Psalm Meditation 789
Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 2, 2015
Psalm 133
1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.
(NRSV)
There are folks who are stingy with their resources. They use just enough of everything they have; not too little and certainly not too much. Extravagances are totally out of the question. If too much is used there probably won’t be enough for the next time and certainly not enough for the time after that. To be extravagant is to be wasteful. My dad defined the difference between extravagance and waste this way, “Extravagance is having all the lights on when you are in a room alone. Waste is leaving the lights on when you leave.”
The psalmist lets us know that when we get along in a family setting, it is a wonderful extravagance. It is not something we have to do, it is a gift that we give to each other. Our temptation is to hold out for, to hold onto as much as we can possibly get for ourselves without regard for anyone else involved. The psalm reminds us that when we consider the needs and wants of others we have a different mind set. We may not get as much actual stuff, but what we have will not have any bad feelings from others attached to.
When we make the effort to get along, with brothers and sisters, we cultivate an atmosphere of generous and abundant life among ourselves. Generosity and abundance are contagious. When we practice them in the family we find ourselves living that way in other parts of life as well. Extravagant amounts of oil, enough to run from the top of one’s head to the neck and shoulders, is lots of precious anointing oil. Dew so thick that it runs off leaves and branches is a lot of dew. There is a difference between extravagance and waste and the psalmist invites us to be generous and extravagant, especially with those with whom we are closest.
July 27, 2015
LCM
Monday, July 27, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
Psalm Meditation 788
Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015
Psalm 68
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the LORD—be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings:
12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil,
13 though they stay among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever?
17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God’s abiding there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.”
24 Your solemn processions are seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out its hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
(NRSV)
It seems that these days, especially in sporting events, we are quick to credit our victories to our talents and skills, over and above all those other folks who are now wallowing in the agony of defeat. We do our happy/victory dance in the sight of all, so that friend and foe alike can experience this victory of ours. If any of ‘those’ people protest our victory in any way they are sore losers who need to go away and lick their wounds in the privacy of their own locker room. Leave the victory celebration to the victors. On those occasions in which we do lose, we are quick to blame someone or something other than ourselves or our enemies for the loss. It can’t possibly be our fault and it certainly has nothing to do with the superiority of ‘those’ people.
The role of the psalmist is often the same as that of the prophet; to remind us that God is in the midst of us. For the psalmist, it was God who was with us in our victories and it was an absence of God in our defeats. While views of God’s presence and absence have changed, it is always a helpful reminder that God is in our midst. Knowing that God is with us in victory reminds us to have a sense of humility in the presence of God. Knowing that God is with us in defeat reminds us we are not alone in the worst of times. And these types of victories and defeats are not final.
It is good to celebrate victories as celebrations of skills in the face of adversity. It is good to learn from our defeats and even to celebrate how much we were able to do in some cases. It is good to keep a humble perspective in either victory or defeat. God is not as concerned about the outcome of our sporting events as what kind of relationships we form in and around the events with our supporters and our opponents. Are we ‘in your face’ winners and pouty name calling losers or are we humble, gracious and aware of God’s presence in victory and defeat.
July 20, 2015
LCM
Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 26, 2015
Psalm 68
1 Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
3 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the LORD—be exultant before him.
5 Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings:
12 “The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil,
13 though they stay among the sheepfolds—the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon.
15 O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever?
17 With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place.
18 You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God’s abiding there.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah
20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
21 But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.”
24 Your solemn processions are seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out its hands to God.
32 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah
33 O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
(NRSV)
It seems that these days, especially in sporting events, we are quick to credit our victories to our talents and skills, over and above all those other folks who are now wallowing in the agony of defeat. We do our happy/victory dance in the sight of all, so that friend and foe alike can experience this victory of ours. If any of ‘those’ people protest our victory in any way they are sore losers who need to go away and lick their wounds in the privacy of their own locker room. Leave the victory celebration to the victors. On those occasions in which we do lose, we are quick to blame someone or something other than ourselves or our enemies for the loss. It can’t possibly be our fault and it certainly has nothing to do with the superiority of ‘those’ people.
The role of the psalmist is often the same as that of the prophet; to remind us that God is in the midst of us. For the psalmist, it was God who was with us in our victories and it was an absence of God in our defeats. While views of God’s presence and absence have changed, it is always a helpful reminder that God is in our midst. Knowing that God is with us in victory reminds us to have a sense of humility in the presence of God. Knowing that God is with us in defeat reminds us we are not alone in the worst of times. And these types of victories and defeats are not final.
It is good to celebrate victories as celebrations of skills in the face of adversity. It is good to learn from our defeats and even to celebrate how much we were able to do in some cases. It is good to keep a humble perspective in either victory or defeat. God is not as concerned about the outcome of our sporting events as what kind of relationships we form in and around the events with our supporters and our opponents. Are we ‘in your face’ winners and pouty name calling losers or are we humble, gracious and aware of God’s presence in victory and defeat.
July 20, 2015
LCM
Monday, July 13, 2015
Psalm Meditation 787
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 19, 2015
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
Alarm systems can be breached by someone who is intent on getting past them. Even if the alarm is triggered it is often possible to get in and out before anyone has time to respond. Also, guard animals can be bypassed in most cases. If someone can come up with a method of protection, someone else can come up with a way to get around it. Knowing that if one can make a way to protect something another will take it as a challenge to get past it will not stop folks from rising to meet the companion challenges. Wanting to protect something practically invites another to covet it.
The psalmist invites us to turn to God for protection. Does this mean that our stuff is now safe from harm or theft? Are we protected from any and all bodily harm because we have given ourselves over to God? The answer to both questions is, no. There have been times in which folks did believe that God protected people and things from loss and harm. I believe the protection of God means something very different.
When we give ourselves over to God for protection we have a new idea of what it means to be safe. To be in the arms of God is to be watched over and loved no matter what happens to us. It means to value things less and a relationship with God more. In plenty or in want, we are in the hands of God. In life or death, we are in the hands of God. We see things from the perspective of God’s abiding presence in and among us in a rich variety of ways.
July 13, 2015
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 19, 2015
Psalm 118
1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?
7 The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
12 They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.
27 The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.
29 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)
Alarm systems can be breached by someone who is intent on getting past them. Even if the alarm is triggered it is often possible to get in and out before anyone has time to respond. Also, guard animals can be bypassed in most cases. If someone can come up with a method of protection, someone else can come up with a way to get around it. Knowing that if one can make a way to protect something another will take it as a challenge to get past it will not stop folks from rising to meet the companion challenges. Wanting to protect something practically invites another to covet it.
The psalmist invites us to turn to God for protection. Does this mean that our stuff is now safe from harm or theft? Are we protected from any and all bodily harm because we have given ourselves over to God? The answer to both questions is, no. There have been times in which folks did believe that God protected people and things from loss and harm. I believe the protection of God means something very different.
When we give ourselves over to God for protection we have a new idea of what it means to be safe. To be in the arms of God is to be watched over and loved no matter what happens to us. It means to value things less and a relationship with God more. In plenty or in want, we are in the hands of God. In life or death, we are in the hands of God. We see things from the perspective of God’s abiding presence in and among us in a rich variety of ways.
July 13, 2015
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
Monday, July 6, 2015
Psalm Meditation 786
Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 12, 2015
Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
(NRSV)
How would our lives be different if instead of thinking, ‘I should do…’ we did those things as we thought of them? And if we did those things that led to a helpful, positive outcome for those around us? My guess is that many of our days would end with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. We would be tired from having done so many great and small things and exhilarated by the sense of having served others by the activities of the day.
Imagine how different our lives would be if God did not act in steadfast love and righteousness in our lives. We would never know if or when God might show us the love we need. We would have no idea what it means to be righteous because we would have no example from God. Our concept of justice would be based on something other than a sense of fairness for each and all of us.
We are probably not going to be able to bring ourselves to do all the good things that come to mind for the sake of others through the day. We can take great comfort in these words, “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.” Precisely because we can’t do it ourselves it is good to know that God acts in faithful righteousness and love toward us and all people.
July 6, 2015
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 12, 2015
Psalm 33
1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
(NRSV)
How would our lives be different if instead of thinking, ‘I should do…’ we did those things as we thought of them? And if we did those things that led to a helpful, positive outcome for those around us? My guess is that many of our days would end with a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. We would be tired from having done so many great and small things and exhilarated by the sense of having served others by the activities of the day.
Imagine how different our lives would be if God did not act in steadfast love and righteousness in our lives. We would never know if or when God might show us the love we need. We would have no idea what it means to be righteous because we would have no example from God. Our concept of justice would be based on something other than a sense of fairness for each and all of us.
We are probably not going to be able to bring ourselves to do all the good things that come to mind for the sake of others through the day. We can take great comfort in these words, “For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.” Precisely because we can’t do it ourselves it is good to know that God acts in faithful righteousness and love toward us and all people.
July 6, 2015
LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net
http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/
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