Psalm Meditation 525
Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 11, 2010

Psalm 149
1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
2 Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.
3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
5 Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)

Many of us were taught that the Old Testament God is the God of judgment while the New Testament God is the God of love. I think this psalm helps dispute that thinking. The psalmist reminds us that God takes pleasure in folk dancing, singing and making music. My experience has been that judgmental folk don’t take pleasure in much of anything, especially things that bring pleasure. While this particular psalm appears to celebrate a military victory the psalmist sees God as taking pleasure in the people.

It has been my experience that some of us who most quickly claim our God as the one who is loving and merciful are the ones who act as if God would rather destroy us for our sins, mistakes and errors than take any kind of pleasure in our lives and activities. I know that God judges us and disciplines us so there will be some angry or disappointed looks aimed our way by God. I also know that God loves us, wants us to be safe and polite and wants us to find joy and pleasure in life.

I believe the same God who made heaven and earth sent Jesus to remind us that there is actually some joy and fun in being faithful to the ways of our God, Yahweh. I believe Yahweh takes pleasure in a variety of victories as we celebrate them. God is parent, grandparent and favorite relative all in one cheering us on from the sidelines/stands/bleachers/audience as we do our best in our endeavors. It may be an actual victory or a personal best and God is cheering us on and celebrating with us in each of these.

© July 6, 2010