Psalm Meditation 940
Proper 7
June 24, 2018

Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)

When we are being accused and picked on by those around us, there are a couple of questions we do well to ask ourselves. Is this accusation true? Is there something I am willing to change to keep people from making this accusation? If the accusation is true, then we have no reason to argue with them. We accept their accusation and move to the next question. If we are not guilty we have no need to be up in arms and we also move on to the next question. If it is true I can decide to change my behavior, I can change the people with whom I spend my time, or I can live with being picked on. If it is not true I don’t really need to defend myself unless it becomes a legal matter.

In some situations people are looking for reasons to be offended by our presence. They will find something to complain about and they will continue to complain about this or another behavior until we realize that it is not the behavior as much as it is our presence that is the reason for their annoyance. Are we willing and able to stay in the situation, knowing we are not welcome, or do we find a way to make an exit. When dogs bark at the mail carrier they are defending their territory from an intruder. When the mail gets delivered and the carrier moves on the dogs feel successful at defending their home and learn to bark at everyone who intrudes on their space. There are people who do that in a variety of situations as well.

No matter what, we do well to keep ourselves in the presence of God for conviction and support. When we are guilty God can convict us of our sinfulness and lead us to repentance and change. When we are not guilty God can support us whether we decide to stand up for ourselves or wipe the dust from our feet and move on. The important part is to be in the presence of God who is the source of our salvation.

June 18, 2018
LCM