Psalm Meditation 951
Proper 18
September 9, 2018

Psalm 11
1 In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains;
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
(NRSV)

In a Bible study years ago, as we talked about our relationship with God, Margaret told us that she and her neighbor had each lost a son in war. The neighbor said, “If there was a God, my son would not have died.” Margaret said, “If it hadn’t been for God, I never would have made it through the death of my son.” Two people going through similar experiences coming to radically different conclusions. They each suffered a great loss and dealt with that loss in a different way.

The psalmist is being warned to flee from the prospect of suffering at the hands of the wicked. These are shots in the dark, taken to threaten and intimidate those toward whom the shots are loosed. ‘It isn’t personal.’ is what the archer will say. There was no aiming involved or a specific target in eye or mind. It was a shot in the dark. The psalmist is willing to take a chance, trusting in the presence of God.

As Margaret and her neighbor demonstrate, the presence of God is no guarantee that no one will be hurt. The presence of God guarantees only that God is with us no matter what. Whether we live or die, are injured or whole, righteous or wicked God is with us. God rains judgment on the wicked to purify them. God welcomes the upright into the place where God is met face to face.

September 3, 2018
LCM