Psalm Meditation 1305 ¶Proper 7 ¶June 22, 2025 ¶Psalm 10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2010&version=NRSVUE ¶Oh for the days in which the wicked said, “There is no God.” These days it seems there are a number of folks who have replaced the God of the Bible with a divinity of their own making. They have exchanged many of the biblical attributes of God with their opposites. While the Bible tells us that God is love, there are many who emphasize the vindictive anger of God and call that a primary characteristic of their divinity. And mass media grab hold of this being because he is easier to grasp, and communicate to the masses because this divinity is like us. ¶Since this is the divinity we hear about the most it is the one we accept. When people live out the faith of the biblical God they are called empathetic as if that were a bad thing. Empathy, ‘the ability to understand others' feelings’ is seen as bad and weak. In this modern religion, understanding others is not necessary because they need to become like us, believe like us, act like us, as long as they don’t start asking for a part of the good things we have amassed by our own hard work, and probably some significant help from others. ¶The psalmist is faithful in reminding us of God’s empathy, “But you do see! Indeed, you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.” (10:14) The divinity touted so often by those in power is not the God of the Bible but the god of greedy, power hungry folks. This God only cares about the rich and powerful, those who have scraped and clawed their way to places of power for their own benefit rather than to serve those who are to be in their care. “O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, “ ¶June 16, 2025 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/