Psalm Meditation 1300 ¶Fifth Sunday of Easter ¶May 18, 2025 ¶Psalm 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2024&version=NRSVUE ¶In fourth grade, I appointed myself bathroom monitor to make sure the boys in the bathroom with me washed their hands before they went back to class. Sometimes I ran after someone to drag them back to the sink to wash his hands. One day, the one male teacher in the school was walking in as I was grabbing for a boy who had not washed his hands. The teacher and I almost collided. He caught me by the arm and asked what I was doing. When I answered, he assured me that it was not my job to see that everyone left the room with clean hands. ¶The psalmist tells us that those who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in the holy place on the hill of the LORD. Nowhere does this psalm tell us that we are responsible for the cleanliness of the hands or hearts of those around us. We are each responsible for our own hygiene of hand and heart. We don’t get extra points for dragging people into cleanliness. Our task is to set an example that one or more people may follow as we ascend the hill of the LORD. ¶The psalmist also does not tell us that we are free to ignore those around us. We do well to offer others the same encouragement that we received and continue to receive in our own ascent of the hill of the LORD. ¶May 12, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1158 ¶Proper 17 ¶August 28, 2022 ¶Psalm 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+24&version=NRSVUE (NRSV) ¶Years ago, a friend and I hiked up a mountain in Colorado. It was not steep enough for us to need ropes, gear, or skill. What I remember about that climb is how inaccessible the peak of the mountain was to us. Every time we reached what we thought was the peak, there was more mountain above us. At some point we decided that anything higher was probably a new mountain and contented ourselves with the height we had achieved. At that point I do not recall having either clean hands or a pure heart. I recall being ready to rest. ¶I believe the hill of the LORD is much the same. We work and climb and rest as we are able at the time. Every time we reach what appeared to be the top just a moment ago is simply a pointy spot on the side of the hill. I don’t think we get to the point where we can truthfully say that we have reached the top, that we have done all that God requires of us so that we can sit down and rest. There is always another bit of hill or mountain ahead of us. Fortunately for us, there are points along the climb at which God offers us a gift that makes the journey so far worth the effort. ¶The gifts from God aren’t for having accomplished something nearly as much as they are for showing up and being attentive enough to see that a gift is headed our way. Those who are in it for the gifts as well as those who don’t believe that there are gifts, let alone a God to give them are likely going to miss out on anything that God gives. Those who receive God’s gifts have not been rooting around to dig up buried treasure, or climbing as if they can reach the peak on their own. They are putting in their best effort while be open to and aware of the presence, and presents, of God. ¶August 22, 2022 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1121 ¶Third Sunday of Advent ¶December 12, 2021 ¶Psalm 24 1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; 2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. 6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah (NRSV) ¶The last few American presidents have been rejected by people who did not vote for him and are angry that their person did not win. Signs saying, “Not my President” are seen from both parties. Does this mean that those dissenters don’t have a president, that they will only follow the person they believe should have won, or this is a way of expressing the extreme displeasure with the outcome of the election? For most of the dissenters it is probably a form of verbal protest that gives a feeling of satisfaction that they still have a voice in the outcome even if it did not turn their way. ¶There are a growing number of folks who claim there is no God. They reject the claims of religions that believe in a being or group of beings who have some say in the way the world, and all the creatures in it go about our lives. Some folks are content to believe as long as everything is going well for them. As soon as things go sour, they reject the existence of one who would let them suffer. Does this mean that no deity exists for them, they have no intention of following anyone outside of themselves, or is it a protest of the extremes to which religious people have gone to show that they are right and the rest of us are wrong? ¶The psalmist tells us that those who believe in and follow the ways of God, YHWH, will receive blessing and vindication, (a defense against criticism). It seems to me, that believers are not the only ones who are offered blessing and vindication, we are the ones who are looking toward God to receive the gifts that God offers to us. We are the ones listening for the cry to lift up the gates so that God may come in. We are the ones who have gifts to share with others, knowing that they are from God even if the recipients do not acknowledge the origin of those gifts. ¶December 6, 2021 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 898
Proper 17
September 3, 2017

Psalm 24
1 The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
(NRSV)

When we bought a new car several years ago we were told that we were the third family in the county to purchase one of this new model vehicle. On our way home from the dealer we saw six of these cars. It is certainly possible that these other cars were from surrounding counties. However it happened our eyes were able to see something we would have missed if we had not bought that particular make and model of car.

I believe it is the same with those who are able to, “ascend the hill of the LORD” Those who are able/allowed to ascend the heights are those who are particularly tuned to the ways of God. Since we exercise no control over the giving of God’s blessings, we don’t get to decide who gets them and who does not. We can only do what we understand God wants us to do and be open to the gifts and benefits of our actions.

Those six cars of the same model we saw as we drove our home were there for all to see. Most people who drove near those other cars saw them but did not notice them as a new model. They were probably nothing more than one more car in the way of them getting to their destination. God is always there for all to see, for all to receive the gifts that God gives so freely. “Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully” are the ones who will notice the gifts being bestowed upon them.

August 28, 2017
LCM

Psalm Meditation 820
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 6, 2016

Psalm 24
1 The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
(NRSV)

Each person benefits from the creative power of God in a variety of ways though it is ‘those who seek the face of the God of Jacob’ who are best able to notice. Those who believe that they receive as they achieve will look for ways to give credit to themselves for the good things that come their way. Those who believe that it is all a matter of luck will find ways to ascribe good luck to those who receive good things and bad luck to those who end up with little or nothing. Those who look to God will see blessings coming in a variety of ways to a variety of people.

The blessings do not change according to how we believe they come to us, however out attitude about those blessings will be colored by the perceived source. If we believe we get what we deserve for our hard work or lack thereof, we will be quick to judge those who do not live up to the standards we set for ourselves. If we believe it is all a matter of luck we will find a way to justify our blessings or lack as a simple turn of luck. If we believe that what we have comes from God we will be grateful for the providence and willingly offer it to others as a part of God’s bounty to all.

I have yet to come to terms with why some of us receive a lot and others receive so little. I am convinced that those with lots have a responsibility to share with others as generously as we have received. I am aware that the more one has the more reluctant one is to share with others without some experience of what it is like to be without for even a brief time. As people of God we are called upon, no matter what our station in life, to offer a portion of what we have to others. It is not a display of largesse, giving presents or money to a large number of people, on our part, it is a way of raising the gates so the King of glory may come in.

February 29, 2016
LCM

Psalm Meditation 647
Twenty fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 11, 2012

Psalm 24
1 The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. (Selah)
7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. (Selah)
(NRSV)

There always seem to be those who, when gifts are being given out, know that they deserve to get one. They have gone through all the right motions, said all the right things and been in all the right places at the right times. What they don’t seem to get is that gifts are given rather than earned. A gift is not a reward for putting up with the desires and demands of another. A gift is something given out of the goodness of the giver’s heart. It is true that every action has a cost and a promise, which means we are aware that there will be a pay off for being in a relationship. If we are in the relationship in order to receive the gifts that are a part of that promise, it will be a very unfulfilling relationship.

There are those who are in a relationship with God only for what they feel they can get out of it. The sole reason for any action or inaction on their part is to earn their place in heaven. It is not nearly so much about cultivating a fulfilling relationship with God as it is about getting the perks of that relationship without actually having to invest too much of themselves. They seem to end up disappointed in both the relationships and the gifts.

The real gift of a relationship with God, is the relationship itself. A phrase the Christian mystics use is, ‘wasting time with God.’ It is not a bad thing, it is simply being together with God, no agenda, no time frame, no reason other than to be together with God. To be able to add other people who are also interested in spending time with God is an added benefit to the relationship. Those who enjoy the presence of God for the sheer joy of being together find that they receive countless blessings and a sense of wholeness. The gifts God gives are not usually things we can hold in our hands. God’s gifts are not usually things that can be held at all. The gifts of God touch us and change us as they pass by us and through us.

November 5, 2012