Psalm Meditation 563
Fourth Sunday in Lent
April 3, 2011

Psalm 37 selected
1 Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,
2 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.
7 Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret--it leads only to evil.
9 For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly;
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26 They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing.
27 Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever.
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.
(NRSV)

An interesting thing about the wicked is that, though they perish as individuals, there seem to be new generations of wicked folks rising to replace those who have perished. In some cases the new generation is even the cause of the destruction of the current generation of wicked. Wickedness does have a fertile breeding ground. Wickedness is both self destructive and self sustaining at the same time. Wicked organizations and families train the next generation by modeling behaviors that carry on and expand the influence of their brand of wickedness. Then folks have to be on guard against becoming victims of the destructive practices they have taught.

Righteousness sustains itself by example as well as by the presence and blessing of God. One generation works side by side with those behind and before, raising up a new generation while being sustained by those who trained and mentored them in the ways of God. Righteousness is a difficult path since it involves setting aside personal glory for the sake of the larger community, including those who would bend the community for the sake of personal gain. Righteousness requires the dual focus of looking to God while looking out for the whole of the community around us.

Individuals make choices because of and despite upbringing. Some folks who were trained in righteousness make choices that lead to evil consequences, others make the choice of righteousness though raised in an environment rife with wickedness. God cheers on those who lean toward righteousness. One of the ways God offers to sustain us is through the community of faith that encourages and keeps us.

March 28, 2011