Psalm Meditation 798
Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time World Communion
October 4, 2015

Psalm 31
1 In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
6 You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities,
8 and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—terror all around!—as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
17 Do not let me be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be stilled that speak insolently against the righteous with pride and contempt.
19 O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone!
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege.
22 I had said in my alarm, “I am driven far from your sight.” 23 Love the LORD, all you his saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.
(NRSV)

It is tempting to believe that we have been abandoned by God, and everyone else, from time to time in our lives. We feel broken and abandoned. A friend of mine would say that we feel ‘helpless, hopeless and worthless.’ Whatever comes we know that we will have to face it alone. It is a scary feeling. The sense of abandonment overpowers and overwhelms all of our emotions and senses. There is no room in our lives to feel anything but the fear that accompanies our sense of abandonment. We are paralyzed by fear. It is no fun to live through and no fun to look back on should we ever get through this time of fear and dread.

The psalmist is aware that God is present in some way all the time even when we have no idea how or where. In the depths of abandonment we, like the psalmist have the sense, “I had said in my alarm, “I am driven from your sight.”” We know that we are totally abandoned, even by God. However, the psalmist continues, “But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help.” Even though we feel as if we have been left alone by everyone including God, the psalmist assures us that this is not the case. The psalmist mentions the presence of God and that is often accompanied by at least a few of the people of God who stand with us as well.

The feeling of abandonment is deep and real. In most cases, there is more to a situation than what we are feeling. At the deepest point of abandonment God is with us. At the deepest point of abandonment there are people waiting for an opening and opportunity to make themselves known to us. The psalmist’s advice, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.” is easier given than received. It is good advice nonetheless. It will not happen all at once and it will ebb and flow. Know that even though it feels as if you are alone, there is more to this than what you are feeling.

September 28, 2015
LCM