Psalm Meditation 502
Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
January 31, 2010
Psalm 21
1 In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD, and in your help how greatly he exults!
2 You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah
3 For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4 He asked you for life; you gave it to him-- length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through your help; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.
8 Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind.
11 If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.
13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.
(NRSV)
Many of us believe that when things are going well it is because God is rewarding us for something we have done, even if it is something as simple as asking for what we want and getting it. When we are in God’s good graces all we have to do is ask and we will receive even more than we asked because God is on our side and favors us over all those others who are not like us. Good things come to good people it is as simple as that.
We have trouble when things are going poorly. In those times God is testing us to see if we are willing to be faithful in those seasons in which we do not get all our heart’s desire. We find ways and make ways to feel as if we are not at odds with God. It may be someone else’s fault and we simply got caught in the crossfire, we are being tested and all will be well again once we prove ourselves faithful and worthy, we have done something wrong and are being disciplined for a time in order to make us pure once again. We do not willingly see ourselves as those who hate God.
Like it or not, God is not bound by our categories of good and of evil, right and wrong, deserving and undeserving. God is beyond our categories and limits. God promises to be with us without promising to be good to us and bad to our enemies and adversaries. God promises to love us no matter what. God seems much more willing than we are to live with chaos and randomness. We want things to make sense and God wants to be with us and wants us to desire and seek a relationship with God.
As people of God we will have good things happen to us and we will have bad things happen to us. We will notice that people around us who agree with us and those with whom we disagree will have good things and bad things happen to them. It will not always be about anyone’s relationship with God. Good things will come and bad things will happen; the task and joy for us is to continue to love and trust God through it all.
© January 25, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Psalm Meditation 501
Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 24, 2010
Psalm 145
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(NRSV)
The culture of the world in the biblical era was one based in honor and shame. To do good things brought honor to ones relatives past present and future. To do evil heaped shame on one’s heritage and legacy. It is so good to know that we have grown past that. We never judge a person by the actions of their parents or siblings. We never look down our noses at someone who snubbed us when we were little nothings and want to be our friends now that we have made something of ourselves. We never give someone the benefit of the doubt because they come from good people. We still live honor and shame based lives. Some folks live more deeply in honor and shame than others, however we still live by the favors we give and receive and die by the good things we fail to do.
We like to believe that God lives with an honor and shame code as well. We want God to honor us for all the good things and to punish all those miserable wretches who do evil to us and those we love. We want to know that everything is someone’s fault and if there is no person to blame it is only because we do not see with the clear eye of God. We know that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” when it comes to us and that , “all the wicked he will destroy” when it comes to all of them. God lives out of divine radical free will. God is not bound by our categories of honor and shame of us and them. God is bound by steadfast love.
Yes, God is gracious and loving. Yes, God does destroy the wicked. As long as we are willing to see that God loves each one of us and destroys what is wicked with each of us we find a clearer picture of God. And we find a God who looks forward with us to a day in which, “all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.”
© January 18, 2010
Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 24, 2010
Psalm 145
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(NRSV)
The culture of the world in the biblical era was one based in honor and shame. To do good things brought honor to ones relatives past present and future. To do evil heaped shame on one’s heritage and legacy. It is so good to know that we have grown past that. We never judge a person by the actions of their parents or siblings. We never look down our noses at someone who snubbed us when we were little nothings and want to be our friends now that we have made something of ourselves. We never give someone the benefit of the doubt because they come from good people. We still live honor and shame based lives. Some folks live more deeply in honor and shame than others, however we still live by the favors we give and receive and die by the good things we fail to do.
We like to believe that God lives with an honor and shame code as well. We want God to honor us for all the good things and to punish all those miserable wretches who do evil to us and those we love. We want to know that everything is someone’s fault and if there is no person to blame it is only because we do not see with the clear eye of God. We know that God is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” when it comes to us and that , “all the wicked he will destroy” when it comes to all of them. God lives out of divine radical free will. God is not bound by our categories of honor and shame of us and them. God is bound by steadfast love.
Yes, God is gracious and loving. Yes, God does destroy the wicked. As long as we are willing to see that God loves each one of us and destroys what is wicked with each of us we find a clearer picture of God. And we find a God who looks forward with us to a day in which, “all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.”
© January 18, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Psalm Meditation 500
Second Sunday After Epiphany
January 17, 2010
Psalm 120
1 In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me:
2 "Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."
3 What shall be given to you? And what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech, that I must live among the tents of Kedar.
6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
(NRSV)
500 is a milestone I did not anticipate when I began writing these meditations nigh on to 10 years ago. Thanks to all who have read and commented and encouraged me through these 500 weeks.
It is not fun to be the one who holds a minority opinion in a group of folks with strong opinions and yet there are people who choose to be different and to act differently from the dominant culture. Is the psalmist one who disagrees with the dominant culture or is this a case in which a person thinks one thing and says another in an attempt to fit in and the resultant self-disgust that comes from not being able to say what one believes in order to appear to fit in?
Whether it is an internal or external disconnect there is still the problem of having to live with the pressure one experiences in the process. We are creatures who seem to made for group interaction. While it is true that a group without any disagreement will soon dissolve into indifference most of us do not consciously choose to be the one with whom everyone else will disagree. At the same time we do not like the idea of staying with a group who does not know that we do not agree with one or more of the groups passionately held beliefs.
Whether the problem here is that the psalmist disagrees with the group or that the psalmist does not speak the deeply held beliefs of heart and soul the dilemma of the situation is the same. We will seek to be delivered from the discomfort of the situation by asking for the courage to speak what is in our hearts and minds even if it makes us unpopular with one or more groups of which we are a part. God does not suddenly make everything better by giving us the courage to speak out and the group suddenly being won over to our position but God does stand with us so that we know we are not alone even in those times in which we are the only ones in the group who both believe and speak the minority opinion.
© January 11, 2010
Second Sunday After Epiphany
January 17, 2010
Psalm 120
1 In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me:
2 "Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue."
3 What shall be given to you? And what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?
4 A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!
5 Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech, that I must live among the tents of Kedar.
6 Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
(NRSV)
500 is a milestone I did not anticipate when I began writing these meditations nigh on to 10 years ago. Thanks to all who have read and commented and encouraged me through these 500 weeks.
It is not fun to be the one who holds a minority opinion in a group of folks with strong opinions and yet there are people who choose to be different and to act differently from the dominant culture. Is the psalmist one who disagrees with the dominant culture or is this a case in which a person thinks one thing and says another in an attempt to fit in and the resultant self-disgust that comes from not being able to say what one believes in order to appear to fit in?
Whether it is an internal or external disconnect there is still the problem of having to live with the pressure one experiences in the process. We are creatures who seem to made for group interaction. While it is true that a group without any disagreement will soon dissolve into indifference most of us do not consciously choose to be the one with whom everyone else will disagree. At the same time we do not like the idea of staying with a group who does not know that we do not agree with one or more of the groups passionately held beliefs.
Whether the problem here is that the psalmist disagrees with the group or that the psalmist does not speak the deeply held beliefs of heart and soul the dilemma of the situation is the same. We will seek to be delivered from the discomfort of the situation by asking for the courage to speak what is in our hearts and minds even if it makes us unpopular with one or more groups of which we are a part. God does not suddenly make everything better by giving us the courage to speak out and the group suddenly being won over to our position but God does stand with us so that we know we are not alone even in those times in which we are the only ones in the group who both believe and speak the minority opinion.
© January 11, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Psalm Meditation 499
First Sunday After Epiphany
January 10, 2009
Psalm 95
1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!
8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they do not regard my ways."
11 Therefore in my anger I swore, "They shall not enter my rest."
(NRSV)
This strikes me as a call to worship surrounded by opposing reasons to join the worshipping body. The psalm begins with a call to worship based in praise for all the great things God does around us and among us. On the other side of the call to worship in verse six is the reminder that those who don’t trust in God have the high price to pay of being cut off from God. Whether you worship because God is good or in order to protect yourself from God’s anger let us join together in worship.
While I admit that my fledgling steps into faithfulness were based in the negative I find it is not very helpful in the long term. Most often the negative is stated in terms of a better safe than sorry view. ‘If you believe and there is no God you have not done any damage to yourself or others. If you don’t believe and there is a God you have a pretty high price to pay at the end of your life.’ In this view the only reason to believe in God is to escape punishment. These are the folks who are constantly looking over their shoulder, or in some cases looking over your shoulder, to see all the ways God is actively condemning those who do not go through all the right motions in order to avoid catching hell later.
At some point I found myself responding to God in thanksgiving and praise. I discovered that God was not out to get me nearly as much as God was and is with me in all times and places. At times God is there to be a part of the fun of a given event, to encourage me to join in the good stuff going on around me. At other times God is with me to encourage me to make a different choice or to find a different group of which to be a part. In each situation and all the ones in between I discover that God is calling me to ever deeper and more healthy relationships with God and with those around me.
Whatever our motivation at the moment for our faithfulness the psalmist calls us to worship the God who has laid claim on us. Whether we join in worship to give thanks for the variety and richness around us or to avoid the anger and punishment of God it is good to join together as a body of worship with all our hurts and hopes. “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!”
© January 4, 2010
First Sunday After Epiphany
January 10, 2009
Psalm 95
1 O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!
8 Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
9 when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they do not regard my ways."
11 Therefore in my anger I swore, "They shall not enter my rest."
(NRSV)
This strikes me as a call to worship surrounded by opposing reasons to join the worshipping body. The psalm begins with a call to worship based in praise for all the great things God does around us and among us. On the other side of the call to worship in verse six is the reminder that those who don’t trust in God have the high price to pay of being cut off from God. Whether you worship because God is good or in order to protect yourself from God’s anger let us join together in worship.
While I admit that my fledgling steps into faithfulness were based in the negative I find it is not very helpful in the long term. Most often the negative is stated in terms of a better safe than sorry view. ‘If you believe and there is no God you have not done any damage to yourself or others. If you don’t believe and there is a God you have a pretty high price to pay at the end of your life.’ In this view the only reason to believe in God is to escape punishment. These are the folks who are constantly looking over their shoulder, or in some cases looking over your shoulder, to see all the ways God is actively condemning those who do not go through all the right motions in order to avoid catching hell later.
At some point I found myself responding to God in thanksgiving and praise. I discovered that God was not out to get me nearly as much as God was and is with me in all times and places. At times God is there to be a part of the fun of a given event, to encourage me to join in the good stuff going on around me. At other times God is with me to encourage me to make a different choice or to find a different group of which to be a part. In each situation and all the ones in between I discover that God is calling me to ever deeper and more healthy relationships with God and with those around me.
Whatever our motivation at the moment for our faithfulness the psalmist calls us to worship the God who has laid claim on us. Whether we join in worship to give thanks for the variety and richness around us or to avoid the anger and punishment of God it is good to join together as a body of worship with all our hurts and hopes. “O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!”
© January 4, 2010
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