Psalm Meditation 839
Proper 11
July 17, 2016

Psalm 147
1 Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.
14 He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)

The world around us puts great stock in those among us who are the best at what they do. We want to be on the winning side and we idolize those who put in the effort to be the brightest and the best in their area of expertise. We want to know that the rest of the world envies us, or at least our chosen champions. In the US, we cultivate a mindset that if we are not among the best in the world at something it probably doesn’t matter. We want to win and we have been known to emphasize winning over everything else.

The psalmist describes God as one whose excellence is based in loving and giving. God provides for us, cares for us and watches over us out of a steadfast and abiding love for us. It has nothing to do with whether we deserve it, these gifts come out of the heart of God as a gift to us. God does take pleasure in those who stand in the divine presence with open mouthed awe soaking up and reflecting the love of God as a source of hope and wholeness in their lives.

There will always be a place for champions whose claim to fame is based in individual excellence powered by a drive to succeed; to be the best. The psalmist reminds us that there is also a place for excellence powered by the steadfast love of God. It isn’t about being the best so much as offering what we have as a gift to those around us. And the two types of excellence are not even mutually exclusive. It is possible to excel in an area of expertise and to be loving and generous with those around us. The important part is to be in awe of God, hope in steadfast love and Praise the LORD!

July 11, 2016
LCM