Showing posts with label Psalm 16. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 16. Show all posts
Monday, January 6, 2025
Psalm Meditation 1282
¶Baptism of the Lord
¶January 12, 2024
¶Psalm 16
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016&version=NRSVUE
(NRSVUE)
¶Some of the religions of the world have groups within them who have fallen prey to the siren song of empire. They no longer want to follow the tenets of the faith that move people toward tolerance, peace and unity. They would rather have power and control than live in the presence of people who follow another way of living in the world. It is more important to have the power to coerce others into their way of doing things than to convince others of the helpfulness of their faith by living it out in the world.
¶The psalmist knows that there are people who follow other faiths; whose choices seem to leave them without the refuge and hope of those who follow the way of YHWH. Yes, they are wrong as far as the psalmist is concerned, however it is in this life where the sorrows multiply with no mention of those carrying over to an after life. Their practices are discomforting to the psalmist, all without condemning the people or the practice.
¶The important thing is to be able to stand firm in our own faith, with humility, knowing that for us YHWH is the way we want to be. When we find and follow our path, “my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.” We become people who are content with having enough rather than desiring more and more of anything and everything. We are filled with joy as we live in peace.
¶January 6, 2025 (Epiphany)
¶LCM
Thursday, September 22, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1162
¶Proper 21
¶September 25, 2022
¶Psalm 16
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+16&version=NRSVUE
(NRSV)
¶There are times in our lives in which we wonder why we have to go through some of the things we endure. There are events that bring us to question why we have faith in God if this is what happens to us when we do. We feel beat down, abandoned, and wondering how we are hanging on to life and sanity through all this. We are both jealous of and enraged by all those whose lives seem to run smoothly all the time. What makes them so special that they never have to suffer as we currently are?
¶The psalmist doesn’t say that life will be perfect when we cast our lot with God. The statement the psalmist makes to God is, “I have no good apart from you.” We all suffer; it seems to be wrapped up in what it means to be alive. People and things around us are lost to us in a variety of ways and we are left to carry on without them. It is hard to the point of being unbearable. Imagine how much worse it would be without the presence of God, and the people of God surrounding us with love, concern, and help.
¶As the times and events of our lives go sour for us, we do well to remember that God is with us no matter what. God is as present with us in the times of suffering as in the good times. While these times are painful, we can rest assured that God is with us, offering steadfast love and comfort to us. While we may not, should not, rejoice in every situation, we know that God’s loving presence will bring us to a time in which we are able to rejoice.
¶September 22, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, January 4, 2021
Psalm Meditation 1073
Baptism of the Lord
January 10, 2021
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows, their drink offereings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my rigfht hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rest secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
How are our lives made different by the choices we have made? We won't get the chance to go back, make a new decision, see which one we like best and live that life from here on. In some cases, we will learn how we made a difference in someone's life by the way we live our own. Most of the time we do what seems right to us and hope that no one gets hurt by any of our choices, and that maybe we helped someone. We can second guess ourselves, however we can't go back to a moment in time to make a different choice.
The psalmist is pleased with the way things have turned out so far. "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage." How does the psalmist know that a diffeerent choice wouldn't have led to an even better place, a richer heritage? There is no way to know. We get to make the gbest of what we have by making choices that will take us in the way the seems gest to us at the time. One set of choices my lead to wealth, fame, and power while another set leads to joy and contentment in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
We will make our choices according to what is important to us. Some folks make choices that will lead to wealth and power, believing that those will make them happy. Some make choices that will lead to happiness, peace, and contentment. The psalmist leans toward the happiness, rejoicing, and security that comes from a relationship with God. "You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
January 4, 2021
LCM
Monday, March 13, 2017
Psalm Meditation 874
Third Sunday in Lent
March 19, 2017
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
There are those who are not content with what they have until they can show everyone else that they have the best. It doesn’t even matter what the category is; these folks need to know that their entry in the category is the winner. Advertisers used to capitalize on this by letting us know that with the right product we could run faster and jump higher. We could set the standard for the neighborhood by having this vehicle parked in our driveway. If only we spent more time and money we could be the best on the block. The drive to have the best still exists though it seems that advertisers may have gotten more subtle through the years.
The psalmist is lifting up Yahweh as the one whose provident care giving is a real blessing. After a one verse dig at all the other religions in the land, the psalmist returns to praise for Yahweh. So, we know that the drive to be and have the best is not something we learned from advertisers. We really do want the best available. And we can’t seem to be content with what makes us happy, we have to compare ourselves to those around us. I made several attempts to read this psalm without the comparison thrown in by verse 4. The psalm reads well without that verse, however I could not bring myself to ignore it. In one verse the psalm goes from a hymn of praise to a sideways-glance-stick-your-tongue-out-at-the-other-folks comparison.
It may well be part of the human condition to compare ourselves to others and find them wanting. What if we could, from time to time, be content. What if we could have a relationship with God that was meaningful, fulfilling and loving in such a way that we didn’t have to look at how my relationship with God compares with yours in a judgy kind of way. What if our comparisons with each other were for the sake of learning from each other rather than gloating over each other.
March 13, 2017
LCM
Third Sunday in Lent
March 19, 2017
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
There are those who are not content with what they have until they can show everyone else that they have the best. It doesn’t even matter what the category is; these folks need to know that their entry in the category is the winner. Advertisers used to capitalize on this by letting us know that with the right product we could run faster and jump higher. We could set the standard for the neighborhood by having this vehicle parked in our driveway. If only we spent more time and money we could be the best on the block. The drive to have the best still exists though it seems that advertisers may have gotten more subtle through the years.
The psalmist is lifting up Yahweh as the one whose provident care giving is a real blessing. After a one verse dig at all the other religions in the land, the psalmist returns to praise for Yahweh. So, we know that the drive to be and have the best is not something we learned from advertisers. We really do want the best available. And we can’t seem to be content with what makes us happy, we have to compare ourselves to those around us. I made several attempts to read this psalm without the comparison thrown in by verse 4. The psalm reads well without that verse, however I could not bring myself to ignore it. In one verse the psalm goes from a hymn of praise to a sideways-glance-stick-your-tongue-out-at-the-other-folks comparison.
It may well be part of the human condition to compare ourselves to others and find them wanting. What if we could, from time to time, be content. What if we could have a relationship with God that was meaningful, fulfilling and loving in such a way that we didn’t have to look at how my relationship with God compares with yours in a judgy kind of way. What if our comparisons with each other were for the sake of learning from each other rather than gloating over each other.
March 13, 2017
LCM
Monday, March 30, 2015
Psalm Meditation 772
Easter
April 5, 2015
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
Imagine what life would be if we never suffered, never went through trials, not even an injury or an argument. We wish for lives like that when we are in the midst of suffering, however to spend a whole life without a worry, care or injury seems to be a pretty boring way to get through our lives. I hope that when we ask God for protection it is not from every little hurt, slight or injury. Most of us learn more by the consequences or our actions then we do by the words of those around us. Not to suffer means no consequences and no growth.
Somewhere between no suffering and monumental trials is where most of us live out our lives. At every point along that bell curve there are those who turn to God and those who don’t. It seems that those who turn to God get through life with less stress and anxiety because we know we are not alone. As we build a relationship with God we find ourselves building relationships with other people who also look to God for help and hope.
Some folks see God as the one who delivers us from suffering while others see God as being with us, standing alongside us as we go through the suffering that seems to be a part of life. Either way we know that God is with us. We know that the people of God are with us. We know that whether we are delivered from suffering or are companioned through our suffering we are in the presence of God who is a source of rejoicing and rest.
March 30, 2015
LCM
Easter
April 5, 2015
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
Imagine what life would be if we never suffered, never went through trials, not even an injury or an argument. We wish for lives like that when we are in the midst of suffering, however to spend a whole life without a worry, care or injury seems to be a pretty boring way to get through our lives. I hope that when we ask God for protection it is not from every little hurt, slight or injury. Most of us learn more by the consequences or our actions then we do by the words of those around us. Not to suffer means no consequences and no growth.
Somewhere between no suffering and monumental trials is where most of us live out our lives. At every point along that bell curve there are those who turn to God and those who don’t. It seems that those who turn to God get through life with less stress and anxiety because we know we are not alone. As we build a relationship with God we find ourselves building relationships with other people who also look to God for help and hope.
Some folks see God as the one who delivers us from suffering while others see God as being with us, standing alongside us as we go through the suffering that seems to be a part of life. Either way we know that God is with us. We know that the people of God are with us. We know that whether we are delivered from suffering or are companioned through our suffering we are in the presence of God who is a source of rejoicing and rest.
March 30, 2015
LCM
Monday, January 30, 2012
Psalm Meditation 607
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 5, 2012
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
For many of us our good fortune is more a matter of heritage than it is about personal choices. We live where we live because it resembles where we grew up in some way. Our economic status has something to do with the status and expectations of our extended family. Even our belief system was likely inherited, rejected, modified and claimed as a result of the beliefs of those around whom we were raised. In the area in which the Psalms were written this is likely even more the case than for any of us.
Whether our belief system was inherited from family or was a clean break from our familial heritage, we have each chosen the faith we follow. For me, verse 5 says it pretty well, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, you hold my lot.” I was born and raised in Christianity, walked away from various parts of it through the years and when I claimed it as my own it was with firm conviction. I have my doubts and fears, and I know that God in Christ holds my life and is the source of my help and hope.
I also join the psalmist in the sentiment of verse 6, that, for any number of reasons, I am pleased with the full arc of life so far. I wish I had done some things differently, however, since I did not, I live with the choices I have made and the blessings I have received. I see the handiwork of God, sometimes because of and sometimes in spite of, the choices I have inherited and made as well in the choices of others by which I am touched and changed.
© January 30, 2012
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
February 5, 2012
Psalm 16
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(NRSV)
For many of us our good fortune is more a matter of heritage than it is about personal choices. We live where we live because it resembles where we grew up in some way. Our economic status has something to do with the status and expectations of our extended family. Even our belief system was likely inherited, rejected, modified and claimed as a result of the beliefs of those around whom we were raised. In the area in which the Psalms were written this is likely even more the case than for any of us.
Whether our belief system was inherited from family or was a clean break from our familial heritage, we have each chosen the faith we follow. For me, verse 5 says it pretty well, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, you hold my lot.” I was born and raised in Christianity, walked away from various parts of it through the years and when I claimed it as my own it was with firm conviction. I have my doubts and fears, and I know that God in Christ holds my life and is the source of my help and hope.
I also join the psalmist in the sentiment of verse 6, that, for any number of reasons, I am pleased with the full arc of life so far. I wish I had done some things differently, however, since I did not, I live with the choices I have made and the blessings I have received. I see the handiwork of God, sometimes because of and sometimes in spite of, the choices I have inherited and made as well in the choices of others by which I am touched and changed.
© January 30, 2012
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