Psalm Meditation 524
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 4, 2010

This marks 10 years of psalm meditations and the beginning of the 11th. It is still mostly fun to do and I thank you for continuing to receive these meditation from me. LCM

Psalm 124
1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side --let Israel now say--
2 if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
(NRSV)

We may not know for sure what it is like not to have God on our side, or more accurately not to be on the side of God, however we have probably had the ‘what it…’ sense of panic in a time of trial. To stand with nothing but our own defenses can be a terrifying moment. As we realize that we are not alone in this or any other trial we can relax a bit and focus on the task at hand rather than having to carry the full weight of the world and meet the task.

This doesn’t mean that each of us will survive every battle unscathed. We will be bruised and cut and otherwise wounded as we face the big and small battles of our lives and some will give their lives for the sake of God and the people of God. As we at least aim for a faithful relationship with God we will know that God is with us and that we are a part of a long line of those who have lived in the presence of God.

Some of us are very aware of the snares we have left broken by our dependence on God and God’s people. Some of us have managed not to take the bait of various snares because of a relationship with God. Some of us have never noticed the snares that have beckoned to us because of a relationship with God. In each case as we have broken free, resisted the bait and never even noticed the snare we have done so with a growing assurance of the presence of God and the people of God in our lives.

© June 28, 2010