Psalm Meditation 1367 Proper 17 August 30, 2026 Psalm 93 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2093&version=NRSVUE If you say a word or phrase that is remotely similar to a song or poem that I know, I will break into song or recite the relevant snippet of that poem, It will be brief, may or may not be loud, and may annoy folks for whom that is not normal practice. Some people can come up with an original song or poem with the same amount of prompting. It isn’t something that anyone plans to do, it is a spontaneous reaction to what is going on around them and within them. This brief psalm may well be one of those kinds of poems. Seeing the waves crashing on a shoreline, perhaps with a bit more ferocity than usual, leads the psalmist to be reminded of the power of God at work in the world. Those same waves don’t hold a candle to the full majesty of God’s presence in the world. The psalmist celebrates that God is a present and able ruler in the world, capable of stirring up waves with their accompanying thunderous crashes. Whether you are one who breaks into song, breaks out a poem, or one who wonders what possesses a person to do such a thing, may you see that God is filled with loving holiness for all of creation, including each one of us. “Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.” August 24, 2026 LCM

Psalm Meditation 1366 ¶Proper 16 ¶August 23, 2026 ¶Psalm 90 ¶https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2090&version=NRSVUE ¶At least once in my life, my dad asked me to come up with my own punishment for a fairly serious misdeed on my part. I came up with what seemed a suitably harsh set of sanctions. Almost immediately, he rejected my plan and went on about his day. I, on the other hand, was left to fret over what other options there might be. It turns out that the only repercussions were the ones I placed on myself. Since I remember our exchange all these years later I am thinking that having me imagine a set of punishments only to be forgiven was much more effective than if I had actually had to do the things I thought seemed appropriate. ¶My guess is that the psalmist is dealing with a similar scenario between the nation and God. The people were aware that they had done something that required punishment, so they began to see everything through the filter of their own assumption of impending punishment. When anything happened that fit their idea of punishment, they received it as coming from God. After awhile they began to pray that God would once again treat them kindly and lovingly. ¶Since we can be vindictive and mean spirited, we tend to see God that way as well. Even though God spends a lot more energy telling us how loved we are, we tend to see God in the light of our expectation of punishment for any misdeed, be it big or small. So, God lets us stew in our own vindictiveness, even when it is directed at ourselves, until we are ready to be loved and cherished again. “Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” ¶August 17, 2026 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1365 ¶Proper 15 ¶August 16, 2026 ¶Psalm 73 ¶https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2073&version=NRSVUE ¶In the biblical era, resources that indicated wealth were considered to be very limited. Due to those limits, the only way someone could be rich was by taking resources from someone else. For every rich person, there would be a large number of poor people. Being rich was synonymous with being wicked and arrogant. Even knowing that, it is tempting to want to be one of the rich folks. From the perspective of those in poverty, the rich seem to be trouble free. They are healthy, happy, well fed – totally trouble free. ¶Many of us are aware that, while the rich ‘are not in trouble as others are’ they have their own set of worries. Wealth can disappear much more quickly and easily than it can be made, so one of the plagues of wealth is fear; fear that it will all be lost or taken by those around them. Everyone becomes a potential adversary, a threat to wealth and to life itself. The fear can be lived out as arrogance, convincing themselves, and those around them, that they are the most important part of the universe. It can also be expressed in reclusive miserliness. ¶The psalmist realizes that something more important than material wealth is a rich relationship with God, and the people of God. Relationships give us the ability to see those around us as people with needs as well as resources. We can use our gifts for the sake of the community, as we call on the gifts of the community to meet our needs. ¶August 10, 2026 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 1364 ¶Proper 14 ¶August 9, 2026 ¶Psalm 76 ¶https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2076&version=NRSVUE ¶We tend to be quick to give God credit for the big things, and some of the small things we specifically asked for, like national victories, protections of family and neighborhood during various storms, and the return to health of a local or national figure. A sunrise over the ocean can bring gasps of praise from those of us who do not live near the ocean, even though those who live on beach front properties are just as likely to sleep through the sunrise as the rest of us when we are in our familiar spaces. ¶The little things like growing grass, dropping leaves, or pesky bugs that feed some of our favorite birds and critters are not usual subjects of our praise to God. If we stop to consider, we know that God is at work in these little things and we will give a heartfelt thanks for the daily blessings that are a part of God’s providence among us. As we take that moment to consider, we will remember that God is indeed awesome, and we are fortunate to realize that God is an active participant in our daily lives, watching over us with steadfast love and care. ¶The psalmist praises God for a big event in the life of the community, which is a great thing to do. While we read this we can also be grateful for the little, often unnoticed places in which God is active in and around us. ¶August 3, 2026 ¶LCM