Psalm Meditation 511
Easter
April 4, 2010

Psalm 97
1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.
8 Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
(NRSV)

I remember a time when I believed that evil does not exist. It was not much more than a word people used to describe things they did not like or those with whom they really disagreed. So far I have been really lucky to have never had a first hand encounter with evil, however I do know that it is out there. I know that evil manifests itself in person to person contacts as well in systems. I know that evil can be seen in actions as well as in inaction and that it is easier to talk about than it is to root out. In order to be among those who hate evil we have to acknowledge that evil exists.

We have to be aware that it is not because we hate evil that God loves us. The love of God is not a reciprocal agreement of cause and effect; if you hate evil than God will love you. When we realize that the evil in and around us keeps us from experiencing the fullness of life and that evil in and around people and systems robs each of us and all of us we find ourselves more open to the love God offers to us on a constant basis.

Does God guard us from evil by keeping it away from us? That has not been my experience. God guards us from evil by helping us keep the evil we experience and the evil those around us experience from taking rood in our lives. God invites us not to become jaded and pessimistic, to continue to hold out hope in the face of all that comes our way. It doesn’t seem to get any easier to ward off the creep of cynicism and negativity. After millennia of human history God continues to be patient and loving among us, inviting us to move toward the more loving choices spread out before us.

© March 29, 2010