Psalm Meditation 1311 ¶Proper 13 ¶August 3, 2025 ¶Psalm 15 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2015&version=NRSVUE ¶To me, it seems the height of hubris/pride/arrogance to believe that any of us has earned the right to dwell in the tent of the LORD or anywhere near where God is. Yet, in the time of the psalmist, psychology had not been founded as an art or science. Outward appearance was all that anyone had to go on in judging behavior. There was no guessing what a person’s motivation might be to do or say the ‘right’ things. We judged others, and probably ourselves, on what we did and not why we did it. ¶By the psalmist’s standard there are plenty of people who match the attributes set out in this psalm. As long as we go through the motions when we are out in public, no one really needs to know that we have to bite our tongues to keep from saying some wicked cruel things about others. Neither does anyone need to know that we have to fight to keep from kicking, biting, scratching the people we think of as foolish, and/or wrong. Nor do others need to hear how secretly jealous we are of the people who get away with the mean, spiteful things that cross our minds on a regular basis. ¶This does not excuse us from giving the blameless life our best effort. We are to act, think, and speak as people of God because God loves us rather than to earn God’s love. Those who want to convince us that we have to earn God’s love are caught up in a web of lies built by those who can’t imagine that there is anything that can’t be bought or earned. God loves us, simple as that. All of our efforts at earning or deserving God’s love are chasing shadows and fog. God loves us, and all of our thoughts, words, and actions are our response to that love. ¶July 28, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1310 ¶Proper 12 ¶July 27, 2025 ¶Psalm 20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2020&version=NRSVUE ¶Most nations of which I am aware are of the opinion that they are the brightest and best of all nations. Even those that are under the boot of another oppressive, colonizing country know that if they were free of the oppression they would be even greater than they are in their current colonized situation. And the oppressors see themselves not as oppressive, rather as offering greater opportunity for both nations to ascend to higher greatness. Israel under David is no different. ¶The psalmist is asking God to lead their ruler to victory in this battle against another, and wicked nation. Our God will certainly lead us to victory by helping David defeat our enemies. While all the other nations depend on their mighty weapons and armies, we depend of the power of God to bring our enemies to their knees in utter defeat and collapse of the army and the whole nation. In the presence of God, mediated through David, we will stand victorious over all who rise against us as the people of God. ¶Rather than warring with each other so that we can force those who lose those wars to live the way the victors do, or just as likely, to surrender all their resources to improve the lot of the elite in the victorious nation, we do well to work together to make sure each of us has enough. As we learn to be content with enough, instead of always wanting more, we will have plenty for everyone. ¶July 21, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1309 ¶Proper 11 ¶July 20, 2025 ¶Psalm 37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2037&version=NRSVUE ¶“Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” I need to hear this these days. It seems as if trusted institutions are crumbling before our eyes and we are left to worry and fret about our present and our future. There is some comfort in knowing that ours is not the first era in which folks have worried about themselves and their loved ones in the face of evil people and institutions. There is also an awareness that what seems like soon to God can be years and even a lifetime for us. ¶Trusting in God does not mean that we get to sit back and do nothing while God does all the heavy lifting. It does mean that some of us will be asked to be the hands and feet of God in the face of the rampant evils of the day. It will mean losing friends and being distanced from family. It will be a time of sacrificing, comfort, certainty, and security in order to follow the way of God. While the way of God is not without cost, it is also full of promise as the community of faith gathers to support those who serve God. ¶In every action and reaction we do well to ask ourselves if we are serving God or expecting God to serve us, to meet our needs, to do what we think is right? Chances are, we will discover that we have made some serious missteps in our walk with God. As we listen for the voice of God in our lives, we can rejoin the path that leads to faithful righteousness. “The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.” ¶July 14, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1308 Proper 10 July 13, 2025 Psalm 33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2033&version=NRSVUE Oh God, when we are overwhelmed by wars and rumors of wars remind us that we are not to be afraid of those who believe that might makes right. They will not prevail because they stand against your way of love and mercy for all rather than a powerful few. It is so easy to despair in times like these when hate and fear appear to have the upper hand in the world. The power of their raging fear seems to be overpowering, runing roughshod over all who challenge them. They want so desperately to keep all the wealth and power for themselves. Their belief is so strong that it is tempting to believe that they are well on their way to victory, and that the rest of us might as well lay down and admit defeat. And yet. You are still the source of power and strength for those who feel helpless, hopeless, and worthless. Remind us these days that our hope is in your steadfast love and mercy, especially for those who find our hope in you. May we rest assured that the biggest and best weapons available in the hals of power are no match for the strength of your gentle, patient, and steadfast love for each and all of us. Amen July 7, 2025 LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/

Psalm Meditation 1307 ¶Proper 9 ¶July 6, 2025 ¶Psalm 29 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2029&version=NRSVUE ¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the loudest of the voices. It rises above the volume of the chatter that surrounds so many of us much of the time. That voice is one that is felt as much as it is heard. It feels as if it could break branches and bones by its very strength and volume. Other times the loudest voice is simply more and louder noise. It doesn’t add any more to the conversation, and the volume makes it easier to tune out. One of my seminary professors, responding to the recording of a sermon for preaching class said, “There is a man who substituted volume for lack of preparation.” ¶Sometimes the voice of authority is the one we have to strain to hear. The authority is speaking to those who will hear rather than to everyone. It is calm and calming giving us a sense of tranquility and an assurance that this voice is the one to which we want to listen. This authoritative voice does not rise above the crowd, it gathers a crowd of those who long to hear what is being said. It draws us away from the crowd into that place where truth and real power reside. ¶The voice of God thunders, and does so impressively. The voice of God can also be the ‘still small voice’ that speaks to our hearts and not just our ears. It is the voice that says, ‘do not be afraid’ in a way that calms the fears that rise within us. When we are not afraid, we can do what needs to be done at the same time we find peace within ourselves. ¶June 30, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1306 ¶Proper 8 ¶June 29, 2025 ¶Psalm 26 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2026&version=NRSVUE ¶There is a line between those who can say something wonderful about themselves without it sounding as if they are bragging. It was said of one of my colleagues, “He can brag in such a way that you are proud to know him.” It seems to be a rare gift to know who you are, to acknowledge the gifts and abilities you posses, at the same time being aware of any shortcomings that require help from one whose skills lie in that area. The rest of us say good things about ourselves in a way that turns people against us. It is obvious to everyone that we are bragging, asking for the pats on the back that we believe we deserve. ¶It seems that the psalmist is one of those who speaks well of themselves in a way that we are proud to read about. Yes, there is a need for vindication for something in the life of the psalmist, however, a good bit of the psalm is about the good things that God does for each of us at various times. The psalmist is asking that God, ‘redeem me and be gracious to me.’ from the situation at hand. It is not due to deserving God’s redeeming grace, it is because it is the nature of God to be gracious. ¶God offers the gift of redeeming grace to each of us, without forcing it on us. It can hardly be considered a gift if we are forced to accept it like it or not. So, whether we can brag in a way that folks are glad to know us, or we brag in a way that makes people roll their eyes even when what we say it true, God loves us. God loves us and wants us to accept it as the gift it is meant to be. We don’t earn it, don’t deserve it, it is a gift that God gives because it is the nature of God to love. ¶June 26, 2025 ¶LCM

Psalm Meditation 1305 ¶Proper 7 ¶June 22, 2025 ¶Psalm 10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2010&version=NRSVUE ¶Oh for the days in which the wicked said, “There is no God.” These days it seems there are a number of folks who have replaced the God of the Bible with a divinity of their own making. They have exchanged many of the biblical attributes of God with their opposites. While the Bible tells us that God is love, there are many who emphasize the vindictive anger of God and call that a primary characteristic of their divinity. And mass media grab hold of this being because he is easier to grasp, and communicate to the masses because this divinity is like us. ¶Since this is the divinity we hear about the most it is the one we accept. When people live out the faith of the biblical God they are called empathetic as if that were a bad thing. Empathy, ‘the ability to understand others' feelings’ is seen as bad and weak. In this modern religion, understanding others is not necessary because they need to become like us, believe like us, act like us, as long as they don’t start asking for a part of the good things we have amassed by our own hard work, and probably some significant help from others. ¶The psalmist is faithful in reminding us of God’s empathy, “But you do see! Indeed, you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.” (10:14) The divinity touted so often by those in power is not the God of the Bible but the god of greedy, power hungry folks. This God only cares about the rich and powerful, those who have scraped and clawed their way to places of power for their own benefit rather than to serve those who are to be in their care. “O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, “ ¶June 16, 2025 ¶LCM lcmanifold@gmail.com http://psalmmeditations.blogspot.com/