Psalm Meditation 533
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 5, 2010

Psalm 31:1-9,19-24
1 In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
6 You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities,
8 and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
19 O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone!
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege.
22 I had said in my alarm, "I am driven far from your sight." But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help.
23 Love the LORD, all you his saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.
(NRSV)

While the words from verse 5 are among those Jesus uses on the cross, my guess is that it is not the first time he had ever committed his spirit to the hand of God. Anyone who lives a life in God has committed that life to God multiple times. Every time we step out in faith to respond to the call of God in our lives we commit our spirits anew to the hand of God. When we make a sacrifice for the sake of God’s people we commit our spirits into the hand of God. When we opt for justice over comfort and convenience we commit our spirits into the hand of God. When we reach out to a person or group with the love of God we commit our spirits into the hand of God.

God does not offer us a free ride made up of lollipops and rainbows. God invites us to take risks, make sacrifices and do seemingly stupid stuff in order to build relationships with folks as people of God. By committing our spirits to God we find ourselves doing things we could not otherwise see ourselves doing. As we do those things some folks are drawn into closer relationship with God and we find ourselves moving closer and deeper into God. God offers us a journey made up of life changing risk after life changing risk.

Through it all God is with us. God gives us the courage to jump in with both feet and the ability to sense God’s presence with us in the most dire circumstances. The love of God for us and for those around us continues to give us the courage to worry less so that we confidently wait for Yahweh.

© August 30, 2010