Read Psalms 37-39
Psalm 37 invites us to be
still before for God. Pause with
me. How do we not only read this
invitation, but embody it? I hope as you
read these psalms a word or phrase or thought gets caught in your mind causing
you to think new thoughts or feel emotions you had pushed to the cobwebbed
corners of your soul. Remember we are
not racing through the psalms to complete a task or pass a test, we are reading
these words for ancient wisdom to infuse and inspire and incarnate our living ~
and to remind us that people of faith have struggled in the past with enemies,
brokenness, and fellow featherless biped who cause pain. Keep reading this Psalm as it reminds you
that often what evil declares and decrees as “success” will crumble as they
stumble. The Psalmist reminds us that what
we think will offer salvation or healing or wholeness just leaves us empty. When has this been true? When have you sought something you thought
would be amazing, only to be disappointed?
Psalm 38 reminds us that there
are moments when our relationship with God is not roses and chocolate. There are times when I get so caught up in my
plotting and planning that I forget God is God.
Verse 5 vividly states, “My wounds fest and are loathsome because of my
sinful folly.” I want to be careful
because much of religion can quickly turn to shame of self-loathing and feel
like it is raining guilt. But I appreciate
that alongside the laments about our enemies, that we admit and accept some of
what is broken is of my own doing. This
doesn’t mean all the pain in life is my own fault or that I have
to save myself, but it does mean responsibility and accountability that I do
not always love God with my full self. I
can get lured by gospels of the world that promise fame, fortune and followers
on social media. I can base my worth on
the number of likes or admiration of others or external factors. Hold this Psalm loosely and lightly letting
the pain of the Psalmist meet you in the bruise of life right now and helping
you process your ache rather than pass it along to someone else. Remember, from last Sunday with Psalm 88, we
name our pain honestly to God, because God can take it.
As you turn to Psalm 39, I love
how the Psalmist is reflecting on moments we stood silent on the sideline
watching evil take all the power. Gulp!!
It is like the Psalmist is reading my mail.
I find myself in these words. The
Psalmist invites us to turn to God for courage and crying out for guidance for
the living of these days. Where is
Psalm 39 your prayer? Where and
with whom do you want to show up and be in solidarity? Perhaps with our immigrant siblings or LGBTQ
folx or those who are struggling financially or with our African American
neighbors? Find one way today to let
loose and live the truth of God whose care holds those who are hurting and
being hurt by the actions of the powerful ~ and may this Psalm stir in us a way
to step off the sideline in some way today.
Amen.
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