Psalm Meditation 717
Second Sunday in Lent
March 16, 2014

Psalm 145
1 I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
(NRSV)

One of my psychologist friends told me, “All anger is a boat floating on a sea of fear. Once you figure out what you are afraid of, you don’t have to be angry anymore.” It is a generalization and it has its exceptions, however it does give weight to verse 8, “The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” God is slow to anger because God is not afraid of us. I get angry when I am afraid that I may be wrong. I get angry when I am afraid I have lost control. I get angry when I am afraid that my opinion does not matter to someone whose opinion I value. I get angry when I am afraid that something important to me is of much less importance to someone else. I get angry when I am afraid that someone I value is being attacked and needs to be defended. I get angry when I am afraid someone I love has needs I am unable to meet. And this is the short list of my hot button fears that trigger angry reactions.

I know folks who do not get angry when it is a normal response to do so. Instead of anger they feel sadness. Sadness is a much more slow and steady emotion than anger and can be dealt with piece at a time. Sadness also draws us inward where our response is invisible to all but those who know us well. God is inclined to react with sadness rather than anger when we go off to do things our own way. God is probably less likely to be moved by things that anger us. God sees a longer broader vista of life and knows that this momentary event is not as significant as we are willing to make it.

And, God loves us. Each of us. God loves us as individuals and as a group. God loves in a way that is not threatened by our actions, that doesn’t have to have lock step uniformity of thought and action. God loves us in a way that does not depend on our love in return. God loves us steadfastly, unconditionally, gently, freely.

March 10, 2014