Psalm Meditation 1015
First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2019

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.” But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help.
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)

The theme running through this psalm is God’s steadfast love. In affliction, in grief, in the adversities and animosities of our daily lives the love of God is there to support us and uplift us. When we are caught up in illness and injury God loves us and supports us. When folks around us ask what we did to deserve such a fate, adding shame in addition to all else that is going on within us, the love of God stands firm within us. It points us to health as it releases us from any need to buy into the shame folks want to heap on to us.

When we are grieving the steadfast love of God is patient with us. When everyone around us is weary of our grief, perhaps counseling us to move on, God offers comfort and presence out of love for us. God encourages us to deal with it at our own pace without dwelling in it. Yes, there will be days of wallowing in our grief as well as days of facing it with hope and grace, always, always, always under the banner of God’s steadfast love.

When we face adversity and animosity, whether of our own making or not, God is a loving presence with us. The steadfast love of God allows us to see where we are at fault so that we can ask forgiveness and make reparations as well as seeing where we are the target of another’s ire.

It is a two way street of sorts. In order to receive the love of God we have to be open to it. Steadfast love is always present, as God is always present in each of our lives. When we are open to it and aware of it, we can feel the love of God in every part of life.

November 26, 2019
LCM