Psalm Meditation 848
Proper 20
September 18, 2016

Psalm 106:1-16,40-48
1 Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or declare all his praise?
3 Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them;
5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.
6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.
7 Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, so that he might make known his mighty power.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; he led them through the deep as through a desert.
10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert;
15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.
16 They were jealous of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD.
40 Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;
41 he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.
42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.
43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity.
44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
46 He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
And let all the people say, “Amen.” Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)

There are those who believe that God acts in response to our behavior, either with blessing or punishment. As if we have the power to sway God from an intended course of action through our action or lack thereof. Much like children who blame themselves for the divorce of their parents, our actions are not the cause of the behavior of those around us whose power is far beyond our own. The same goes for victims of abuse; it is not the actions of the abused that have caused abuse to be rained down on them. We do not have the power to change the minds, hearts and actions of those around us.

This does not mean that we are totally innocent in our actions. We have the power to withdraw, and to engage. Even if we push the buttons that bring on familiar actions, we are not the final cause of the actions and reactions of others. When we withdraw from the source of pain and of blessing, we do not alter the action of the other so much as we have distanced ourselves from the source. These children of God had gotten used to the blessings of God’s presence and believed they would receive them no matter how far afield they might wander. The psalmist reminds them that this is not the case.

God loves us and offers blessings to us. While we can’t remove ourselves from God’s love we can refuse to receive that love by a variety of blocks and barriers placed by actions and attitudes. As those before us, we place ever greater demands on God, expecting, not love but servitude. In this case God ceases to be one who loves us and becomes instead a vending machine of our needs and wants. The love of God continues even though our attitude has gone from love and appreciation to one of demand and expectation. It is not God who has changed. “43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” When we return to God we discover one who stands ready to love us in a variety of ways.

September 12, 2016
LCM