Psalm Meditation 749
Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 26, 2014

Psalm 89:1-15,49-52
1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,
7 a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all that are around him?
8 O LORD God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it—you have founded them.
12 The north and the south—you created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;
49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted; how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples,
51 with which your enemies taunt, O LORD, with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.
52 Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and Amen.
(NRSV)

Remember when our parents could do anything and everything? They were there to protect us, to defend us, to feed and clothe us. Not only did they do these things they did them better than any of the other parents in the whole, wide world. At some point we realize that they have their limits, that they are not omnipotent, they are not perfect. For some of us, our parents become an embarrassment. More time passes and we begin to see that our parents are pretty wise and wonderful even though they have their limits. Many of us go through the same process with God.

We see God as able to do anything and everything, especially the things we want, the things that will make our lives easier, better and more fun. Then something happens. We ask God for something and it doesn’t happen. We are hurt and angry. We do our best to change something in the equation to keep our equilibrium. That doesn’t work either. I have found that it is much more fulfilling to see God as present rather than powerful, as loving instead of angry, as hospitable rather than hostile. God is not out to get us, not out to make our lives miserable and willing to be with us in all those times when things do not go according to our plan. When things do not go according to our plan we see God as a source of comfort in our suffering rather than the cause of all those things.

Is God with us? Yes. Does God protect us from all harm? No. Is God the cause of all the harm that befalls us or all the good that happens to and around us? No. God gathers us into loving arms and holds us as securely as we will allow. God offers us comfort through being present with us; not necessarily changing the situation at all, except by being with us. Sometimes knowing we are not alone makes all the difference in the world.

October 20, 2014
LCM