Psalm Meditation 780
Trinity Sunday
May 31, 2015
Psalm 34
1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every trouble.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.
9 O fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.
20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
(NRSV)
There are folks who appoint themselves as guardians of groups for a number of reasons, two of them rise to importance for this psalm. Some folks are the guardians of the group in order to enforce the rules. They watch over us to make sure we do all the right things and none of the wrong things. They are watching over us as judges, waiting for us to screw up so that they can pass judgment on us. Their prime function is to protect the rules from any infraction we may cause. Rules are more important than people in the minds of those who go to the farthest extreme of this position.
The other group of guardians are there to protect the members of the group out of love for us. They want us to succeed, they want us to do well, they want us to be the best we can possibly be. A lot of parents fit into this category, though we see them as being in the first one for many years of our lives. These folks know that the rules are there to keep folks safe and can be a way of letting folks know they are loved. These folks claim the task of providing a safe place for exploration and experimentation to take place. Most rules are seen as guidelines to keep us from being hurt or causing hurt.
According to the psalmist, God is in the second group. God is present to hear, rescue and save those whose intent is to be righteous. It is entirely possible that God will hear, save and rescue folks with whom we disagree. It can be annoying to see God at work in the lives of those on the other side of our in house squabbles. As tempting as it may be to demonize all of ‘those’ people, there is some righteousness in seeing God at work in places we do not feel comfortable. It serves as a reminder that people are more important than rules. “The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”
May 25, 2015
LCM
Monday, May 25, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Psalm Meditation 779
Pentecost
May 24, 2015
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
(NRSV)
There was a house in our neighborhood that was way too nice for me to even imagine entering. It presented a grand, imposing face on both the front and the back, with tall ceilings on the multiple stories of the building. And yet, we got to know the owners of the house and they invited us in, gave us the grand tour and asked us to make ourselves at home in their house. It has continued to be a grand structure, though it is no longer imposing since I know of the hospitality that waits on the inside.
There was a house in a different neighborhood and a different time period in which the furniture was covered with plastic slip covers and the carpets were covered with protective runners so that folks could see the patterns while getting no joy from the textures. My parents were invited in while none of the children were. Even though my parents were already friends with their hosts, they did not feel welcomed inside the house.
The house, the presence of God, is more like the first house. In the midst of otherwise imposing architecture there is a warm and heartfelt hospitality that welcomes us into the space and the hearts of our hosts. It is the kind of place in which we would be content standing on the fringes of any activity because we know that we are as welcome here as is anyone else. “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.”
May 18, 2015
LCM
Pentecost
May 24, 2015
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
(NRSV)
There was a house in our neighborhood that was way too nice for me to even imagine entering. It presented a grand, imposing face on both the front and the back, with tall ceilings on the multiple stories of the building. And yet, we got to know the owners of the house and they invited us in, gave us the grand tour and asked us to make ourselves at home in their house. It has continued to be a grand structure, though it is no longer imposing since I know of the hospitality that waits on the inside.
There was a house in a different neighborhood and a different time period in which the furniture was covered with plastic slip covers and the carpets were covered with protective runners so that folks could see the patterns while getting no joy from the textures. My parents were invited in while none of the children were. Even though my parents were already friends with their hosts, they did not feel welcomed inside the house.
The house, the presence of God, is more like the first house. In the midst of otherwise imposing architecture there is a warm and heartfelt hospitality that welcomes us into the space and the hearts of our hosts. It is the kind of place in which we would be content standing on the fringes of any activity because we know that we are as welcome here as is anyone else. “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.”
May 18, 2015
LCM
Monday, May 11, 2015
Psalm Meditation 778
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2015
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)
God has a heart for the underdog, the people without, the people on the fringes. The folks in the center of money and power can convince themselves that they have no need for God, they already have everything they think they need. It is the ‘others,’ the ‘thems,’ the folks with no power or influence who see the need for someone who can stand between those who are ‘us’ and those who are ‘them.’ God stands in that breach offering help and hope to those who have none. Those with money and power may win by their definition of victory, God offers a different and more lasting victory to others.
Sometimes folks in power will invoke God to shore up the arguments of money and power. If those arguments justify money and power at the expense of those outside those circles it is not the God of the psalms that is being called upon for this particular justification. The psalmist asks God to provide all the material resources for those who believe that those are the best the world has to offer, “mortals whose portion in life is in this world.” The psalmist asks that money and power be given to those who see that as the best life has to offer.
The psalmist then asks to be included among those who live fully, wholly, holy in the presence of God. It is the relationship with God and the people of God that makes life fulfilling. Money and power are fleeting, and one must constantly be on guard to keep them from all the others who would take them for themselves. Relationships grow and deepen the more we share them with others. A relationship with God and the people of God is finally worth more than all the money and power the world has to offer.
May 11, 2015
LCM
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2015
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)
God has a heart for the underdog, the people without, the people on the fringes. The folks in the center of money and power can convince themselves that they have no need for God, they already have everything they think they need. It is the ‘others,’ the ‘thems,’ the folks with no power or influence who see the need for someone who can stand between those who are ‘us’ and those who are ‘them.’ God stands in that breach offering help and hope to those who have none. Those with money and power may win by their definition of victory, God offers a different and more lasting victory to others.
Sometimes folks in power will invoke God to shore up the arguments of money and power. If those arguments justify money and power at the expense of those outside those circles it is not the God of the psalms that is being called upon for this particular justification. The psalmist asks God to provide all the material resources for those who believe that those are the best the world has to offer, “mortals whose portion in life is in this world.” The psalmist asks that money and power be given to those who see that as the best life has to offer.
The psalmist then asks to be included among those who live fully, wholly, holy in the presence of God. It is the relationship with God and the people of God that makes life fulfilling. Money and power are fleeting, and one must constantly be on guard to keep them from all the others who would take them for themselves. Relationships grow and deepen the more we share them with others. A relationship with God and the people of God is finally worth more than all the money and power the world has to offer.
May 11, 2015
LCM
Monday, May 4, 2015
Psalm Meditation 777
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015
Psalm 135
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 you that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for he is gracious.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both human beings and animals;
9 he sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
14 For the LORD will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see;
17 they have ears, but they do not hear, and there is no breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them and all who trust them shall become like them.
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who resides in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
When I play solitaire, especially on the computer, I treat the cards as if they have personalities with their own likes and dislikes. I see them as taking it personally when I play one card instead of another. If I should play a card out of turn it will get belligerent and convince all the other cards to be against me. I am aware that I am the one leading both sides of the conversation, that in truth, I am the only one participating in the conversation. When our religious conversations become idolatrous I believe the same thing happens.
The idols of silver and gold, of green on white linen infused paper call to us with our own voices to carry out our selfish wishes in the name of whatever name we have given to our god. And there are those who hear their own voices and give that voice the name of YHWH. It is easier to hear our wants and wishes than to hear the voice of God since there are fewer demands placed on us and more good promises made to us when we hear what we want to hear.
The voice of God, YHWH, asks us to make sacrifices for the sake of others more often than promising to do wonderful things for us. It seems that the gifts of God are more often found in having done for others than in seeking our own best interest.
May 4, 2015
LCM
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2015
Psalm 135
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 you that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for he is gracious.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both human beings and animals;
9 he sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—
12 and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.
13 Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
14 For the LORD will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see;
17 they have ears, but they do not hear, and there is no breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them and all who trust them shall become like them.
19 O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
20 O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
21 Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who resides in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
When I play solitaire, especially on the computer, I treat the cards as if they have personalities with their own likes and dislikes. I see them as taking it personally when I play one card instead of another. If I should play a card out of turn it will get belligerent and convince all the other cards to be against me. I am aware that I am the one leading both sides of the conversation, that in truth, I am the only one participating in the conversation. When our religious conversations become idolatrous I believe the same thing happens.
The idols of silver and gold, of green on white linen infused paper call to us with our own voices to carry out our selfish wishes in the name of whatever name we have given to our god. And there are those who hear their own voices and give that voice the name of YHWH. It is easier to hear our wants and wishes than to hear the voice of God since there are fewer demands placed on us and more good promises made to us when we hear what we want to hear.
The voice of God, YHWH, asks us to make sacrifices for the sake of others more often than promising to do wonderful things for us. It seems that the gifts of God are more often found in having done for others than in seeking our own best interest.
May 4, 2015
LCM
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