Psalm Meditation 663
Third Sunday in Lent
March 3, 2013
Psalm 57
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.
2 I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me. (Selah) God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
4 I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves. (Selah)
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody.
8 Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
(NRSV)
In the midst of the worst situation we take comfort in the presence of God. We know that the presence of God and the support of God’s people lightens the burden we are called upon to carry. That has not always been the case. Previous generations of faithful people have seen God’s presence and love as conditional. When they did well, God was with us, when they turned from God they were judged and abandoned. We find ourselves wondering if they might be right, ‘what could we have done to deserve the terrible thing that is happening?’ Then we experience God’s presence and know that God’s love is unconditional.
God does not keep us from harm so much as God is with us in all times and places. God offers presence rather than protection. As our childhood fears were lessened by the comforting presence of a parent or older sibling, we find that an awareness of the presence of God gives us comfort as we face any current darkness.
God is with us. That doesn’t mean we won’t face problems so much as it means we won’t face those problems alone. A supportive community serves to remind us of God’s presence by surrounding us with love and care, simply being there with us and for us. Knowing that we are loved with the steadfast love of God touches and lifts our hearts out of the shadows and above the storms. Our problems do not disappear, but we face them with the assurance of the presence and love of God.
February 25, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Psalm Meditation 662
Second Sunday in Lent
February 24, 2013
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
(NRSV)
On more than one occasion I have failed to speak out or act concerning a statement or act that I knew was not right. What kept me from doing what I knew was right in the situation? I was afraid. Afraid that any number of things might happen, including physical harm from the person I was confronting. Rather than being controlled by my convictions, I was controlled by my fear. And then I read this psalm and am reminded that what God thinks of me is more important than what others think.
I have friends and colleagues who have walked into armed camps, both literally and figuratively, to speak and act on their convictions as people of God. My guess is that they are wise enough to be afraid and strong enough in their convictions to have walked in to speak their piece in spite of the fear. For them, it seems to have worked out, since the ones who come to mind are actively engaged in ministry.
Other folks I know are not as likely to walk into armed camps, however they do not shy away from working diligently to point people toward lives of justice and compassion. Their relentless efforts to care for the needs of people as individuals as well as groups continue to advance the work and will of God in the world.
While one group of folks walks into the middle of the conflict and another works gently and persuasively on the fringes, they are doing the work to which God calls them. Each of us responds to God’s call with the gifts we have at the time. Some will be courageous crusaders for what they see as right, while others will be less visible and no less effective in moving folks in the direction God calls us.
February 18, 2013
Second Sunday in Lent
February 24, 2013
Psalm 27
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8 "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, LORD, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
(NRSV)
On more than one occasion I have failed to speak out or act concerning a statement or act that I knew was not right. What kept me from doing what I knew was right in the situation? I was afraid. Afraid that any number of things might happen, including physical harm from the person I was confronting. Rather than being controlled by my convictions, I was controlled by my fear. And then I read this psalm and am reminded that what God thinks of me is more important than what others think.
I have friends and colleagues who have walked into armed camps, both literally and figuratively, to speak and act on their convictions as people of God. My guess is that they are wise enough to be afraid and strong enough in their convictions to have walked in to speak their piece in spite of the fear. For them, it seems to have worked out, since the ones who come to mind are actively engaged in ministry.
Other folks I know are not as likely to walk into armed camps, however they do not shy away from working diligently to point people toward lives of justice and compassion. Their relentless efforts to care for the needs of people as individuals as well as groups continue to advance the work and will of God in the world.
While one group of folks walks into the middle of the conflict and another works gently and persuasively on the fringes, they are doing the work to which God calls them. Each of us responds to God’s call with the gifts we have at the time. Some will be courageous crusaders for what they see as right, while others will be less visible and no less effective in moving folks in the direction God calls us.
February 18, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Psalm Meditation 661
First Sunday in Lent
February 17, 2013
Psalm 146
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
Given the choice between a known and an unknown we tend to be more comfortable with who and what we know. Even in times of disgust with an elected body we re-elect our own person, expecting that everyone else will vote theirs out. We would rather vote for a person whose voting record is familiar, while not always in our favor, instead of voting for an unknown person who promises to be more to our liking. From a distance, it is much easier to see the flaws of those who are supposed to represent others and to see why they should not be re-elected. We want to trust the person whose work and voting record we know even as we know we need a change in the body of which they are a part. What we want, is for everyone else to change.
When it comes to trusting God we can be the same as in an election. We want to trust God and we continue to behave in ways that display our trust in what we see and what we have always known. Our familiar ways of thinking and acting kick in and we do what we have always done despite our desire to make the choice that moves us toward God. The psalmist reminds us that it is never too late to turn to God in praise and trust. Rather than trusting the folks who make promises that change according to the political climate, the psalmist encourages us to put our trust in the one whose promises are constant.
‘Princes,’ politicians, meet the needs of the majority, those with the most power, money, influence, etc. God meets the needs of those who are oppressed by those political systems. God looks to raise up those who have no power or voice so that they can stand side by side with everyone else. As we stand together we see that lifting one another up is more fulfilling than living as if those not like us don’t matter. As we work side by side with God to lift up the fallen and to free those who are oppressed we discover that we are not diminished, we are enhanced by the lives of those raised up. As people of God we find new hope in bringing the hope and trust of God to others.
February 11, 2013
First Sunday in Lent
February 17, 2013
Psalm 146
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,
6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
9 The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
Given the choice between a known and an unknown we tend to be more comfortable with who and what we know. Even in times of disgust with an elected body we re-elect our own person, expecting that everyone else will vote theirs out. We would rather vote for a person whose voting record is familiar, while not always in our favor, instead of voting for an unknown person who promises to be more to our liking. From a distance, it is much easier to see the flaws of those who are supposed to represent others and to see why they should not be re-elected. We want to trust the person whose work and voting record we know even as we know we need a change in the body of which they are a part. What we want, is for everyone else to change.
When it comes to trusting God we can be the same as in an election. We want to trust God and we continue to behave in ways that display our trust in what we see and what we have always known. Our familiar ways of thinking and acting kick in and we do what we have always done despite our desire to make the choice that moves us toward God. The psalmist reminds us that it is never too late to turn to God in praise and trust. Rather than trusting the folks who make promises that change according to the political climate, the psalmist encourages us to put our trust in the one whose promises are constant.
‘Princes,’ politicians, meet the needs of the majority, those with the most power, money, influence, etc. God meets the needs of those who are oppressed by those political systems. God looks to raise up those who have no power or voice so that they can stand side by side with everyone else. As we stand together we see that lifting one another up is more fulfilling than living as if those not like us don’t matter. As we work side by side with God to lift up the fallen and to free those who are oppressed we discover that we are not diminished, we are enhanced by the lives of those raised up. As people of God we find new hope in bringing the hope and trust of God to others.
February 11, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Psalm Meditation 660
Transfiguration
February 10, 2013
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
6 The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";
11 I said in my consternation, "Everyone is a liar."
12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.
16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
When a group of people go through a mountaintop experience together, someone in the group is likely to voice what others are thinking when they say, “I wish this could last forever.” The difficulty is that we are not built to sustain the rush of a mountaintop experience any more than we are able to live our lives suspended at any given point. We are conditioned for the roller coaster ride that is life and living.
The psalmist is coming out of a valley experience. Life was horrible for a stretch of time and now there is a deliverance from that horror. After this bad experience the soul of the psalmist is able to return to rest. We go from normal to valley or peak and settle back to normal again. After each of those peak or valley experiences, after each combination of valley and peak swings we fall back into a normal routine. The routine will likely be different than the one we experienced previously, however we will fall into a routine of some sort. The soul will find rest in some way.
As we settle into new routine we can be aware of the new habits as we make them. We can decide to join the psalmist in lifting the cup of salvation, in calling on the name of the LORD in some form. We can join together with folks who will support us and hold us up in our newly made choices and habits. The highs and lows of life do not last forever. Things change and we adapt to those changes in our lives. At our best, we find a way to look to God in all times and places.
February 4, 2013
LCM manifold@lightbound.com
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
Transfiguration
February 10, 2013
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
6 The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9 I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted";
11 I said in my consternation, "Everyone is a liar."
12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.
16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
When a group of people go through a mountaintop experience together, someone in the group is likely to voice what others are thinking when they say, “I wish this could last forever.” The difficulty is that we are not built to sustain the rush of a mountaintop experience any more than we are able to live our lives suspended at any given point. We are conditioned for the roller coaster ride that is life and living.
The psalmist is coming out of a valley experience. Life was horrible for a stretch of time and now there is a deliverance from that horror. After this bad experience the soul of the psalmist is able to return to rest. We go from normal to valley or peak and settle back to normal again. After each of those peak or valley experiences, after each combination of valley and peak swings we fall back into a normal routine. The routine will likely be different than the one we experienced previously, however we will fall into a routine of some sort. The soul will find rest in some way.
As we settle into new routine we can be aware of the new habits as we make them. We can decide to join the psalmist in lifting the cup of salvation, in calling on the name of the LORD in some form. We can join together with folks who will support us and hold us up in our newly made choices and habits. The highs and lows of life do not last forever. Things change and we adapt to those changes in our lives. At our best, we find a way to look to God in all times and places.
February 4, 2013
LCM manifold@lightbound.com
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
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