Psalm Meditation 1132 ¶Transfiguration Sunday ¶February 27, 2022 ¶Psalm 1 1 Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; 2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. 3 They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (NRSV) ¶Many of us can get one hundred compliments in a day along with one disparaging comment, and the one we remember is the discount. That one remark can ruin a day and stick with us far longer than any number of compliments. Those disparaging remarks burn themselves into our psyches and leave us wounded and gasping. Our thoughts are of revenge, to hurt that person as deeply as they have hurt us. Whether the critique is true or not, we want to find a way to get back at them for their brutality. ¶The psalmist tells us that God is not like us. God can and does hear our thanks and praise and soaks it all in. The remark that is meant to insult God is received, processed, and acted on appropriately by God. None of the evil intent is kept to fester. God has taken what is helpful and is ready to move on in steadfast love. ¶The psalm does invite us to be counted among the righteous so that we can continue to move in the ways that lead to God. That way is a fulfilling and sustaining way, as wholesome as a tree growing near a constant source of water and other nutrients. We are not left to wonder if we will ever experience steadfast love, we are held in an ever-flowing stream of it. As we live into the presence of God we may find that the insults of others, intended or not, are opportunities for growth and change. ¶February 21, 2022 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1131 ¶Seventh Sunday After Epiphany ¶February 20, 2022 ¶Psalm 75 1 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; your name is near. People tell of your wondrous deeds. 2 At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. 3 When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah 4 I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,” and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn; 5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with insolent neck.” 6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed; he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 9 But I will rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted (NRSV) ¶We do judge each other, it is part of the fun of being human. We judge by looks, actions, wealth, family ties, neighborhood, skin color, and any other criteria we might use to set ourselves apart from each other. We might judge someone to be better, worse, or equal to us. However, none of these categories are at issue with the judgment that God executes. The judgment of God concerns our fitness for living in the presence of God. ¶While we might decide that one person is going to Hell and another is going to Heaven, it is not we who have the final say in that question. God is the one who determines and decides where each of us is bound. The psalmist gives us the clue that those who see themselves as having earned their place and boast of it, are likely mistaken. God is inclined to honor those who see themselves as a part of something beyond themselves, rather than those who see the rest of us as their servants and inferiors. ¶The psalmist, using God’s voice, urges us to righteousness rather than wicked boastfulness. I am pretty sure we will not stop judging each other in any number of ways, however it does seem good to keep ourselves from judging for ourselves who has God’s favor and who does not. Doing that keeps us out of God’s favor according to the psalmist, and that is not where any of us wants to be. “...I will rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.” ¶February 14, 2022 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1130 ¶Sixth Sunday After Epiphany ¶February 13, 2022 ¶Psalm 150 1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (NRSV) ¶I was taught that the difference between praise and thanksgiving is the difference between being and action. We praise someone for who they are and thank them for what they have done. I have discovered that we don’t always use the words according to this definition. We praise pets and children for their accomplishments and thank them for actions. The psalmist asks us to praise God for being God as well as for mighty deeds. The important part is to praise God. ¶Some of us may be tempted to gather up all the instruments and activities and attempt to do them all at once as our act of praise. It may even be possible. Here it is important to remember that the psalmist did not have individuals in mind as this psalm was being written. The psalms were primarily written for the worshipping community. We are each free to choose the instrument with which we are most comfortable. ¶Remember the Sunday School rhythm sets of tambourines, maracas, blocks, and triangles? You could take your favorite if you were first in line, or whatever was left as the line and choices thinned out. While we may not get our favorite instrument, we were still able to make a joyful noise of praise as we marched around the room, or sat in our rows. At that age, our interest and intent was to make the most or the best noise/sound on our instrument. As we age and mature we become more intent on praising God. We may or may not get better with our instrument, but our praise deepens and broadens as we experience the presence of God in our lives. “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” ¶February 7, 2022 ¶LCM