Psalm Meditation 885
Pentecost
June 4, 2017
Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
(NRSV)
It seems part of the human condition to believe that ‘might makes right.’ Whoever is the strongest, whichever side gets the most support, whoever gets the most votes must be the strongest, brightest, and best. When we are not in the majority we discover that the one who wins is not always the best. Of course this is always the case, however we notice when our group is not on the winning side. Sometimes the majority gets it right and sometimes they don’t. The point is, that being in the majority is no guarantee of being right, accurate, and good. My father told of a rabbit that had been taken into a classroom for ‘show and tell.’ One of the students asked if the rabbit was a boy or a girl. When there was no quick answer from the one who had brought in the rabbit, a student in the back shouted out, ‘Let’s vote on it.”
Scripture reminds us that those who appear to be the strongest don’t always win the day. The first two kings of Israel would have been passed over by human choice. Saul and David were afterthoughts as far as the people were concerned, however God had plans for each of them. As long as they stayed true to the leading of God they were effective rulers of the people of God. These are two of many examples in which God chooses one who seems unfit to the task in order to make a difference in the lives of the people of God and beyond.
I am sure that the majority will continue to rule, that the strongest will continue to control, and that skilled and lucky people will continue to win contests. I am just as sure that there will be times in which the majority, the strong and the lucky will not take the will of God into consideration and the cost of the decision will outweigh the promise of it.
May 29, 2017
LCM
Monday, May 29, 2017
Monday, May 22, 2017
Psalm Meditation 884
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 28, 2017
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
I assume that the psalmist and I are not the only people who have ever felt rejected by those around us. Additionally, I hope I am not the only one who has found comfort in the words of this psalm. Recognizing that rejection is neither universal nor eternal is a great source of comfort in those times when we feel as if we are on the outside looking in. The feeling of rejection is an isolating experience. We think, ’Not only have I been rejected, I am the only one out here.’ Because we feel so left out we don’t look around to see the others whose faces are also pressed against the glass looking in on the ‘cool kids.’
At some point we realize that being ignored or attacked by a group is not all life has to offer. There is more. For the psalmist, and many of us, the direction to turn for the more life has to offer is toward God. As we turn to God we see ourselves not as the stone that has been rejected; we see ourselves as God sees us, as the chief cornerstone. We have value not because we have done or will do something magnificent so much as because God sees us as a singularly important and impressive child of God. That is the nature of God.
Having found our place as the chief cornerstone in the building God is building around us we have the freedom to look around and see all the others whose unique size, shape, color, and style has suited them for the building God is constructing on their lives. Allowing our particular uniqueness to be used by God we come to appreciate those around us as companions rather than competitors. As companions we see each other as recipients of the steadfast love of God.
May 22, 2017
LCM
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 28, 2017
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
I assume that the psalmist and I are not the only people who have ever felt rejected by those around us. Additionally, I hope I am not the only one who has found comfort in the words of this psalm. Recognizing that rejection is neither universal nor eternal is a great source of comfort in those times when we feel as if we are on the outside looking in. The feeling of rejection is an isolating experience. We think, ’Not only have I been rejected, I am the only one out here.’ Because we feel so left out we don’t look around to see the others whose faces are also pressed against the glass looking in on the ‘cool kids.’
At some point we realize that being ignored or attacked by a group is not all life has to offer. There is more. For the psalmist, and many of us, the direction to turn for the more life has to offer is toward God. As we turn to God we see ourselves not as the stone that has been rejected; we see ourselves as God sees us, as the chief cornerstone. We have value not because we have done or will do something magnificent so much as because God sees us as a singularly important and impressive child of God. That is the nature of God.
Having found our place as the chief cornerstone in the building God is building around us we have the freedom to look around and see all the others whose unique size, shape, color, and style has suited them for the building God is constructing on their lives. Allowing our particular uniqueness to be used by God we come to appreciate those around us as companions rather than competitors. As companions we see each other as recipients of the steadfast love of God.
May 22, 2017
LCM
Monday, May 15, 2017
Psalm Meditation 883
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 21, 2017
Psalm 83
1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 Even now your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against those you protect.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5 They conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take the pastures of God for our own possession.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane.
16 Fill their faces with shame, so that they may seek your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
(NRSV)
We may spend more time and energy worrying about how our enemies see us and think about us than they actually spend thinking about us at all. It is within the realm of possibility that we while are fretting over their plans for our destruction they are thinking about our plans for their destruction or not thinking about us at all. At some point in the Cold War with the, then, Soviet Union someone realized that we were not building and stockpiling bombs and armaments to destroy each other but to protect ourselves from the other. Each time one side got a new weapon the other side felt the need to get one too; a bigger, newer, more powerful weapon than ‘those people’ had. We got to the point of mutually assured destruction by attempting to protect ourselves. Both sides had demonized and dehumanized each other to the point that we could not see each other as anything other than enemies.
Is that what was happening in the psalmist’s mind? I am sure that there was real animosity between the various nations listed in the psalm. It was likely based in fact and experience of confrontations with ‘those people.’ Since each nation had their own set of deities and divinities it was easy to add those divine powers to the array of weapons to use against our foes. If it was a pretty even match of size and strength both sides may have worried about the intentions of the other. If it was a serious power imbalance, the side with the greater strength may have nearly forgotten the other side existed and let the small nations eat themselves up with worry over the intentions of the powerful group.
No matter the conflict or the size of the other side, we may be tempted to give ‘them’ more power than they actually have, or more interest in us than they possess. And while it is always good to turn to God in times of trouble, it seems to be a misunderstanding of the type of power God wields for us to spend time and energy calling on God to destroy our enemies in a series of calamitous events. The question may not be how to destroy our enemies so much as how to live with those with whom we disagree, including those who really do intend to wipe us from the face of the earth for any number of reasons.
May 15, 2017
LCM
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 21, 2017
Psalm 83
1 O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2 Even now your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads.
3 They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against those you protect.
4 They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.”
5 They conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant—
6 the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,
7 Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8 Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,
10 who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,
12 who said, “Let us take the pastures of God for our own possession.”
13 O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
14 As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,
15 so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane.
16 Fill their faces with shame, so that they may seek your name, O LORD.
17 Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
(NRSV)
We may spend more time and energy worrying about how our enemies see us and think about us than they actually spend thinking about us at all. It is within the realm of possibility that we while are fretting over their plans for our destruction they are thinking about our plans for their destruction or not thinking about us at all. At some point in the Cold War with the, then, Soviet Union someone realized that we were not building and stockpiling bombs and armaments to destroy each other but to protect ourselves from the other. Each time one side got a new weapon the other side felt the need to get one too; a bigger, newer, more powerful weapon than ‘those people’ had. We got to the point of mutually assured destruction by attempting to protect ourselves. Both sides had demonized and dehumanized each other to the point that we could not see each other as anything other than enemies.
Is that what was happening in the psalmist’s mind? I am sure that there was real animosity between the various nations listed in the psalm. It was likely based in fact and experience of confrontations with ‘those people.’ Since each nation had their own set of deities and divinities it was easy to add those divine powers to the array of weapons to use against our foes. If it was a pretty even match of size and strength both sides may have worried about the intentions of the other. If it was a serious power imbalance, the side with the greater strength may have nearly forgotten the other side existed and let the small nations eat themselves up with worry over the intentions of the powerful group.
No matter the conflict or the size of the other side, we may be tempted to give ‘them’ more power than they actually have, or more interest in us than they possess. And while it is always good to turn to God in times of trouble, it seems to be a misunderstanding of the type of power God wields for us to spend time and energy calling on God to destroy our enemies in a series of calamitous events. The question may not be how to destroy our enemies so much as how to live with those with whom we disagree, including those who really do intend to wipe us from the face of the earth for any number of reasons.
May 15, 2017
LCM
Monday, May 8, 2017
Psalm Meditation 882
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 2017
Psalm 68
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the LORD—be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings:
12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil,
13 though they stay among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever?
17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God’s abiding there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.”
24 Your solemn processions are seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out its hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
(NRSV)
There are folks who go to war to expand their territory. Expanded territory looks different to different people. Some claim territory in ideas. They go to war to prove themselves right; and perhaps more importantly, they war to prove other people wrong. Some claim territory in influence. They go to war to bully others into submission; it isn’t about ideas, it is about power. Some claim territory in land, acreage. They go to war to expand their borders, to have more land than those around them. Some claim territory in things. They go to war to get what those around them have, to get more and to keep hold on it at all costs.
God goes to war to protect people, especially widows, orphans, and those who have no power to defend themselves. God is not impressed by those who claim territory of any kind with themselves as the sole beneficiary. God leads the charge when there are lives at stake, when there is a threat against the well being of those God holds dear. God is not impressed with those who have and want more for themselves. God is impressed by those who serve others by the means at their disposal. People who have ideas, influence, land, and things that they use to help and serve those around them is impressive to God.
John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, lived by this advice, ‘Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can, for as long as you can.’ There is nothing wrong with having nice things, not even having a lot of nice things. The problem comes when we begin to amass those things with no thought of those around us, or when we think badly of those around us because they are getting in the way of our desire for stuff, for more and more stuff.
May 8, 2017
LCM
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 2017
Psalm 68
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the LORD—be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings:
12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil,
13 though they stay among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever?
17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God’s abiding there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.”
24 Your solemn processions are seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out its hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
(NRSV)
There are folks who go to war to expand their territory. Expanded territory looks different to different people. Some claim territory in ideas. They go to war to prove themselves right; and perhaps more importantly, they war to prove other people wrong. Some claim territory in influence. They go to war to bully others into submission; it isn’t about ideas, it is about power. Some claim territory in land, acreage. They go to war to expand their borders, to have more land than those around them. Some claim territory in things. They go to war to get what those around them have, to get more and to keep hold on it at all costs.
God goes to war to protect people, especially widows, orphans, and those who have no power to defend themselves. God is not impressed by those who claim territory of any kind with themselves as the sole beneficiary. God leads the charge when there are lives at stake, when there is a threat against the well being of those God holds dear. God is not impressed with those who have and want more for themselves. God is impressed by those who serve others by the means at their disposal. People who have ideas, influence, land, and things that they use to help and serve those around them is impressive to God.
John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, lived by this advice, ‘Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can, for as long as you can.’ There is nothing wrong with having nice things, not even having a lot of nice things. The problem comes when we begin to amass those things with no thought of those around us, or when we think badly of those around us because they are getting in the way of our desire for stuff, for more and more stuff.
May 8, 2017
LCM
Monday, May 1, 2017
Psalm Meditation 881
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 7, 2017
Psalm 133
1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
(NRSV)
It is good when folks, related or not, can live in unity. Unity does not mean unanimous agreement on all questions. Unity means learning to live with each other despite our differences, giving each other some latitude in any number of areas. Unless you are currently living in an isolated area you are probably in a position to disagree with someone close to you in some area that is important. The psalmist tells us that unity is the direction to lean when we disagree.
For the psalmist, unity is like being anointed with oil. Interestingly, anointing with oil was a symbol of being set apart for some special work of God. Seeking unity, not unanimity, with those around us sets us apart as people of God. We aren’t anointed for being right, for defending our own view as if it were the only view. We are anointed for moving in the direction of unity. Unity requires deep listening. Unity requires seeing the truth in each side of the discussion. Unity requires seeing God in the face, hands, and heart of people we would just as soon ignore.
Seeking unity is hard work. It takes courage, commitment, and a willingness to see beyond our own boundaries and limitations. The psalmist tells us it is worth the effort. It is like being chosen and set apart. Being set apart does not remove us from the fray. Sometimes, usually, it puts us in the middle, a target on every side of body and soul. Living in unity is akin to being anointed, set apart for a special work, a special blessing from God.
May 1, 2017
LCM
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 7, 2017
Psalm 133
1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
(NRSV)
It is good when folks, related or not, can live in unity. Unity does not mean unanimous agreement on all questions. Unity means learning to live with each other despite our differences, giving each other some latitude in any number of areas. Unless you are currently living in an isolated area you are probably in a position to disagree with someone close to you in some area that is important. The psalmist tells us that unity is the direction to lean when we disagree.
For the psalmist, unity is like being anointed with oil. Interestingly, anointing with oil was a symbol of being set apart for some special work of God. Seeking unity, not unanimity, with those around us sets us apart as people of God. We aren’t anointed for being right, for defending our own view as if it were the only view. We are anointed for moving in the direction of unity. Unity requires deep listening. Unity requires seeing the truth in each side of the discussion. Unity requires seeing God in the face, hands, and heart of people we would just as soon ignore.
Seeking unity is hard work. It takes courage, commitment, and a willingness to see beyond our own boundaries and limitations. The psalmist tells us it is worth the effort. It is like being chosen and set apart. Being set apart does not remove us from the fray. Sometimes, usually, it puts us in the middle, a target on every side of body and soul. Living in unity is akin to being anointed, set apart for a special work, a special blessing from God.
May 1, 2017
LCM
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