Grounded and Guided by the Psalms

 

Today, we tune into and turn toward Psalm 2, The Voice translation.  I invite you to slowly read ALOUD these words.  Remember the psalms were BOTH the Hebrew Hymnal and Prayer Book (as our own hymnal is too).  You may even want to pause between words and at the end of each verse.  Chew on these words of Scripture with me.

You are wondering: What has provoked the nations to embrace anger and chaos?
    Why are the people making plans to pursue their own vacant and empty greatness?
² Leaders of nations stand united;
    rulers put their heads together,
    plotting against the Eternal One and His Anointed King, trying to figure out
³ How they can throw off the gentle reign of God’s love,
    step out from under the restrictions of His claims to advance their own schemes.

⁴ At first, the Power of heaven laughs at their silliness.
    The Eternal mocks their ignorant selfishness.
⁵ But His laughter turns to rage, and He rebukes them.
    As God displays His righteous anger, they begin to know the meaning of fear. He says,
⁶ “I am the One who appointed My king who reigns from Zion, My mount of holiness.
    He is the one in charge.”

⁷ I am telling all of you the truth. I have heard the Eternal’s decree.
He said clearly to me, “You are My son.
    Today I have become your Father.
⁸ The nations shall be yours for the asking,
    and the entire earth will belong to you.
⁹ They are yours to crush with an iron scepter,
    yours to shatter like fragile, clay pots.”

¹⁰ So leaders, kings, and judges,
    be wise, and be warned.
¹¹ There is only one God, the Eternal;
    worship Him with respect and awe;
    take delight in Him and tremble.
¹² Bow down before God’s son.
    If you don’t, you will face His anger and retribution,
And you won’t stand a chance.
    For it doesn’t take long to kindle royal wrath,

But blessings await all who trust in Him.
    They will find God a gentle refuge.

I love that first verse, “You are wondering: what has provoked the nations (or our nation) to embrace anger and chaos?”  And my soul says, “YES!”  Why do human beings seek to hurt and harm each other?  What is it about us that we are so quick to be the judge and jury after skimming the headlines or scanning someone’s social media post (that is one view from a point).  Why do we “throw off (or disregard or dismiss) the gentle reign of God’s love”?  Why do we get caught up in our own schemes ~ plotting and planning?  I know that this psalm talks about God’s anger and people don’t like that.  But when set in the context of the harm and hurt humans do to each other, perhaps we need to remember that the headlines cause God heartbreak and soul ache.  God crafts and creates the whole world/all creation for relationships, connections, and to thrive.  Instead, we craft schemes to get ahead no matter how many people we hurt along the way.  Hold this psalm ~ with all its emotions.  The Psalms are rich and raw.  David Taylor says the psalms are “open and unafraid.” The psalms allow us to express our deepest fears and wounds and desires to God, so perhaps we don’t pass that pain onto others.  We plot and plan revenge with God, not because we will convince God to go along, but because eventually we hear how incompatible such ideas are with justice and love and grace.  Note the ending of the psalm, once we get the anger out of our system, we find a “gentle refuge” in God.  May that resting, renewing, restoring, and remembering who/whose you are become a space/place of refuge in God every hour today.  Amen.