Psalm Meditation 1283 ¶Second Sunday After Epiphany ¶January 19, 2025 ¶Psalm 11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2011&version=NRSVUE (NRSVUE) ¶Often there seem to be people taking potshots at people of faith. In some cases we deserve it, for instance when we stand in judgment against people with whom we disagree. We condemn them to hell, as if we had the final say in such matters. Since they do not believe the same things we believe, they must be wrong, and probably evil. When we act as if we are the final arbiters of truth and faith, we take on at least a few of the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. ¶Other times we are all painted with the same broad brush of anger. If one person of faith has treated someone poorly that person may decide that all people of faith are as bad as that one person. In those cases it is up to us to demonstrate by our own example that we are not the same as those who have treated them badly. We can’t simply say that we are not all like that, we have to put in the effort to demonstrate that many people of faith are humble, generous, patient, willing to rejoice over the accomplishments of others, etc. ¶The psalmist reminds us that when God is present, all the time, God is watching over us. And since God’s judgment is most harsh on those of us who claim to follow the way God teaches, we are just as likely to receive the coals of fire and sulfur, and the scorching wind, all meant to purify us and return us to the faithful and righteous folks we claim and intend to be. “For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” ¶January 13, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1156 ¶Proper 15 ¶August 14, 2022 ¶Psalm 11 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+11&version=NRSVUE (NRSV) ¶Some of us will have heard, and said, “People don’t neighbor the way they used to.” And while there is a kernel of truth, there is just as much that is not true. Many who say this are thinking back to a time in which the folks who lived around us were just like us. We could neighbor with them because we had so many characteristics and behaviors in common. So, many of us do not neighbor with the folks who live near us because the neighborhood has become much more diverse than it was originally. ¶We continue to neighbor with ‘our kind’ of people. We have to travel a ways to get to our ‘neighbors,’ to enjoy the company of people with whom we have something in common. The psalmist tells us that, “...the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” It serves as a reminder that God enjoys the company of people who enjoy the company of God. Do we get to brag about being in God’s in-crowd? Not really. Folks who brag about anything are not usually in as ‘brag-able’ a place as they claim. ¶While we may be among those who enjoy the company of God, it is important to remember that God invites and welcomes all who will come. We are not special due to any effort on our part nearly as much as we are made special by the steadfast, abiding love of God. So, rather than feel good about our special place in the presence of God, we do well to live as if God has a place for each person. When we live as neighbors of God, we can more readily invite folks into God’s presence. ¶August 8, 2022 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1043 Proper 6 June 14, 2020 Psalm 11 1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains; 2 for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind. 5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence. 6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. (NRSV) The larger the group, the more likely that one of them is a naysayer. This is the one whose first inclination is to go toward the negative interpretation of events. The psalmist is commenting on the potential influence of one or more of the negative folks as the group faces an adversary. This negative course has the worst case scenario already worked out in this situation. ‘It is time to run away while we still can. The bad folks have no concern about us, they are shooting in the dark to destroy whatever gets hit by arrows and we have no recourse but to save ourselves.’ The psalmist is happy to quote the negative voice as long as their words are surrounded by other words of trust in God. The psalmist knows that no matter what is going on in the world, God is with us, shielding us from the worst. Because we are on the side of God we can count on the activity of God around us. God knows the hearts of each one of us and will treat us according to our activity, as well as our relationship to God. Those out to get us will be the eventual recipients of a shower of fire and sulfur/brimstone. If you don’t know who speaks the word of negativity in your group you may be the naysayer of you may be such a positive influence that you never hear the negative even if it is spoken directly to you. Either way, the psalmist encourages us to look to God in our best, our worst, and all the in between parts of our lives. God wants us to desire the presence of God in our lives and is gratified when we are open the that presence in all the times and places of our lives. God knows our hearts and loves us. When we willingly return that love we behold the face of God. June 8, 2020 LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 742
Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 7, 2014

Psalm 11
1 In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, “Flee like a bird to the mountains;
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5 The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
(NRSV)

When confronted with disaster the easy choice is to run away, to allow our fears to take control and get us out of the situation in which we find ourselves. In many of these cases getting out of the situation is also the wisest course of action. It makes sense to get out so that we can be safe, so that we can survive to face the rebuilding that comes after any kind of disaster. Flight, running away, is one of our natural defenses against any kind of danger.

There are folks who have cultivated another reaction to disaster. They make the effort to run toward danger in order to help any who may not have the wherewithal to get out on their own. In many cases these folks are people of faith. Some have faith in their particular skills and training, some have faith in the power of community, and some faith in God. It may be a mix of two or more of these that moves a person to rush into a dangerous situation instead of running away. It is a recognition that danger and disaster is not the last word in any situation.

God is present in the folks who run toward disaster in order to offer help. Whether that is anywhere in the helper’s awareness or not, God is present in the lives and works of those who offer themselves to others in the face of disaster. God loves righteous deeds and is present in all the places where righteousness happens. Some of the folks, those tuned to the presence of God in their lives and the lives of others, will see God at work in this and every situation.

September 1, 2014
LCM