Psalm Meditation 615
Palm/Passion Sunday
April 1, 2012
Psalm 107:1-15,39-43
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;
5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;
7 he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;
14 he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of distress, and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad; and all wickedness stops its mouth.
43 Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
(NRSV)
Those of us who get to participate in the good life want to see that as the blessing of God on our lives. Some will even blame those who do not have a part in the goodness of this life for their lack. This psalm reminds us that one of the reasons we receive blessings is in order to share them with others. While we are willing to believe that we have received these things as a reward for our hard work and smart choices, most of us have inherited our good fortune in some measure.
In the event that we have received our bounty as a reward for hard work on our part God will call us to account if we have hoarded these riches. When we live as if there are limits to God’s bounty the psalmist tells us we will lose it; now or in a future generation. God gives so that we can share with others in the generous manner in which we have received. If we have inherited the riches of the world God asks that we pass those on in the same way we received them; as a gift of love.
God does not ask us to impoverish ourselves in order that others might receive more than we have ourselves. God does ask us to pass on a portion of our bounty as an act of gratitude. The threat in the psalm is that God will take away from those who will not share and give to those who are in need. While experience does not seem to bear out that God redistributes wealth by divine action, we do see that riches can become toxic in peoples’ lives and that the faithful can find countless blessings in the midst of poverty. The steadfast love of the Lord has a way of holding those who receive it.
© March 26, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Psalm Meditation 614
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 25, 2012
Psalm 77
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. (Selah)
4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:
7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" (Selah)
10 And I say, "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed."
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
(NRSV)
In many forms we ask the question, ‘what do I do when I can’t pray?’ Various answers have been given to the question and many of them seem to make the problem worse because they continue to make it my responsibility to tough it out and keep going. A recently received answer to the question seems to be pretty satisfying. When you can’t pray turn it over to the community of faith. Many of us have at least one contact or friend who can carry our concern to the community of faith so that it, and we can be lifted up.
When the burden of having to do everything on our own is lifted we can muster up some energy to think back to other times when we have felt the presence of God, and we were able to help someone through their sense of abandonment. As we remember the presence of God, we may notice that we are not as separate from God as it may seem in this moment. It may be that we have lost focus and we find that God is more near than we thought.
As God comes back into focus, or as we move back into a sense of God’s abiding presence through the concern of the community, we see that God is a loving redeemer who delivers us. The deliverance of God may not be in the way we had hoped, however we do feel the power of God’s redeeming and restoring presence and love. We may also feel a closer sense of community with those who stood with us through this time of trial.
© March 19, 2012
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 25, 2012
Psalm 77
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. (Selah)
4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:
7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" (Selah)
10 And I say, "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed."
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
(NRSV)
In many forms we ask the question, ‘what do I do when I can’t pray?’ Various answers have been given to the question and many of them seem to make the problem worse because they continue to make it my responsibility to tough it out and keep going. A recently received answer to the question seems to be pretty satisfying. When you can’t pray turn it over to the community of faith. Many of us have at least one contact or friend who can carry our concern to the community of faith so that it, and we can be lifted up.
When the burden of having to do everything on our own is lifted we can muster up some energy to think back to other times when we have felt the presence of God, and we were able to help someone through their sense of abandonment. As we remember the presence of God, we may notice that we are not as separate from God as it may seem in this moment. It may be that we have lost focus and we find that God is more near than we thought.
As God comes back into focus, or as we move back into a sense of God’s abiding presence through the concern of the community, we see that God is a loving redeemer who delivers us. The deliverance of God may not be in the way we had hoped, however we do feel the power of God’s redeeming and restoring presence and love. We may also feel a closer sense of community with those who stood with us through this time of trial.
© March 19, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Psalm Meditation 613
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 18, 2012
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. (Selah)
5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
(NRSV)
This is a psalm of victory. It is a celebration of the power of God at work in the world, in this case military power. There is no mention of the defeat of a particular enemy so it may be a psalm for an annual celebration of the might and power of the nation as it stands firmly behind the God of all the earth. It reminds folks that whoever else may lead the people in battle, it is God who actually gives the victory over enemies and adversaries.
Whether we are fully in favor of using military might or staunch pacifists, the psalmist reminds us that victory comes from God. It could be a military victory or a victory over some form of evil in ourselves as individuals or a community; victory comes as we line ourselves up with the leading of God in our lives. Either way, it is the presence of God in our lives that makes the difference.
As people see us living in the presence and at the direction of God, they are drawn to us as moths to light. In our faithfulness they begin to see a glimpse of the power of God at work in us and the possibilities that lie open to them as they also live in the presence and at the direction of God. We will not likely follow God in lock-step with each other, however we will see the spark of God as a life giving, life enhancing force in their lives as they continue to see it is us.
© March 12, 2012
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 18, 2012
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. (Selah)
5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
(NRSV)
This is a psalm of victory. It is a celebration of the power of God at work in the world, in this case military power. There is no mention of the defeat of a particular enemy so it may be a psalm for an annual celebration of the might and power of the nation as it stands firmly behind the God of all the earth. It reminds folks that whoever else may lead the people in battle, it is God who actually gives the victory over enemies and adversaries.
Whether we are fully in favor of using military might or staunch pacifists, the psalmist reminds us that victory comes from God. It could be a military victory or a victory over some form of evil in ourselves as individuals or a community; victory comes as we line ourselves up with the leading of God in our lives. Either way, it is the presence of God in our lives that makes the difference.
As people see us living in the presence and at the direction of God, they are drawn to us as moths to light. In our faithfulness they begin to see a glimpse of the power of God at work in us and the possibilities that lie open to them as they also live in the presence and at the direction of God. We will not likely follow God in lock-step with each other, however we will see the spark of God as a life giving, life enhancing force in their lives as they continue to see it is us.
© March 12, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Psalm Meditation 612
Third Sunday in Lent
March 11, 2012
Psalm 17
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right.
3 If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them! By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord— from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
(NRSV)
Even those among us who are prone to second guessing themselves believe they are right about the most important things in their lives. Those among us with more confidence in themselves are more likely yet to believe they are right in their actions and beliefs. It seems to be the way we work as humans. If we did not think we were right we would change our minds and change our course of action to get ourselves back on track. That does not mean we are right as often as we believe ourselves to be.
The psalmist is confident in having chosen the path that leads closer to God. The folks on the other side of this confrontation are mean and vicious, and are out to kill and destroy those who follow the ways of God. It is probably true that the psalmist is the one being bullied by folks who follow a different path. Folks who also believe themselves to be right in their course of action. The pursuers seek to run the psalmist to the ground. The psalmist waits for God to rain down vengeance on these folks and on their children. Now what?
Most of us will not persist in a course of action we are sure is wrong. We may change our words without changing our minds. We may find a way to reframe the question so it sounds like we have been right all along. We may make a big show of changing our minds, having received a new revelation. We may repent, apologize to those we have hurt and move on secure in this new truth. My guess is that we have each done all of these at some time. God continues to seek us out, love us with a love beyond measure and move us a bit closer to being a loving child of God, surrounded by loving children of God.
© March 5, 2012
Third Sunday in Lent
March 11, 2012
Psalm 17
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right.
3 If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them! By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord— from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
(NRSV)
Even those among us who are prone to second guessing themselves believe they are right about the most important things in their lives. Those among us with more confidence in themselves are more likely yet to believe they are right in their actions and beliefs. It seems to be the way we work as humans. If we did not think we were right we would change our minds and change our course of action to get ourselves back on track. That does not mean we are right as often as we believe ourselves to be.
The psalmist is confident in having chosen the path that leads closer to God. The folks on the other side of this confrontation are mean and vicious, and are out to kill and destroy those who follow the ways of God. It is probably true that the psalmist is the one being bullied by folks who follow a different path. Folks who also believe themselves to be right in their course of action. The pursuers seek to run the psalmist to the ground. The psalmist waits for God to rain down vengeance on these folks and on their children. Now what?
Most of us will not persist in a course of action we are sure is wrong. We may change our words without changing our minds. We may find a way to reframe the question so it sounds like we have been right all along. We may make a big show of changing our minds, having received a new revelation. We may repent, apologize to those we have hurt and move on secure in this new truth. My guess is that we have each done all of these at some time. God continues to seek us out, love us with a love beyond measure and move us a bit closer to being a loving child of God, surrounded by loving children of God.
© March 5, 2012
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