Psalm Meditation 866
Third Sunday After Epiphany
January 22, 2017

Psalm 112
1 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
(NRSV)
In US culture it has gotten to the point that everyone with whom we disagree is an enemy to be squelched, beaten, and destroyed. Politics, religion, and sports are no longer about different loyalties and schools of thought in a back and forth contest over strengths and weaknesses. Each of these is a war for victory for us and total defeat for you. Battle lines are drawn and there is only right and wrong with no subtleties or nuances on either side. The smallest disagreement becomes a battleground with life and death on the line. As enemies we are not to cross the battle lines, to consort with those people.

There is much to fear these days. It becomes easier to find points of disagreement than to look for the many things on which we do agree. Especially when we are on a social media platform we become the idea we are currently espousing rather than the whole picture of who we are. Some of the people by whom I am angered and hurt online are wonderful, companionable people in real life. The fear is real. That everyone with whom we disagree is an enemy is not real.

My hope is that when the psalmist writes, “For the righteous will never be moved,” it is in reference to righteousness rather than that the righteous will never change their minds or their ways of living on the earth. God is constantly moving, and creating while remaining steadfast in love, justice and righteousness. As we stand firm in God we allow ourselves to see that fear and wickedness do not have the final word on any side.

January 16, 2017
LCM