Psalm Meditation 559
Transfiguration Sunday
March 6, 2011
Psalm 66
1 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name." Selah
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,
7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let the rebellious not exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs;
12 you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows,
14 those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
17 I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.
18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
19 But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.
(NRSV)
In times of trouble many of us have made promises to God in hopes of buying or bargaining our way out of this particular trouble. In some of those cases, when we do get out unscathed, we keep the promises we made for awhile. Once the initial rush of survival has worn off so does the compulsion to keep our promises to God. Since we tend to believe that our generation invented everything that is really cool and useful, it is interesting to see that the psalmist states, “I will pay you my vows, those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.”
We are not the first generation to believe that we can bargain with God by making promises. While there is no indication whether or not the psalmist actually kept those vows and promises I find myself believing it will happen since this is Scripture. Given a moment to consider, I remember that the psalmist is as human as I and has the same good intentions that don’t translate into behaviors as easily as any of us hope they will.
The good thing is that God knows us, loves us and is not as swayed or convinced by our vows and promises as we hope. It is God’s love for us that brings us through our troubles rather than the power of our vows and promises. My guess is that we will continue to make promises to God that will outline all our actions if only we are delivered alive through this mess. God will continue to be with us through one trial after another not because of our promises and vows but because of God’s overwhelming love for us. God does listen and give heed to our prayers, God is blessed, and best of all we are not removed from the steadfast love of God no matter what.
February 28, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Psalm Meditation 558
Eighth Sunday After Epiphany
February 27, 2011
Psalm 36
1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil.
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
(NRSV)
I find it interesting that we are so quick to assume the worst from those with whom we disagree. In this case, the psalmist knows that the wicked spend long hours plotting and planning their evil deeds. The wicked also are aware of the wickedness of their actions and they do it anyway. I have become convinced that no sane person sees themselves as evil. We find ways to justify our behavior so that, at the very least, our actions are misunderstood when bad things happen because of our own actions. Our evil is seen through a different and more forgiving filter than their evil.
Whether our evil is unintentional or plotted out, the steadfast love of God reaches us. The love of God can bring us an awareness of how our actions may have affected others in ways we did not intend. It may even make it possible for us to un-demonize some of the folks against whom we were so quick to act The love of God is higher, deeper and wider than our ability to comprehend. We might even discover that the folks we brand as evil see us in the same way for any number of reasons. The expanse of God’s steadfast love can give us a broader view of humanity as we act and react in concert with one another.
The love of God is more inclusive than we want it to be. “All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Some folks are aware of the welcome available at God’s table and join in the feast of abundance and delight. Others are aware that the banquet is going on without ever knowing that they are welcome to join. Still others are not aware of the banquet, let alone being aware of the welcome that awaits.
February 21, 2011
Eighth Sunday After Epiphany
February 27, 2011
Psalm 36
1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes.
2 For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil.
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12 There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
(NRSV)
I find it interesting that we are so quick to assume the worst from those with whom we disagree. In this case, the psalmist knows that the wicked spend long hours plotting and planning their evil deeds. The wicked also are aware of the wickedness of their actions and they do it anyway. I have become convinced that no sane person sees themselves as evil. We find ways to justify our behavior so that, at the very least, our actions are misunderstood when bad things happen because of our own actions. Our evil is seen through a different and more forgiving filter than their evil.
Whether our evil is unintentional or plotted out, the steadfast love of God reaches us. The love of God can bring us an awareness of how our actions may have affected others in ways we did not intend. It may even make it possible for us to un-demonize some of the folks against whom we were so quick to act The love of God is higher, deeper and wider than our ability to comprehend. We might even discover that the folks we brand as evil see us in the same way for any number of reasons. The expanse of God’s steadfast love can give us a broader view of humanity as we act and react in concert with one another.
The love of God is more inclusive than we want it to be. “All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Some folks are aware of the welcome available at God’s table and join in the feast of abundance and delight. Others are aware that the banquet is going on without ever knowing that they are welcome to join. Still others are not aware of the banquet, let alone being aware of the welcome that awaits.
February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Psalm Meditation 557
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
February 20, 2011
Psalm 6
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3 My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O LORD--how long?
4 Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?
6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.
(NRSV)
When we think of enemies we often think of other people. That is not always the case for the psalmists. They had a much broader definition of enemies. This particular psalmist may have been dealing with the draining effects of an illness or disease. The psalmist begins with the plea that God stop this particular form of discipline. From pleading, the psalmist moves to bargaining with the question, “in Sheol who can give you praise?” After a description of the symptoms the psalmist ends with the assurance that this prayer has been heard and that healing has already begun.
While we have the wonders of medicine available to us we can be reminded of some things in this psalm. No matter the source of the attack, from microbes to international incident, it is a good idea to turn to God for deliverance. Whether we bear some responsibility for the attack or are a random victim of illness, disease or violence we do well to make sure that we are in a positive relationship with God. Do we need to do something differently in the future or do we simply have to get through this with our relationship to God intact?
No matter what the outcome, we do well to know that God has heard our supplications, our questions, our concerns and even our whining. Within our relationship with God we find comfort in the presence of God. Some will hear God speak in words, some will simply know that God is with them. In the relationship, in the presence of God, we will know that we are not alone. Whether we live through this particular onslaught or not we will be comforted by an ongoing relationship with God.
February 14, 2011
Seventh Sunday After Epiphany
February 20, 2011
Psalm 6
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
3 My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O LORD--how long?
4 Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?
6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.
(NRSV)
When we think of enemies we often think of other people. That is not always the case for the psalmists. They had a much broader definition of enemies. This particular psalmist may have been dealing with the draining effects of an illness or disease. The psalmist begins with the plea that God stop this particular form of discipline. From pleading, the psalmist moves to bargaining with the question, “in Sheol who can give you praise?” After a description of the symptoms the psalmist ends with the assurance that this prayer has been heard and that healing has already begun.
While we have the wonders of medicine available to us we can be reminded of some things in this psalm. No matter the source of the attack, from microbes to international incident, it is a good idea to turn to God for deliverance. Whether we bear some responsibility for the attack or are a random victim of illness, disease or violence we do well to make sure that we are in a positive relationship with God. Do we need to do something differently in the future or do we simply have to get through this with our relationship to God intact?
No matter what the outcome, we do well to know that God has heard our supplications, our questions, our concerns and even our whining. Within our relationship with God we find comfort in the presence of God. Some will hear God speak in words, some will simply know that God is with them. In the relationship, in the presence of God, we will know that we are not alone. Whether we live through this particular onslaught or not we will be comforted by an ongoing relationship with God.
February 14, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Psalm Meditation 556
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
February 13, 2011
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!
(NRSV)
Sometimes it seems like it would be a good idea for God to have total control over our lives. If God had it all planned out all we would have to do is go along for the ride; no decisions, no choices, simple. If that were the case we would have no reason to pay any attention to God. If God had one life planned for salvation and another for destruction there would be no way to alter that plan. The best hope anyone could have would be that they would be one of the ones set apart for salvation. We would really only be along for the ride.
Since God has made requests, demands and invitations to us we must have some say in how our lives play out. In this case the scepter of wickedness does not rest on the land allotted to the righteous because the righteous have never given that scepter a place to rest. It is not that the righteous can’t as much as won’t give wickedness sway in the land. We actually get to participate in the growth of righteousness every time we make a choice, whether conscious or unconscious.
As we act in accord with the ways of God we discover that we are increasingly aware of the presence of God in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Our awareness of that presence leads us to want an ever deeper and closer relationship with God which in turn leads us to follow the ways of God more closely in more areas of our lives. The peace of God comes as an awareness of the presence of God. Peace be upon us all.
February 7, 2011
Sixth Sunday After Epiphany
February 13, 2011
Psalm 125
1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.
5 But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!
(NRSV)
Sometimes it seems like it would be a good idea for God to have total control over our lives. If God had it all planned out all we would have to do is go along for the ride; no decisions, no choices, simple. If that were the case we would have no reason to pay any attention to God. If God had one life planned for salvation and another for destruction there would be no way to alter that plan. The best hope anyone could have would be that they would be one of the ones set apart for salvation. We would really only be along for the ride.
Since God has made requests, demands and invitations to us we must have some say in how our lives play out. In this case the scepter of wickedness does not rest on the land allotted to the righteous because the righteous have never given that scepter a place to rest. It is not that the righteous can’t as much as won’t give wickedness sway in the land. We actually get to participate in the growth of righteousness every time we make a choice, whether conscious or unconscious.
As we act in accord with the ways of God we discover that we are increasingly aware of the presence of God in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Our awareness of that presence leads us to want an ever deeper and closer relationship with God which in turn leads us to follow the ways of God more closely in more areas of our lives. The peace of God comes as an awareness of the presence of God. Peace be upon us all.
February 7, 2011
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