Psalm Meditation 941
Proper 8
July 1, 2018
Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
We have a tendency to think that we are like God in a slightly smaller size and that God is like us only bigger. If we were willing to work at it we could be like God. We tempt ourselves with thoughts of being in charge of some part of Creation. ‘If I were in control of the weather, it would never rain again, at least not when I have plans.’ ‘If I were God I would make sure there was no suffering or injustice.’ ‘If I were God none of this kind of stuff would happen to people who don’t deserve it.’ And a variety of other kinds of statements and thoughts about what it means to be God.
We are made in the image of God, likely in the same way a teddy bear is made in the image of a bear. We have the basic characteristics of intelligence, compassion, and a concern for both mercy and justice, however we are missing important elements and attributes that are a part of God. We are close enough to God that we can strive to live as God directs us even as we are far enough from being God that we can never achieve God-ness.
We can praise, bless, and appreciate who God is among us without ever hoping to be other than God directed humans. We can strive for justice, hope and plan for equality among ourselves, and live out the call to be the people God wants us to be. We are adopted children of God. That means we are loved in a special way. Praise the LORD!
June 25, 2018
LCM
Monday, June 25, 2018
Monday, June 18, 2018
Psalm Meditation 940
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
When we are being accused and picked on by those around us, there are a couple of questions we do well to ask ourselves. Is this accusation true? Is there something I am willing to change to keep people from making this accusation? If the accusation is true, then we have no reason to argue with them. We accept their accusation and move to the next question. If we are not guilty we have no need to be up in arms and we also move on to the next question. If it is true I can decide to change my behavior, I can change the people with whom I spend my time, or I can live with being picked on. If it is not true I don’t really need to defend myself unless it becomes a legal matter.
In some situations people are looking for reasons to be offended by our presence. They will find something to complain about and they will continue to complain about this or another behavior until we realize that it is not the behavior as much as it is our presence that is the reason for their annoyance. Are we willing and able to stay in the situation, knowing we are not welcome, or do we find a way to make an exit. When dogs bark at the mail carrier they are defending their territory from an intruder. When the mail gets delivered and the carrier moves on the dogs feel successful at defending their home and learn to bark at everyone who intrudes on their space. There are people who do that in a variety of situations as well.
No matter what, we do well to keep ourselves in the presence of God for conviction and support. When we are guilty God can convict us of our sinfulness and lead us to repentance and change. When we are not guilty God can support us whether we decide to stand up for ourselves or wipe the dust from our feet and move on. The important part is to be in the presence of God who is the source of our salvation.
June 18, 2018
LCM
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
When we are being accused and picked on by those around us, there are a couple of questions we do well to ask ourselves. Is this accusation true? Is there something I am willing to change to keep people from making this accusation? If the accusation is true, then we have no reason to argue with them. We accept their accusation and move to the next question. If we are not guilty we have no need to be up in arms and we also move on to the next question. If it is true I can decide to change my behavior, I can change the people with whom I spend my time, or I can live with being picked on. If it is not true I don’t really need to defend myself unless it becomes a legal matter.
In some situations people are looking for reasons to be offended by our presence. They will find something to complain about and they will continue to complain about this or another behavior until we realize that it is not the behavior as much as it is our presence that is the reason for their annoyance. Are we willing and able to stay in the situation, knowing we are not welcome, or do we find a way to make an exit. When dogs bark at the mail carrier they are defending their territory from an intruder. When the mail gets delivered and the carrier moves on the dogs feel successful at defending their home and learn to bark at everyone who intrudes on their space. There are people who do that in a variety of situations as well.
No matter what, we do well to keep ourselves in the presence of God for conviction and support. When we are guilty God can convict us of our sinfulness and lead us to repentance and change. When we are not guilty God can support us whether we decide to stand up for ourselves or wipe the dust from our feet and move on. The important part is to be in the presence of God who is the source of our salvation.
June 18, 2018
LCM
Monday, June 11, 2018
Psalm Meditation 939
Proper 6
June 17, 2018
Psalm 15
1 O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
(NRSV)
In many of the congregations I have served there is a person who has a way of reminding me to keep this list of characteristics active in my life, and especially in my preaching. Some have been gentle while others have not. Most have kept true to the list themselves as they have moved me to closer attendance to these attributes. It is good to have people around us who want us to be the best we can be, who model good behavior even as they call us to do the same. We may benefit from those who call us to be faithful so that they don’t have to be, if we can take their word of scolding as encouragement. The best are the ones who point us in the direction of faithfulness as they follow it themselves.
It is easy to name names and lay blame when none of the people being scolded/slandered is present. When we talk about ‘those’ people we can get as catty and vicious as we like. That is until our sacred someone reminds us that speaking in the presence of God, preaching as an agent of God means that we have to be more careful with our words and phrases. We can pretend to know who is good and who is evil, who is right and who is wrong, however we are only pretending when we declare that a person or group is on God’s bad list. We cannot know the mind of God concerning the condemnation of people like and unlike us much as we say we can.
We do like to have enemies and adversaries. It gives us a focus, a center for our passion, belief, and action. In every discussion, argument, and fight there is someone on every side who can call down the wrath of God on those with whom they disagree. The psalmist reminds us, that God blesses and welcomes those, “who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors.”
June 11, 2018
LCM
Proper 6
June 17, 2018
Psalm 15
1 O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.
(NRSV)
In many of the congregations I have served there is a person who has a way of reminding me to keep this list of characteristics active in my life, and especially in my preaching. Some have been gentle while others have not. Most have kept true to the list themselves as they have moved me to closer attendance to these attributes. It is good to have people around us who want us to be the best we can be, who model good behavior even as they call us to do the same. We may benefit from those who call us to be faithful so that they don’t have to be, if we can take their word of scolding as encouragement. The best are the ones who point us in the direction of faithfulness as they follow it themselves.
It is easy to name names and lay blame when none of the people being scolded/slandered is present. When we talk about ‘those’ people we can get as catty and vicious as we like. That is until our sacred someone reminds us that speaking in the presence of God, preaching as an agent of God means that we have to be more careful with our words and phrases. We can pretend to know who is good and who is evil, who is right and who is wrong, however we are only pretending when we declare that a person or group is on God’s bad list. We cannot know the mind of God concerning the condemnation of people like and unlike us much as we say we can.
We do like to have enemies and adversaries. It gives us a focus, a center for our passion, belief, and action. In every discussion, argument, and fight there is someone on every side who can call down the wrath of God on those with whom they disagree. The psalmist reminds us, that God blesses and welcomes those, “who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors.”
June 11, 2018
LCM
Monday, June 4, 2018
Psalm Meditation 938
Proper 5
June 10, 2018
Psalm 136
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed famous kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to his servant Israel, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
As a child I hated litanies in worship. I could see no point in the congregation saying the same thing over and over while the leader got to say something different every time. Even my first year in seminary, when given the task of writing a litany I gave the congregation a different response each time. The professor made comment about it, though I don’t remember having any points taken off. I know that there have been times that I have simply skipped over what I assume is the people’s response in this psalm, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
These days I recognize the importance of a repeated response. A single response is easy to learn and easy to repeat at the appropriate time. It gives the congregation a way to participate without having to have a printed resource in front of them. A repeated response gives the participants an important nugget of truth to carry for as long as the response is remembered. Having read the psalm, we may not remember any of the first parts of the verses, however we may recognize, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Once we learn the response we can come up with our own reasons to remember and rejoice in the steadfast love of God. As we repeat the response each time we find a new reason to thank and praise God we can also be reminded that the steadfast love of God is with us in a real and permanent way. The more often we hear something the more likely we are to believe it. “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
June 4, 2018
LCM
Proper 5
June 10, 2018
Psalm 136
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed famous kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to his servant Israel, for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
As a child I hated litanies in worship. I could see no point in the congregation saying the same thing over and over while the leader got to say something different every time. Even my first year in seminary, when given the task of writing a litany I gave the congregation a different response each time. The professor made comment about it, though I don’t remember having any points taken off. I know that there have been times that I have simply skipped over what I assume is the people’s response in this psalm, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
These days I recognize the importance of a repeated response. A single response is easy to learn and easy to repeat at the appropriate time. It gives the congregation a way to participate without having to have a printed resource in front of them. A repeated response gives the participants an important nugget of truth to carry for as long as the response is remembered. Having read the psalm, we may not remember any of the first parts of the verses, however we may recognize, “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Once we learn the response we can come up with our own reasons to remember and rejoice in the steadfast love of God. As we repeat the response each time we find a new reason to thank and praise God we can also be reminded that the steadfast love of God is with us in a real and permanent way. The more often we hear something the more likely we are to believe it. “for his steadfast love endures forever.”
June 4, 2018
LCM
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