Psalm Meditation 1091 Seventh Sunday of Easter May 16, 2021 Psalm 19 1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. 7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (NRSV) When we think of laws, there are a couple of directions our thoughts wander. Laws are present to protect us from the kinds of people who have no respect for others and their property. Laws are to protect us from people who don’t follow rules. Another way we look at laws is the way they intrude on our lives in inconvenient ways. Things like speed limits and no parking signs are fine when we are following the laws, however, when we are in a hurry speed limits are for others, no parking signs are in order to reserve a spot for those brave enough to park there anyway. We have a love/hate relationship with laws and rules. The psalmist tells us that laws, especially the laws of God, are a source of pleasure for those who follow them. Our own tendency is to resist laws and rules that are phrased in the negative. In the case of God’s laws the negatives are there as boundaries. ‘Here is a limit it is not safe to pass.’ There is always someone who steps across the line just to make sure, who touches where it says ‘wet paint’ just to see if it has been there longer than necessary. ‘Since God and I are such good buddies, I am certainly exempt from this law and its consequences.’ Honestly, it is more fulfilling to stay in bounds in order to enjoy a relationship with God. We can probably name the laws and rules that other people break more easily than we can name those we break ourselves. When we break a rule, we can hear the justification for it ringing in our head or heart. Rather than zeroing in on the broken rule, we emphasize the justification. We don’t know why others break the rules, only that they do, so we can afford to be more harsh with them on their ‘crime.’ The psalmist reminds us that we have our hidden faults for which we can be forgiven, especially if we ask. One of those hidden faults is our double standard of excusing our own faults while hoping others get caught and punished for their own. To help keep us from the double standard the psalmist ends with the familiar phrase, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” May 10, 2021 LCM