Psalm Meditation 614
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 25, 2012

Psalm 77
1 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. (Selah)
4 You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.
6 I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit:
7 "Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?" (Selah)
10 And I say, "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed."
11 I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
15 With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
(NRSV)

In many forms we ask the question, ‘what do I do when I can’t pray?’ Various answers have been given to the question and many of them seem to make the problem worse because they continue to make it my responsibility to tough it out and keep going. A recently received answer to the question seems to be pretty satisfying. When you can’t pray turn it over to the community of faith. Many of us have at least one contact or friend who can carry our concern to the community of faith so that it, and we can be lifted up.

When the burden of having to do everything on our own is lifted we can muster up some energy to think back to other times when we have felt the presence of God, and we were able to help someone through their sense of abandonment. As we remember the presence of God, we may notice that we are not as separate from God as it may seem in this moment. It may be that we have lost focus and we find that God is more near than we thought.

As God comes back into focus, or as we move back into a sense of God’s abiding presence through the concern of the community, we see that God is a loving redeemer who delivers us. The deliverance of God may not be in the way we had hoped, however we do feel the power of God’s redeeming and restoring presence and love. We may also feel a closer sense of community with those who stood with us through this time of trial.

© March 19, 2012

Psalm Meditation 613
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 18, 2012

Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. (Selah)
5 God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
(NRSV)

This is a psalm of victory. It is a celebration of the power of God at work in the world, in this case military power. There is no mention of the defeat of a particular enemy so it may be a psalm for an annual celebration of the might and power of the nation as it stands firmly behind the God of all the earth. It reminds folks that whoever else may lead the people in battle, it is God who actually gives the victory over enemies and adversaries.

Whether we are fully in favor of using military might or staunch pacifists, the psalmist reminds us that victory comes from God. It could be a military victory or a victory over some form of evil in ourselves as individuals or a community; victory comes as we line ourselves up with the leading of God in our lives. Either way, it is the presence of God in our lives that makes the difference.

As people see us living in the presence and at the direction of God, they are drawn to us as moths to light. In our faithfulness they begin to see a glimpse of the power of God at work in us and the possibilities that lie open to them as they also live in the presence and at the direction of God. We will not likely follow God in lock-step with each other, however we will see the spark of God as a life giving, life enhancing force in their lives as they continue to see it is us.

© March 12, 2012

Psalm Meditation 612
Third Sunday in Lent
March 11, 2012

Psalm 17
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right.
3 If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them! By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord— from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
(NRSV)

Even those among us who are prone to second guessing themselves believe they are right about the most important things in their lives. Those among us with more confidence in themselves are more likely yet to believe they are right in their actions and beliefs. It seems to be the way we work as humans. If we did not think we were right we would change our minds and change our course of action to get ourselves back on track. That does not mean we are right as often as we believe ourselves to be.

The psalmist is confident in having chosen the path that leads closer to God. The folks on the other side of this confrontation are mean and vicious, and are out to kill and destroy those who follow the ways of God. It is probably true that the psalmist is the one being bullied by folks who follow a different path. Folks who also believe themselves to be right in their course of action. The pursuers seek to run the psalmist to the ground. The psalmist waits for God to rain down vengeance on these folks and on their children. Now what?

Most of us will not persist in a course of action we are sure is wrong. We may change our words without changing our minds. We may find a way to reframe the question so it sounds like we have been right all along. We may make a big show of changing our minds, having received a new revelation. We may repent, apologize to those we have hurt and move on secure in this new truth. My guess is that we have each done all of these at some time. God continues to seek us out, love us with a love beyond measure and move us a bit closer to being a loving child of God, surrounded by loving children of God.

© March 5, 2012

Psalm Meditation 611
Second Sunday in Lent
March 4, 2012

Psalm 136:1-16,24-26
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.
(NRSV)

One of my pastoral counselor friends tells me that a person begins to believe anything that is heard at least ten times. If that is the case then each of us who reads this psalm will begin to believe that the steadfast love of God endures forever. That is a pretty important thing to know and believe. It is a constant assurance throughout Scripture, that the love of God lasts longer than any trial we may go through, that it lasts longer than any wandering from God might last. The steadfast love of God endures forever.

The next part is to believe that the steadfast love of God includes each one of us, that God loves me. (whichever ‘me’ might be reading this.) It is easy to say and believe that the steadfast love of God endures forever, it can be harder to know that the steadfast love of God includes me and countless others who have heard and accepted that the love of God is not an abstraction, it makes a difference in my life. To go from the general statement that the steadfast love of God endures forever to God loves me here and now is quite a leap of faith. It is a leap of faith that makes a difference.

Litanies have a single response so that those who do not read can participate in worship by reciting the peoples’ response at the appropriate time and so those who can read can hear the first part because they already know what they are going to say in response. It turns out that the single response also allows us to have a constant reminder through the litany of some aspect of God, in this case, the steadfast love of God endures forever.

© February 27, 2012

Psalm Meditation 610
First Sunday in Lent
February 26, 2012

Psalm 106:1-13,44-48
1 Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise?
3 Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.
4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them;
5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.
6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.
7 Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, so that he might make known his mighty power.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; he led them through the deep as through a desert.
10 So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
11 The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.
12 Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.
13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.
44 Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry.
45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
46 He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.
47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say, "Amen." Praise the Lord!
(NRSV)

The verses edited out for space tell other instances of God’s people going off on their own way because they forgot that God could be trusted to watch over them. The stories are from the time of the exodus from Egypt as well as from the early years of living in the Promised Land. The people would do something that tried the patience of God as they chose to act as if the way of God did not make a difference, as if God could not provide for them. When they got caught in situations in which there was no good way out, they would cry out for God to save them from themselves and their actions. And when they asked, God acted to help them in their need.

The psalmist goes back to the exodus to remind us that God has been with us for a long time, leading us, protecting us, saving us from our foolishness that is sometimes accidental and sometimes purposeful. When we do find that we have wandered off and are separated from God, it is tempting to believe we have to do something to get back into the realm of God. The psalmist tells us that all we need to do is ask.

Being in the presence of God is not something we control, we can’t plead, or buy, or work our way into a closer relationship with God. We trust in God and lean on the steadfast love God has offered from the beginning. Do things always work out in our favor? No. Is it always better to trust God than to go off on our own? Yes. God is with us in all times and places. It is up to us to notice and appreciate the abiding presence of God.

© February 20, 2012

Psalm Meditation 609
Transfiguration Sunday
February 19, 2012

Psalm 76
1 In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.
2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. (Selah)
4 Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains.
5 The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; none of the troops was able to lift a hand.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.
7 But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still
9 when God rose up to establish judgment, to save all the oppressed of the earth. (Selah)
10 Human wrath serves only to praise you, when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome,
12 who cuts off the spirit of princes, who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.
(NRSV)

This is a victory hymn, celebrating a battle won against an enemy who would have been impossible to defeat without the help of God. While not all of us have combat experience, I imagine that each of us has some experience in which the presence of God in our lives allowed us to prevail in a situation that seemed hopeless. Whether the struggle was internal, a war within ourselves for victory of one idea over another, one life choice over another, a battle with disease or disability, or with a person, group or situation outside ourselves, we find that the outcome would have been very different without the presence of God in our conflict.

These kinds of battles tend to raise our anger level beyond normal limits. And in the cases of these kinds of victories we have been able to use our anger in a focused, positive direction. We find ourselves motivated to move in the direction we feel God is calling us, even as we face mountainous obstacles. Our anger gives us the energy to do what needs to be done and the focus to stay with it for as long as we are able, if not a bit longer. The focus and motivation direct our attention to God and the way we sense God calling us to act in this dire situation.

Whether our combat experience is in the military or not, we have had our battles with enemies and adversaries. In some of those cases we have known that God was with us, directing our lives in the choices that would lead us to prevail in some form or another. Victory is sweet. The presence of God is sweeter still. In those instances in which God is present in our victory: awesome.

© February 13, 2012

Psalm Meditation 608
Sixth Sunday after Epiphany
February 12, 2012

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. (Selah)
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Selah)
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth."
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Selah) (NRSV)

When we are honest, most of us will admit to having a safe place, that place we go when the world seems to be crashing in on us. It can be a blanket fort, a place with more secure walls, and it can be a place in head or heart where we go to feel safe from the real and imagine cares and concerns of the world as we know it. It can also be the company of a person, whose love and care offers us shelter from the storms of life. The psalmist reminds us that God is one of those who offers a respite from all that the world presses on us.

It is possible that in God’s presence we may find new proddings to act in one direction or another, however the proddings from God seem to be infused with a different texture than the cares of the world. God seems to poke and prod with a concern for us that seems missing from the cares of the world. Whether we are prodded or held we feel the comfort and safety of being in the presence of God.

From an awareness of God as a source of refuge and strength we also hear the psalmist inviting us to hear God say, "Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." As we are able to be still, to allow ourselves to trust God with our lives for a brief, shining moment, we will discover that many of our worries and concerns have no power over us. As we offer our lives to God in trust we discover that God is a refuge in all times and places of our lives in community with the people of God.


© February 6, 2012