Psalm Meditation 1296 ¶Easter ¶April 20, 2025 ¶Psalm 18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2018&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶There are times in which the presence and protection of God can be seen as passive, in the same way a cleft of a rock does not actually do anything and protects us from all manner of storms by simply being there. We had to find the cleft ourselves and hide ourselves away in it. However, the cleft was there at a time and place we needed such a refuge. It is possible for some to say that it was simply serendipitous happenstance, and for others to see it as the presence of God giving us the wherewithal to find what we need in a given moment. ¶Later, verse 25, the psalmist reminds us that we find what we expect in an encounter with God. To the loyal God shows loyalty, to the blameless blamelessness, and on through the characteristics in verse 26. All to say that what we bring to God is what we see when we look to God. It is not that God is some great chameleon, rather that we approach God from the direction of our own attitude. There are folks who believe that God is angry and vengeful, at least in part because they are angry and vengeful themselves. There are folks who see God as open and loving because that is the way they are themselves. God meets us where we are in order to lead us to a deeper union with God and with the people of God. ¶God provides for us out of a rich and steadfast love for us. And yet, God does not force that providence on us. The tools and treasures are there for us, and it is up to us to pick them up and use them. Some will find those tools and treasures and be grateful that they are lucky enough to find them on their own. Others will see everything around them as gifts of love from God. The rest of us will fall somewhere in between. I believe that in each case the providence of God is at work in our lives. “The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation,” (Ps18:46) ¶April 15, 2025 ¶LCM