Psalm Meditation 576
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 3, 2011
Psalm 129
1 "Often have they attacked me from my youth" --let Israel now say- -
2 "often have they attacked me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.
3 The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long."
4 The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.
5 May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward.
6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,
7 with which reapers do not fill their hands or binders of sheaves their arms,
8 while those who pass by do not say, "The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!"
(NRSV)
Many of us have an unresolved issue or two that has been with us for as long as we remember. It takes very little to bounce us back to the days of the original childhood event. It was traumatic at the time and anything that sparks that memory brings the original feelings right back to the surface. No matter how we brace ourselves against our reaction the terror of the original event comes rushing back and we are helpless children once again, if only for a moment.
The trauma of this psalm is national in scope. Once the original event has happened any other attacks can be much less severe to bring up the same reaction as the original onslaught. Each nation and perhaps each generation has an event that any hint of it’s repetition brings back the original reaction to the event.
The good thing, the psalmist reminds us, is that God is with us and has been with us since before the original event. An awareness of God’s presence in our lives does much to lessen the sense of panic that rises as we are willing to give our reactions over to God. The event does not disappear from our lives as a nation or as individuals. Our reaction to any triggering event will be the same though the severity of it will lessen as we allow ourselves to be comforted by the presence of God.
As we take comfort in God’s presence we will find ourselves less and less willing to withhold the blessing of God from even the most violent of our enemies and adversaries. While not everyone will be willing/able to receive the blessing of God’s presence we will find ourselves more and more willing to give the blessing because of our relationship within the overwhelming love of God.
June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Psalm Meditation 575
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 26, 2010
Psalm 99
1. The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2. The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4. Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5. Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
7. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9. Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.
(NRSV)
Sometimes the best example is a bad example, as in, “If God will do good things for a person this lowly God will certainly do good things for you.” In this case the psalmist chose to use a few of the best examples. “Since Moses, Aaron and Samuel called on God and followed the rules God gave them, if you want God to pay attention to you it would be good to follow those same rules.” I am convinced that God loves us and cares for us whether we follow that rules or not. I believe that is the nature of God. I also believe that those who follow the rules and laws given by God are more likely to be aware of the presence of God in their lives.
If you want God to love you, then you don’t need to do anything at all. God loves you no matter what. If you want to have a relationship with God then there are things that need to be done for the sake of that relationship. When I ask young couples moving toward a wedding what the rules of their marriage will be they are often at a loss. They believe a marriage doesn’t need rules. So I ask, is it okay for one or both to be unfaithful in the marriage. Either way they answer is one of the rules. Is it okay for one or both to hit the other? Again, either way the answer is one of the rules. My hope for couples is that the answer to both questions is no. The one that leads to the deeper and longer lasting relationship is the right answer.
If you want to be in a relationship with God, pay attention to what God wants out of the relationship just as God pays attention to your wants and needs. Talk to God, keep the rules (that is, listen to God) and participate in worship in some form on a regular basis. (that is, spend some time with some people who are also important to God.) It really is as simple as it sounds. It still takes some time and some practice, however God is there cheering you on and there is a community of folk who also work and sometimes struggle at a relationship with the God of Moses, Aaron, Samuel and countless others.
© June 20, 2010
Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
June 26, 2010
Psalm 99
1. The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2. The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4. Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5. Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.
7. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9. Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.
(NRSV)
Sometimes the best example is a bad example, as in, “If God will do good things for a person this lowly God will certainly do good things for you.” In this case the psalmist chose to use a few of the best examples. “Since Moses, Aaron and Samuel called on God and followed the rules God gave them, if you want God to pay attention to you it would be good to follow those same rules.” I am convinced that God loves us and cares for us whether we follow that rules or not. I believe that is the nature of God. I also believe that those who follow the rules and laws given by God are more likely to be aware of the presence of God in their lives.
If you want God to love you, then you don’t need to do anything at all. God loves you no matter what. If you want to have a relationship with God then there are things that need to be done for the sake of that relationship. When I ask young couples moving toward a wedding what the rules of their marriage will be they are often at a loss. They believe a marriage doesn’t need rules. So I ask, is it okay for one or both to be unfaithful in the marriage. Either way they answer is one of the rules. Is it okay for one or both to hit the other? Again, either way the answer is one of the rules. My hope for couples is that the answer to both questions is no. The one that leads to the deeper and longer lasting relationship is the right answer.
If you want to be in a relationship with God, pay attention to what God wants out of the relationship just as God pays attention to your wants and needs. Talk to God, keep the rules (that is, listen to God) and participate in worship in some form on a regular basis. (that is, spend some time with some people who are also important to God.) It really is as simple as it sounds. It still takes some time and some practice, however God is there cheering you on and there is a community of folk who also work and sometimes struggle at a relationship with the God of Moses, Aaron, Samuel and countless others.
© June 20, 2010
Monday, June 13, 2011
Psalm Meditation 574
Trinity Sunday
June 19, 2011
Psalm 69:1-4,12-15,29-36
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help
14 rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
29 But I am lowly and in pain; let your salvation, O God, protect me.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall live there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall live in it.
(NRSV)
A recurrent theme for me these days is that I want to make things more complicated and difficult than they need to be. I am convinced that I am not alone in this. I see a lot of other people doing all the big flashy things to get the attention of God, a friend, a family member, a boss or supervisor and any number of other folks who already have a loving eye turned to us. As a part of this theme verses 30-31 jumped into my lap with a particular urgency this morning. In an attempt to win God’s favor we go as big as we can with our gifts. We keep trying to earn God’s love even as we know that God already loves us beyond our ability to comprehend. What God wants to know is that we return the love that is already being given to us.
We want to give the biggest gift our resources can possibly allow and God wants us to curl up on the lap of the divine and sing a song or say a simple ‘thank-you.’ How would our lives be different if we simply accepted the love that folks, including God, offer to us on a daily basis? My guess is that most of our fears about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason would disappear and we could simply do and be with the confidence of those who are aware of being deeply loved.
This doesn’t mean life will suddenly get easy; it simply means we would not ever have to worry about whether or not we are loved. We are. We will still have to deal with mistakes and the inappropriate actions of those around us, as well as our own. Already knowing that we are loved we won’t have to go through the gymnastics of covering our mishaps in an effort to protect a reputation. We simply accept our foibles as we accept the love. We fix what we can, make reparations and apologies where needed and move on in the security of the love that fills and surrounds us.
June 13, 2011
Trinity Sunday
June 19, 2011
Psalm 69:1-4,12-15,29-36
1 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?
12 I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help
14 rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
15 Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.
29 But I am lowly and in pain; let your salvation, O God, protect me.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.
32 Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.
33 For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall live there and possess it;
36 the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall live in it.
(NRSV)
A recurrent theme for me these days is that I want to make things more complicated and difficult than they need to be. I am convinced that I am not alone in this. I see a lot of other people doing all the big flashy things to get the attention of God, a friend, a family member, a boss or supervisor and any number of other folks who already have a loving eye turned to us. As a part of this theme verses 30-31 jumped into my lap with a particular urgency this morning. In an attempt to win God’s favor we go as big as we can with our gifts. We keep trying to earn God’s love even as we know that God already loves us beyond our ability to comprehend. What God wants to know is that we return the love that is already being given to us.
We want to give the biggest gift our resources can possibly allow and God wants us to curl up on the lap of the divine and sing a song or say a simple ‘thank-you.’ How would our lives be different if we simply accepted the love that folks, including God, offer to us on a daily basis? My guess is that most of our fears about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason would disappear and we could simply do and be with the confidence of those who are aware of being deeply loved.
This doesn’t mean life will suddenly get easy; it simply means we would not ever have to worry about whether or not we are loved. We are. We will still have to deal with mistakes and the inappropriate actions of those around us, as well as our own. Already knowing that we are loved we won’t have to go through the gymnastics of covering our mishaps in an effort to protect a reputation. We simply accept our foibles as we accept the love. We fix what we can, make reparations and apologies where needed and move on in the security of the love that fills and surrounds us.
June 13, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Psalm Meditation 573
Pentecost
June 12, 2011
Psalm 39
1 I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse,
3 my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
4 "LORD, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Selah
6 Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
7 "And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
9 I am silent; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
11 "You chastise mortals in punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is dear to them; surely everyone is a mere breath. Selah
12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not hold your peace at my tears. For I am your passing guest, an alien, like all my forebears.
13 Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more."
(NRSV)
There are times in which talking, especially complaining, simply makes things worse. Once something is said out loud it can be exploited by anyone who wants to add to our misfortune. Once folks know a particular weakness they can poke and prod in that spot until we are completely broken. The psalmist knows not to say anything to other people about what is going on and yet things continue to get worse. Even the comfort of God seems to be withheld from the psalmist. Then it becomes obvious that God is the source of this particular distress and the psalmist falls silent once again.
I, for one, am grateful that our understanding of God has changed from one who punishes on a whim to one who is with us in good times as well as in bad times. God asks us to learn something when things go badly for us but God does not cause bad things to happen to us. Since we live with the consequences of our choices, as well as the choices of those around us we can more easily call on God as a source of ever-present comfort in times of suffering.
Whether God is the cause of our suffering or an ever present source of comfort in the face of suffering we can join the psalmist in turning to God in times of suffering. The psalmist turns to God with a request for peace, knowing that it is important to be in a positive relationship with God in order to have an abundant life. We know that the relationship with God is the source of abundant life as we go through various challenges and opportunities. The important part is the awareness that God is with us, no matter what.
June 6, 2011
Pentecost
June 12, 2011
Psalm 39
1 I said, "I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse,
3 my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:
4 "LORD, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Selah
6 Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
7 "And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool.
9 I am silent; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.
10 Remove your stroke from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
11 "You chastise mortals in punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is dear to them; surely everyone is a mere breath. Selah
12 "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not hold your peace at my tears. For I am your passing guest, an alien, like all my forebears.
13 Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more."
(NRSV)
There are times in which talking, especially complaining, simply makes things worse. Once something is said out loud it can be exploited by anyone who wants to add to our misfortune. Once folks know a particular weakness they can poke and prod in that spot until we are completely broken. The psalmist knows not to say anything to other people about what is going on and yet things continue to get worse. Even the comfort of God seems to be withheld from the psalmist. Then it becomes obvious that God is the source of this particular distress and the psalmist falls silent once again.
I, for one, am grateful that our understanding of God has changed from one who punishes on a whim to one who is with us in good times as well as in bad times. God asks us to learn something when things go badly for us but God does not cause bad things to happen to us. Since we live with the consequences of our choices, as well as the choices of those around us we can more easily call on God as a source of ever-present comfort in times of suffering.
Whether God is the cause of our suffering or an ever present source of comfort in the face of suffering we can join the psalmist in turning to God in times of suffering. The psalmist turns to God with a request for peace, knowing that it is important to be in a positive relationship with God in order to have an abundant life. We know that the relationship with God is the source of abundant life as we go through various challenges and opportunities. The important part is the awareness that God is with us, no matter what.
June 6, 2011
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