Showing posts with label Psalm 38. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psalm 38. Show all posts
Monday, September 5, 2022
Psalm Meditation 1160
¶Proper 19
¶September 11, 2022
¶Psalm 38
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+38&version=NRSVUE
(NRSV)
¶To be disciplined, as in punished, by someone we love and respect is worse than being punished by someone whose opinion of us does not matter as much. Our first inclination is to believe that the one punishing us has lost respect for us and does not like or love us as much as we have come to expect. The psalmist is concerned that God is more intent on punishment than on the teaching aspect of discipline, and that thought is more damaging than the punishment itself.
¶If God’s love for us has lessened in any way because of our actions, we have reason to be troubled because of our sin. Because we tend to see God as human, only bigger, we read our own thoughts and experiences into our view of God. If we sometimes let our anger get the better of us as we are punishing someone, how much more will God do that with us when we have done something that deserves discipline and punishment?
¶God is not like us only bigger. God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Even when God is angry and wrathful there is a measured response to our action and inaction. God’s intent is to teach us, and to love us in every form of discipline, including punishment. When we realize that, we willingly wait for God, to protect us from those who lash out at us in anger, to protect others when we lash out at them, and to bring us each to the wholeness of salvation.
¶September 5, 2022
¶LCM
Monday, September 14, 2020
Psalm Meditation 1057
Proper 20
September 20, 2020
Psalm 38
1 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O Lord, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
It is possible to reach a point in our lives in which all of the unconfessed sins we have committed pile up around us and over us, crushing us with their weight. For the psalmist the weight has become such that friends and even adversaries notice that there is something going on. Friends, neighbors, and companions are at a loss as to what is needed from them, so they retreat, leaving the psalmist alone. Those who have any ax to grind see this as an opportunity to jump in and cause significant hurt in the life of the psalmist.
Those out to do this damage may have been hurt by, or simply chose the psalmist as an easy target of their own hurt. The psalmist chooses to be open to the presence of God for deliverance from the weight of sin and from those who would celebrate the psalmist’s downfall. The psalmist does not ask for the destruction of these adversaries; the plea is for salvation, for a renewed sense of wholeness, and oneness with God.
The psalmist models a good path for us. In the event that we wait until we are buried in our sin, it is good to confess before we are crushed by those sins. And when our friends turn away from us out of discomfort, and our adversaries move to do us harm, we do well to turn to God. The psalmist turns away from the abandonment on one hand and the attacks on the other, in order to find an answer in God. In these most dire circumstances the psalmist trusts that God is the source of salvation.
September 14, 2020
LCM
Monday, June 18, 2018
Psalm Meditation 940
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
When we are being accused and picked on by those around us, there are a couple of questions we do well to ask ourselves. Is this accusation true? Is there something I am willing to change to keep people from making this accusation? If the accusation is true, then we have no reason to argue with them. We accept their accusation and move to the next question. If we are not guilty we have no need to be up in arms and we also move on to the next question. If it is true I can decide to change my behavior, I can change the people with whom I spend my time, or I can live with being picked on. If it is not true I don’t really need to defend myself unless it becomes a legal matter.
In some situations people are looking for reasons to be offended by our presence. They will find something to complain about and they will continue to complain about this or another behavior until we realize that it is not the behavior as much as it is our presence that is the reason for their annoyance. Are we willing and able to stay in the situation, knowing we are not welcome, or do we find a way to make an exit. When dogs bark at the mail carrier they are defending their territory from an intruder. When the mail gets delivered and the carrier moves on the dogs feel successful at defending their home and learn to bark at everyone who intrudes on their space. There are people who do that in a variety of situations as well.
No matter what, we do well to keep ourselves in the presence of God for conviction and support. When we are guilty God can convict us of our sinfulness and lead us to repentance and change. When we are not guilty God can support us whether we decide to stand up for ourselves or wipe the dust from our feet and move on. The important part is to be in the presence of God who is the source of our salvation.
June 18, 2018
LCM
Proper 7
June 24, 2018
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
When we are being accused and picked on by those around us, there are a couple of questions we do well to ask ourselves. Is this accusation true? Is there something I am willing to change to keep people from making this accusation? If the accusation is true, then we have no reason to argue with them. We accept their accusation and move to the next question. If we are not guilty we have no need to be up in arms and we also move on to the next question. If it is true I can decide to change my behavior, I can change the people with whom I spend my time, or I can live with being picked on. If it is not true I don’t really need to defend myself unless it becomes a legal matter.
In some situations people are looking for reasons to be offended by our presence. They will find something to complain about and they will continue to complain about this or another behavior until we realize that it is not the behavior as much as it is our presence that is the reason for their annoyance. Are we willing and able to stay in the situation, knowing we are not welcome, or do we find a way to make an exit. When dogs bark at the mail carrier they are defending their territory from an intruder. When the mail gets delivered and the carrier moves on the dogs feel successful at defending their home and learn to bark at everyone who intrudes on their space. There are people who do that in a variety of situations as well.
No matter what, we do well to keep ourselves in the presence of God for conviction and support. When we are guilty God can convict us of our sinfulness and lead us to repentance and change. When we are not guilty God can support us whether we decide to stand up for ourselves or wipe the dust from our feet and move on. The important part is to be in the presence of God who is the source of our salvation.
June 18, 2018
LCM
Monday, December 8, 2014
Psalm Meditation 756
Third Sunday of Advent
December 14, 2014
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
With a worldview in which God is a despotic ruler, every action has a cost and promise as a direct response from God. If we do well, God gives a reward, a promise. If we do badly, God punishes us, a cost. Here the psalmist is reeling from the effects of a bad course of action. To exact the cost God conscripts others to add to the physical and emotional toll the psalmist must pay. Even friends are wise enough to stay out of the way of the execution of God’s justice. As is often the case, the psalmist claims that this high a price is not in line with the sin being punished. When God is in charge with no room for negotiation there is no choice but to throw ourselves on the mercy of God for our sins.
If, instead, God has given the opportunity for each of us to make our own choices and reap the cost and promise of those actions our view of God can change. In this worldview we are not so much punished for our sin as we are punished by our sin. It is not God who exacts the punishment. God neither causes the reaction to our activity nor protects us from our actions or the actions of others. This frees God to be with us in all times and places. God can rejoice with us and ache with us. It is not God who has changed; our view of the world colors how we experience the presence of God.
Some are reluctant to believe that God is present in any other way than that expressed in Scripture. For them God will always be a distant judge waiting for us to do something that warrants either extra favors or extra punishments. God is one of whom to be afraid. Others are willing to allow our views of God to change as our worldview changes. God continues to be God and we find new and meaningful ways to relate as our perception of what it means to be people of God ebbs and flows.
December 8, 2014
LCM
Third Sunday of Advent
December 14, 2014
Psalm 38
1 O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.
2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.
3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.
5 My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;
6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.
7 For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.
9 O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.
12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.
13 But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.
14 Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.
15 But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
16 For I pray, “Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.”
17 For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
19 Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
20 Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.
21 Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;
22 make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.
(NRSV)
With a worldview in which God is a despotic ruler, every action has a cost and promise as a direct response from God. If we do well, God gives a reward, a promise. If we do badly, God punishes us, a cost. Here the psalmist is reeling from the effects of a bad course of action. To exact the cost God conscripts others to add to the physical and emotional toll the psalmist must pay. Even friends are wise enough to stay out of the way of the execution of God’s justice. As is often the case, the psalmist claims that this high a price is not in line with the sin being punished. When God is in charge with no room for negotiation there is no choice but to throw ourselves on the mercy of God for our sins.
If, instead, God has given the opportunity for each of us to make our own choices and reap the cost and promise of those actions our view of God can change. In this worldview we are not so much punished for our sin as we are punished by our sin. It is not God who exacts the punishment. God neither causes the reaction to our activity nor protects us from our actions or the actions of others. This frees God to be with us in all times and places. God can rejoice with us and ache with us. It is not God who has changed; our view of the world colors how we experience the presence of God.
Some are reluctant to believe that God is present in any other way than that expressed in Scripture. For them God will always be a distant judge waiting for us to do something that warrants either extra favors or extra punishments. God is one of whom to be afraid. Others are willing to allow our views of God to change as our worldview changes. God continues to be God and we find new and meaningful ways to relate as our perception of what it means to be people of God ebbs and flows.
December 8, 2014
LCM
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