Psalm Meditation 1365 ¶Proper 15 ¶August 16, 2026 ¶Psalm 73 ¶https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2073&version=NRSVUE ¶In the biblical era, resources that indicated wealth were considered to be very limited. Due to those limits, the only way someone could be rich was by taking resources from someone else. For every rich person, there would be a large number of poor people. Being rich was synonymous with being wicked and arrogant. Even knowing that, it is tempting to want to be one of the rich folks. From the perspective of those in poverty, the rich seem to be trouble free. They are healthy, happy, well fed – totally trouble free. ¶Many of us are aware that, while the rich ‘are not in trouble as others are’ they have their own set of worries. Wealth can disappear much more quickly and easily than it can be made, so one of the plagues of wealth is fear; fear that it will all be lost or taken by those around them. Everyone becomes a potential adversary, a threat to wealth and to life itself. The fear can be lived out as arrogance, convincing themselves, and those around them, that they are the most important part of the universe. It can also be expressed in reclusive miserliness. ¶The psalmist realizes that something more important than material wealth is a rich relationship with God, and the people of God. Relationships give us the ability to see those around us as people with needs as well as resources. We can use our gifts for the sake of the community, as we call on the gifts of the community to meet our needs. ¶August 10, 2026 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 1201 ¶Proper 7 ¶June 25, 2023 ¶Psalm 73 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+73&version=NRSVUE (NRSV) ¶We like to look at those who are wealthy and well connected and dream about what we would do if we were in their position. ‘If only I had that kind of wealth and power I would …’ One of the long standing icons of that position is Elvis Presley. He began with very little and with talent and excellent management he rose to the heights of wealth and fame. It is the American Dream story. It is also a cautionary tale. As his fame grew he began to hear only good things about himself, and surrounded himself with people who would not question him even as he fell into addiction. ¶The psalmist looked at the rich and powerful and saw how tempting it is to envy that kind of wealth, influence, and isolation from the troubles of the world. Despite the temptation, the psalmist was able to remain focused on God and the people of God. That constantly renewing attention to God allowed for a refocusing on the final act of the rich and famous. They each fall to ruin, brought about by their riches in some way. Even those who are willing to share their wealth with others can fall prey to the dangers of wealth and fame. ¶While it is fun to dream about what we would do with riches beyond count, we also have to be aware of the damage that wealth can do to anyone. The true riches are not money, prestige, and power. True wealth is in friends, family, and healthy relationships based in mutual love. For many of us that includes a relationship with God who watches over us and guides us in ways that lead to a wholeness that money and power cannot provide. “...for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.” ¶June 19, 2023 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1119 ¶First Sunday of Advent ¶November 28, 2021 ¶Psalm 73 1 Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart. 2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. 3 For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment. 7 Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth. 10 Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. 11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12 Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,” I would have been untrue to the circle of your children. 16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. 18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20 They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms. 21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works. (NRSV) ¶Most of us have looked with envy on rich people at some point in our lives. We are convinced that if we just had that much money we would have no problems in life. Being rich seems to be a life with no problems, no difficulties, no worries. It isn’t even about buying our way out of trouble, it is not having any trouble to speak of to begin with. Rich people seem to be better than folks who are not on that financial level. As a child I told my dad I wanted a million dollars, and he responded with a short list of worries that wealthy people have. The one I remember is, ‘who will take care of all that money for you, and can they be trusted?’ ¶In the biblical era it was thought that there was only so much wealth available in the world. That meant that the only way someone could have enough resources to be considered rich was to take the resources of another. A comfortable amount of assets was due to God’s blessing; too many assets was due to sinful greed and inattention to the needs of others. We have discovered that the limits of wealth and resources are not as limited as once thought, it is still true that to become noticeably wealthy takes the time and energy of countless others. Most of those others are not rewarded at the level of their contribution. ¶The psalmist leads us through the process of realizing that material resources are not as desirable and durable as a relationship with God. For the psalmist, it is better to be surrounded by those who will willingly share of their resources in a time of need, than to have gobs of resources that we have to guard to keep other people from taking them for themselves. The wealth that is relationships is worth so much more and is more long lasting than any amount of money. Material resources are good until they get in the way of relationships. “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.” ¶November 22, 2021 ¶LCM lcrsmanifold@att.net http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 913
Third Sunday of Advent
December 17, 2017

Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth.
10 Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,” I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, to tell of all your works.
(NRSV)

We make heroes out of wealthy people, believing that wealth is a blessing God bestows on people who deserve it. At the very least we believe that rich people have worked hard through their lives and have earned everything they have. Since they have done it we see it as possible for us to work hard, make the right choices and reap the same rewards and benefits as all the rich people who have made it ahead of us. Barring that, we gamble on lotteries and other games of chance, knowing that God will give us a turn at winning and all will be well. Wealth is seen as an unlimited commodity and there is a place for us in the ranks of the rich.

In the biblical era wealth was seen as limited and set. The only way someone could become rich was to make someone else poor. In this view, the only people who can become rich are those willing to take advantage of people for the sake of their own prosperity. In order to be rich one must also be wicked. Rich people tend to turn away from God since they have everything they could possibly want or need.

There are always those who look up to rich people as a class. People know that, unlike all the other rich people, ‘I could handle being rich and popular without taking advantage of others.’ Most people are convinced that having money would not change them. I believe that to be true. People who are kind and generous continue to be kind and generous with money; people who are selfish and self-serving will continue to take advantage of others once they add money to their reasons to lord it over people.

It turns out that both world views have some truth and merit. The supply of wealth and resources has much higher limits than we can imagine, and those who have money tend to take advantage of those who don’t in a variety of ways. The deciding factor in whether or not rich folk exploit those around them lies in a relationship with God. Those who trust God to provide out of the bounty of creation are much more willing to share and spread their wealth than those who trust themselves and their abilities. Any rewards we are reap are from the motivations of our hearts in God rather than from the prosperity itself. God does not want us to be rich, God wants us to be faithful.

December 11, 2017
LCM

Psalm Meditation 818
Second Sunday in Lent
February 22, 2016

Psalm 73
1 Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.
5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.
7 Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.
8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.
9 They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth.
10 Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them.
11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning.
15 If I had said, “I will talk on in this way,” I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.
16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.
18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
20 They are[d] like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms.
21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, to tell of all your works.
(NRSV)

In this political season it is easy for us to identify the arrogance of the candidates with whom we disagree. All we need do is look at them, listen to them awhile and their arrogance jumps out at us. Sometimes we are able to identify the arrogance in the candidates with whom we agree. It may take a bit more effort to get through the pleasing words and phrases even though we know it takes a tremendous amount of ego, bordering on arrogance, to be willing to run for public office. Are we willing to hear past the pleasing words to find the threats against those on the outside of our party, nation or people.

On our own we will have difficulty separating out the wheat from the chaff, the promises from the threats, the possible from the rhetoric. We will find a way to hear with our hearts when we join the psalmist in going into the sanctuary of God. In the presence of God we find a new set of eyes and ears, a humbleness of heart and life that makes it possible to get through the trappings of politics, to walk past the fear mongering and finger pointing, to get to the place in which God speaks of freedom from oppression and seeking justice for each and all.

Whether we enjoy politics or seek to avoid it as much as possible, we do well to echo the psalmist, “But for me it is good to be near God.” As we make our way to the presence of God we will find that we see and hear and experience our lives, and the lives of those around us differently. In the presence of God we find a new perspective, a new way of living in the world. We find a way to honor every aspect of creation.

February 15, 2016
LCM