Psalm Meditation 1275 ¶Reign of Christ ¶November 24, 2024 ¶Psalm 149 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+149&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶At the end of an adrenaline producing event, both winning and losing spectators/non-participants have gobs of energy looking for an outlet. In our era, folks end up vandalizing cars and other forms of hooliganism. It doesn’t happen all the time and not everyone participates, however there is enough damage done to make it noteworthy. In our current political climate, there are groups of people who call down death and destruction on everyone on the other side of the fence. Given the opportunity to put our desires and threats into action, most of us would not even know how to start. ¶The psalmist deals with the same adrenaline rush. God is called upon to exact the vengeance that we would wish on our enemies and adversaries. We want to step into the fray with swinging swords and blazing guns to mow down everyone who has wronged us. The psalmist, and others in Israel want to see enemies destroyed, sliced up, tied up, and brought to the kind of justice that we long to see. Better yet, we want to stand back and let God do the work while we sing songs about the great things God does for us. ¶God rarely brings justice through violence and vindictiveness. God brings justice by calling and encouraging us to work together for the sake of all around us. The love of God cajoles and encourages us to make and grow peace with those with whom we share creation. Will those around us drop their animosity for the sake of unity? Nope. Will God continue to work in each of our hearts to move ever closer to those with whom we disagree? Yep. “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, [God’s] praise in the assembly of the faithful.” ¶November 19, 2024 LCM

Psalm Meditation 1274 ¶Proper 28 ¶November 17, 2024 ¶Psalm 146 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+146&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Where I live we just finished a very contentious election cycle. On the one hand there are people who are relieved and overjoyed, while on the other hand there are people who are disappointed, frightened, and angry. In one sense the election has determined the direction of our state and nation for several years to come. However, we continue to be children of God, under God’s firm and loving hand. Whether we prosper or falter, we will be loved and cared for within the presence of God. ¶The psalmist assures us that the arc of the universe bends toward justice, sustenance, and freedom for all of creation. The psalmist does not mention that each of us is called to take part in achieving justice, freedom, righteousness, and meeting the needs of those around us whether they are a part of our circle of influence or not. God watches over and cares for and about those who have no one else. As children of God we are given the task of putting hands and feet to the watching, loving care of God in the world. ¶God’s favor goes to those who cannot care for themselves any other way. God’s judgment goes to those who practice selfishness and arrogance, especially those who do so in the name of God. God’s love lives among those who practice and work for freedom for all, dignity for all, care of friends and strangers alike, and lives of righteousness. “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! “ ¶November 12, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1273 ¶Proper 27 ¶November 10, 2024 ¶Psalm 142 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+142&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶One of the prayers of my younger days was to complain to God about being abandoned by everyone around me. It took a wise youth pastor to point out that I was talking to God, and to this youth pastor about having no one to talk to. It took awhile to sink in, however I did grow into the realization that God is with me all the time and no matter the circumstance. When it did feel as if I had been abandoned by God I had only to look around to see all the ways that God was present in my life. It may not have been the exact way that I thought would be best, and yet, God was with me through it all. ¶The psalmist is dealing with a feeling of abandonment as well as a sense that everyone is looking, maybe even staring as we would stare at any not quite human creature. We see in a way that carries no concern for the plight of the psalmist. It is a demoralizing feeling, especially for one who feels lost to begin with. ‘Surely, at least one of these people is only pretending to ignore me so that when I let down my guard they can hurt me in one of the many ways that I have imagined countless times.’ ¶Any of us who have been in the position of feeling abandoned and pursued for evil ends, can perhaps see that sensation in others and reach out to let them know that they are not alone, and that most of us are not out to get them. Those who haven’t experienced the sensation of the psalmist and many others can become more sensitive to the hurts of those around them. Together we can be the presence of God with each other, to be among the righteous who surround those who need what we have to offer. ¶November 5, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1272 ¶Proper 26 ¶November 3, 2024 ¶Psalm 137 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+137&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Music is an essential part of life, it gives us rhythm, melody, and harmony that captures our wide variety of moods. It is our way of letting others know what we are thinking and feeling about the emotions in our hearts and the events in the world around us. “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free…” We also sing because we are sad, oppressed, and any number of other emotions that make up the world around us and within. It is a gift we can share with each other to build community with those who share our feelings about the world in which we find ourselves. ¶There are times in which our music becomes a weapon used against us. When an oppressor demands that we sing only happy songs in the midst of our captivity and oppression we find ways to make the happiest of songs into an act of rebellion against those who seek to demoralize us. If nothing else, our songs can be used to remind us that since God is with us, this oppressive time is not the end. It is important to realize, that some of us have no real experience of oppression on the receiving end, and too much on the perpetrating end. ¶We all have some experience with feeling left out and abandoned, so we can take comfort in the psalms, hymns, and songs that remind us that God is with us as a comforting presence in the worst of times. Music gives us the ability to express our frustration and anger against others in ways that most of us will never act on in the real world. Singing it out loud can help us realize that cruelty in response to cruelty is rarely as fulfilling as it seems in our imagination. ¶October 28, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1270 ¶Proper 24 ¶October 15, 2024 ¶Psalm 124 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+124&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Something about knowing we are not alone makes it easier to get through hard things. One who encourages us to face our fears and challenges reminds us that we have the support of at least one person. That person believes in us, encourages us, and stands with us through it all. That person does not usually appear suddenly in our time of need. It is hard to trust someone who appears out of nowhere to be our cheerleader. It does happen, however it is pretty rare. ¶That means, it is a good idea to have a relationship with at least one person who can be your sounding board, listening to, adding to, and advising about ideas, projects and prospects for the future. That cheerleader will be the one who stands next to you in some form or another in every troubling situation in which you find yourself. In a best case scenario, that person may depend on you for that same kind of support in their trials and troubles. It will be a different kind of support, even though the effect will be the same. ¶For the psalmist, one of those supportive people is God. All variety of good things come when God is present in times of need. At the same time that the psalmist offers thanks to God for being present in this most recent conflict, there is a companion invitation to each of us to become one who looks to God in times of trouble and need. God is broad enough and deep enough to give each of us the support we need in every time and place. “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. “ ¶October 15, 2024 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1269 ¶Proper 23 ¶October 13, 2024 ¶Psalm 147 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+147&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Singing praises or simply speaking them is a good thing to do and a good habit to encourage in our lives. When we offer praise to God, we acknowledge that God is good to us, and that much of what we have comes from and is the result of the presence of God in and around us. A definition of praise that I learned several years ago is that praise is for who God is, while thanksgiving is for what God does. The psalmist does not seem to use that definition, seeing the being and doing of God as all being praiseworthy. ¶As we get into the habit of giving praise to God, we will, hopefully, find that we are seeing more and more that is praiseworthy in the people and things around us. While many of us find humor and camaraderie in insulting each other in a light hearted way, I wonder how different our lives and attitudes would be if we found and made ways to praise each other for the good things that we do well, even the attempts we make at doing quality work in our lives. Praising God and those around us makes a positive contribution to the world in which we are blessed to live. ¶As we sing or recite our hymns, songs, and psalms of praise to God we will discover that the world is a much less scary place to live. There will still be evil in all of its forms, and it will always want to overpower us with fear and hatred for everything we don’t fully understand. By tuning our hearts and lives to praise, we will see all of the positives Paul lists in Philippians 4:8, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ¶October 7, 2024 ¶LCM