Psalm Meditation 624
Trinity Sunday
June 3, 2012
Psalm 79
1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.
3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.
5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.
8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.
10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.
12 Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!
13 Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
(NRSV)
I am continually amazed that professional athletes do not perform perfectly every time they are on the playing field. Why can’t a professional golfer get a hole in one every time? Why can’t a pitcher in baseball throw a strike every time and why can’t a batter get a homerun every at bat? Why can’t a soccer team score a goal each time they are in control of the ball and why can’t a goalie stop every attempt on goal? (Yes, I do know that these are impossible scenarios.) I know that professional does not mean perfect; it does not keep me from considering the possibility of perfection, even in the difficult situations in the lives of those we idolize in some form.
When the Israelites were defeated in battle they assumed that they had done something that caused Yahweh to punish them through this loss. Every inter-tribal or international conflict was really a contest between the various deities to whom folks had given their allegiance. Since our God is the most powerful, it must be our fault somehow that our God walked away leaving us to be so soundly defeated. It is our imperfections, our sins against God, being punished rather than weakness on the part of God. In this conception, it is still ultimately God’s fault when we are defeated.
As with athletes, our lives are made up of preparation, execution and evaluation. Sometimes we prepare and execute as if it all depends on us and we evaluate as if it is all in God’s hands. I wonder if God chooses sides in our contests any more than a parent chooses one child against another in family spats and squabbles. Despite our penchant for winners and losers in so many areas of our lives, God is probably somewhere in the midst of each conflict. God seems to be pointing us toward building relationships, both despite and because of our differences, with all the folks in each type of conflict in which we find ourselves. The relationships more than the heaping of sevenfold taunts will be what brings praise and glory to God.
© May 28, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Psalm Meditation 623
Pentecost
May 27, 2012
Psalm 49
1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
10 When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
(NRSV)
In the time of the psalmist folks believed that there was a limited supply of wealth so that if one person became wealthy it was at the expense of someone else. The psalmist reminds each of us that whether wealth is limited or unlimited, no one holds it forever. The richest person in the world does not have enough money to buy eternal life. Sooner or later the biggest pile of money and resources will pass from the control of the person who amassed it back into the stream of wealth from which everyone partakes.
The same holds true for those who are wise. Their wisdom will last if they have shared it with others but it will not help them live forever. Those who are wise and those who are foolish will each die. As the money of the wealthy will not buy them eternal life neither the wisdom of the wise nor the foolhardiness of the fool will be enough to earn eternal life. When we depend on our own skills and treasures we have no hope of anything beyond death.
If we can’t buy our way into eternal life or think or act our way into eternity, what can we do to receive eternal life? Life is not about wealth or wisdom, it is about relationship. As we turn ourselves over to a relationship with God we discover that God is waiting to give us the gift of eternal life. It is not through our skills at amassing wealth or wisdom, or our total disregard for our health, wealth and safety that we can find a key to eternity. It is only as a gift from God that we find ourselves redeemed from this life into a fuller life in God. It is not in the ‘stuff’ of this life that we find wholeness, it is in the relationship with God and others that we are given the gift of life.
© May 21, 2012
Pentecost
May 27, 2012
Psalm 49
1 Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.
8 For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 that one should live on forever and never see the grave.
10 When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own.
12 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
13 Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. (Selah)
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah)
16 Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.
17 For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.
18 Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy —for you are praised when you do well for yourself—
19 they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light.
20 Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.
(NRSV)
In the time of the psalmist folks believed that there was a limited supply of wealth so that if one person became wealthy it was at the expense of someone else. The psalmist reminds each of us that whether wealth is limited or unlimited, no one holds it forever. The richest person in the world does not have enough money to buy eternal life. Sooner or later the biggest pile of money and resources will pass from the control of the person who amassed it back into the stream of wealth from which everyone partakes.
The same holds true for those who are wise. Their wisdom will last if they have shared it with others but it will not help them live forever. Those who are wise and those who are foolish will each die. As the money of the wealthy will not buy them eternal life neither the wisdom of the wise nor the foolhardiness of the fool will be enough to earn eternal life. When we depend on our own skills and treasures we have no hope of anything beyond death.
If we can’t buy our way into eternal life or think or act our way into eternity, what can we do to receive eternal life? Life is not about wealth or wisdom, it is about relationship. As we turn ourselves over to a relationship with God we discover that God is waiting to give us the gift of eternal life. It is not through our skills at amassing wealth or wisdom, or our total disregard for our health, wealth and safety that we can find a key to eternity. It is only as a gift from God that we find ourselves redeemed from this life into a fuller life in God. It is not in the ‘stuff’ of this life that we find wholeness, it is in the relationship with God and others that we are given the gift of life.
© May 21, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Psalm Meditation 622
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 20, 2012
Psalm 19
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
(NRSV)
There is something about rules that drive many of us crazy. It seems to be the idea of rules, rather than the rules themselves that drive us nuts. Imagine playing sports without rules. How would we know who won and lost since place and method of scoring are among the rules. We chafe against the rules, however when someone breaks the rules we cry out that it is not fair, especially if the rule breaker is not on our team. As children and youth we long for the day we can be done with school and home so that we no longer have to live and work by someone else’s rules. As we go out on our own we begin to realize that the rules of childhood are simply a foretaste of the rules we will have as adults.
In this psalm the psalmist is actually celebrating the rules God has set out for us. These rules set the boundaries of our relationship with God and with each other. They are good. God’s rules keep us from doing some things that would hurt other folks. God’s rules allow us tremendous freedom within the bounds of those rules. God’s rules end up making our lives easier and more challenging all at the same time.
We can embrace the rules as the psalmist has, we can reject and rebel against the rules as some folks seem to do or we can push on the edges of the rules sometimes within their confines and sometimes from just outside. God knows that the rules are there to make our lives easier. When we choose to ignore the rules, our lives will be painful. When we live inside the rules as if they are a prison, our lives will be boring. When we live with the rules in a sense of active engagement we will find life and help and hope in the relationship that is formed.
© May 14, 2012
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 20, 2012
Psalm 19
1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
(NRSV)
There is something about rules that drive many of us crazy. It seems to be the idea of rules, rather than the rules themselves that drive us nuts. Imagine playing sports without rules. How would we know who won and lost since place and method of scoring are among the rules. We chafe against the rules, however when someone breaks the rules we cry out that it is not fair, especially if the rule breaker is not on our team. As children and youth we long for the day we can be done with school and home so that we no longer have to live and work by someone else’s rules. As we go out on our own we begin to realize that the rules of childhood are simply a foretaste of the rules we will have as adults.
In this psalm the psalmist is actually celebrating the rules God has set out for us. These rules set the boundaries of our relationship with God and with each other. They are good. God’s rules keep us from doing some things that would hurt other folks. God’s rules allow us tremendous freedom within the bounds of those rules. God’s rules end up making our lives easier and more challenging all at the same time.
We can embrace the rules as the psalmist has, we can reject and rebel against the rules as some folks seem to do or we can push on the edges of the rules sometimes within their confines and sometimes from just outside. God knows that the rules are there to make our lives easier. When we choose to ignore the rules, our lives will be painful. When we live inside the rules as if they are a prison, our lives will be boring. When we live with the rules in a sense of active engagement we will find life and help and hope in the relationship that is formed.
© May 14, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Psalm Meditation 621
Sixth Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day
May 13, 2012
Psalm 138
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
3 On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
(NRSV)
Most other thoughts are pushed out of my head as we continue to celebrate the birth of our granddaughter. The first verse sums it up pretty well, I give thanks with my whole heart and I sing praises to God. It is an interesting thing to ponder; there are babies born every day and they are usually outside our circle of awareness. I was recently in a hospital setting, surrounded by healthcare folks, and a lullaby came over the public address system. As far as I know, no one else even paused in what they were doing to welcome this new little life. I was probably only aware because I knew that it would not be long before we would be welcoming a new little life into our family circle. That we don’t notice does not mean that these other children are not miracles and treasures, it simply makes us aware that not all miracles are received in a similar fashion by everyone. For us this birth was a miracle. For the other folks in the waiting area the same event was simply an interruption in their waiting.
Some things that leave me breathless and overjoyed are non-events in the lives of others. Some things that are worthy of a victory celebration in my mind are cause for moaning and crying for someone else. For some, part of the joy of a decisive victory in a sporting event is being able to celebrate that victory in the face of someone who is a fan of the other team. Somehow, the dejection of the losers makes the victory even sweeter for some. In joy and sorrow, in victory and defeat, in all the times and places in between God is present with us in some way.
If we stop to think about it we could be overwhelmed by the number and variety of dangers that continually surround us. In one sense, it is amazing that any of us survive any given day. Storms, accidents, illness and purposeful violence surround us wherever we are. When we dwell on the hard parts of life we can become rough and cynical. When we are more inclined to see the good parts of life and the presence of God in all parts of life we live in hope for the present and the future. Though we walk in the midst of trouble God is with us and that is reason for hope.
© May 7, 2012
Sixth Sunday of Easter/Mother’s Day
May 13, 2012
Psalm 138
1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.
3 On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth.
5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
(NRSV)
Most other thoughts are pushed out of my head as we continue to celebrate the birth of our granddaughter. The first verse sums it up pretty well, I give thanks with my whole heart and I sing praises to God. It is an interesting thing to ponder; there are babies born every day and they are usually outside our circle of awareness. I was recently in a hospital setting, surrounded by healthcare folks, and a lullaby came over the public address system. As far as I know, no one else even paused in what they were doing to welcome this new little life. I was probably only aware because I knew that it would not be long before we would be welcoming a new little life into our family circle. That we don’t notice does not mean that these other children are not miracles and treasures, it simply makes us aware that not all miracles are received in a similar fashion by everyone. For us this birth was a miracle. For the other folks in the waiting area the same event was simply an interruption in their waiting.
Some things that leave me breathless and overjoyed are non-events in the lives of others. Some things that are worthy of a victory celebration in my mind are cause for moaning and crying for someone else. For some, part of the joy of a decisive victory in a sporting event is being able to celebrate that victory in the face of someone who is a fan of the other team. Somehow, the dejection of the losers makes the victory even sweeter for some. In joy and sorrow, in victory and defeat, in all the times and places in between God is present with us in some way.
If we stop to think about it we could be overwhelmed by the number and variety of dangers that continually surround us. In one sense, it is amazing that any of us survive any given day. Storms, accidents, illness and purposeful violence surround us wherever we are. When we dwell on the hard parts of life we can become rough and cynical. When we are more inclined to see the good parts of life and the presence of God in all parts of life we live in hope for the present and the future. Though we walk in the midst of trouble God is with us and that is reason for hope.
© May 7, 2012
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