
God is in this with us by choice: God loves us beyond measure. It isn’t always or usually about winning and losing so much as it is about relationships. As we are able to build relationships with God and others we find that the most important victory is the one from our kindergarten report card, “Plays well with others.”
© November 9, 2009
Twenty fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 15, 2009
Psalm 44:1-17,26
1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;
3 for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them.
4 You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down our assailants.
6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.
7 But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us.
8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah
9 Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies.
10 You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have gotten spoil.
11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.
13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.
15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face
16 at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.
17 All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, or been false to your covenant.
26 Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
(NRSV)
There is an interesting tension at work in this psalm, a tension of which we too must be aware. How much of what goes on in and around us is the work of God and how much is our own effort. I know folks who take credit for all the good things that happen to them and pass off the blame to others, including God, when things don’t go well. I also know folks who take the blame when things go wrong and give glory to God when things go well. Can it be that God is a micro-manager who can’t let us succeed and fail on our own? Can it be that God is too far away to be concerned with what we do on a day to day basis? Or is it that God presents us with gifts and skills to use and then sits like a parent on the sidelines cheering us on.
Most of us learn early that it is rude to take too much credit for a success and that it is damaging to take too much blame for a failure. People of faith also recognize that God is in the mix somewhere and is willing and able to take a portion of the credit and blame in each of our lives. There is a place for ego as well as humility in the events of our lives. We have every right and responsibility to be proud of the things we accomplish. At the same time we do well to recognize that others have contributed to our successes. The most humbling failure usually has blame to pass around outside ourselves even as we do well to let ourselves be humbled by our faults and failures. Through the highs and lows God is there to cheer us on and to give us comfort.
God is in this with us by choice: God loves us beyond measure. It isn’t always or usually about winning and losing so much as it is about relationships. As we are able to build relationships with God and others we find that the most important victory is the one from our kindergarten report card, “Plays well with others.”
© November 9, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Psalm Meditation 490
Twenty third Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 8, 2009
Psalm 19
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(NRSV)
At some point in our lives it becomes important to look at what we believe and why it is that we believe it. As we begin the process we discover that we believe because someone taught us to believe a certain set of beliefs. Part of the process of adolescence is to reject many of those beliefs as outdated and outmoded and wrong. As we continue the process by building a completely new belief system we discover that some of those old beliefs from our childhood now make perfect sense. We discover that, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul...”
We may revise the beliefs of our childhood so that they make sense for our particular situation in life. We discover with the psalmist that the ways of God as we understand them revive us, give us great joy, are timeless and are a source of great wealth in our lives. We discover that while the particulars of our childhood belief system may not work we find ourselves using the same framework for our own beliefs. As we have willingly revised the beliefs of our upbringing we do well to remain open to change and newness in our current beliefs so that they do not grow stale or contain small errors that get bigger over time. We do well to keep our hearts tuned to God so that we do not become overly rigid in our beliefs and practices.
When we are tuned to God we are more ready to see all the ways God is active in our lives. We see the sunrise as a gift of God rather than a daily science experiment; we hear the wind as a voice of praise to God and not simply an expression of interplay of natural forces in and around the earth. We see that the people, creatures, places and events around us are gifts to be treasured rather than resources to be expended. We see God as one we experience rather than one in whom we simply believe. When we are tuned to God we discover our rock and our redeemer.
© November 2, 2009
Twenty third Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 8, 2009
Psalm 19
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
(NRSV)
At some point in our lives it becomes important to look at what we believe and why it is that we believe it. As we begin the process we discover that we believe because someone taught us to believe a certain set of beliefs. Part of the process of adolescence is to reject many of those beliefs as outdated and outmoded and wrong. As we continue the process by building a completely new belief system we discover that some of those old beliefs from our childhood now make perfect sense. We discover that, “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul...”
We may revise the beliefs of our childhood so that they make sense for our particular situation in life. We discover with the psalmist that the ways of God as we understand them revive us, give us great joy, are timeless and are a source of great wealth in our lives. We discover that while the particulars of our childhood belief system may not work we find ourselves using the same framework for our own beliefs. As we have willingly revised the beliefs of our upbringing we do well to remain open to change and newness in our current beliefs so that they do not grow stale or contain small errors that get bigger over time. We do well to keep our hearts tuned to God so that we do not become overly rigid in our beliefs and practices.
When we are tuned to God we are more ready to see all the ways God is active in our lives. We see the sunrise as a gift of God rather than a daily science experiment; we hear the wind as a voice of praise to God and not simply an expression of interplay of natural forces in and around the earth. We see that the people, creatures, places and events around us are gifts to be treasured rather than resources to be expended. We see God as one we experience rather than one in whom we simply believe. When we are tuned to God we discover our rock and our redeemer.
© November 2, 2009
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