Which Room?

 

Yesterday, we heard the heartbreaking and soul ache of a people who felt abandoned and strong emotions of life stirring at the circumstances where the people of God were in exile.  This is a place many of us have been in our lives, an address where maybe you have or are receiving mail right now.  Carroll Struhlmueller says that psalms are like different rooms in a home.  A room where you can weep and a room where you can dance and a room where you can rest in comfort and a room where you confront who you are.  This connects to Psalm 127:

 ^1-2 If God doesn’t build the house,
    the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
    the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
    and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know he enjoys
    giving rest to those he loves?

^3-5 Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift?
    the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?
Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows
    are the children of a vigorous youth.
Oh, how blessed are you parents,
    with your quivers full of children!
Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you;
    you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.

This is what Walter Brueggemann would call a Psalm of orientation.  The words present a worldview where if you follow the rules and regulations all will be well.  “Your enemies don’t stand a chance!”  What I love about the psalms is that these words can be found just ten chapters before the words we heard yesterday.  Between chapters 127 and 137 the wheels fall off ~ the psalmist moves from orientation in 127 above to weeping by a pool of tears in Psalm 137 from yesterday.  Sometimes that is how quickly things can fall apart!  We think we are walking on sunshine and all is well, until we stumble and fall splat on our face or someone we thought was a our friend betrays our confidence. 

My question is which room of the house is God working on in your heart right now?  Are you in a room of dancing or mourning?  Are you in a room of care or concern?  Do you find yourself residing and remaining in one room more than others?  When and where are you finding rest in the room of God’s love?  Hold these questions as rooms God is working to construct and create ~ we do not labor alone or in vain, but with the One who has a hardhat and tool belt and isn’t afraid of a little dust.  May the psalms continue to help you explore and encounter God’s presence in these days. Amen.