The first line of this psalm is known to many - "The earth is the Lord's and all that it is in it." That doesn't mean we always act like it. From abuse of the earth through pollution to acting as though we can do anything we want cause, "it's mine and I earned it and my neighbors, government, (insert favorite figure you love to hate) can just go stuff it."
It is interesting after just being reminded that God owns it all the psalmist turns to a discussion about clean hands and pure hearts. Intent seems to matter to God. Falsehood and deceit get a very, very bad review in the scriptures. Lying to God is just not a good idea.
The fact that many of the psalms were actually poetry and likely may have been sung can be seen in the final verses where we get a call/response set of lines. Imagine two choirs (likely all male, sorry ladies but this was definitely a sexist world) singing this back and forth. Wonder if anybody who had been less than honest thought that week suddenly remembered they might have forgotten to tie up the donkey and slipped out?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Today's Psalm - David's Number One Hit
It's still playing on the Jerusalem top 40. Thousands of years and it has maintained it's number one spot. That's right. It's Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd, etc. All of us have days when we want someone to take care of us. How many of us as adults when were we sick have voiced, "I want my mommy!" Well this psalm is about wanting/expecting/believing in God's care when we need it the most. Those dark valleys are scary places and knowing the Big Guy is with us with a rod and staff is a good thing.
Oh, do keep in mind that the rod and staff are there to help us along as well. The shepherds crook was in use for grabbing long before Vaudeville discovered it as a tool to pull people off stage. Where you think they got the idea? So with the care comes direction and guidance. With the table full comes some reminders about who we need to listen to. Remember it's a relationship where we need to listen, listen, listen.
And now back to a week full of meetings. Sometimes those have dark valleys. Time to reread the psalm.
The Lord is my shepherd, etc. All of us have days when we want someone to take care of us. How many of us as adults when were we sick have voiced, "I want my mommy!" Well this psalm is about wanting/expecting/believing in God's care when we need it the most. Those dark valleys are scary places and knowing the Big Guy is with us with a rod and staff is a good thing.
Oh, do keep in mind that the rod and staff are there to help us along as well. The shepherds crook was in use for grabbing long before Vaudeville discovered it as a tool to pull people off stage. Where you think they got the idea? So with the care comes direction and guidance. With the table full comes some reminders about who we need to listen to. Remember it's a relationship where we need to listen, listen, listen.
And now back to a week full of meetings. Sometimes those have dark valleys. Time to reread the psalm.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Today's Psalm - It's Good to be the King
Psalm 21 is one of those sometimes called a royal psalm. The psalm is a conversation with God about the king. And it's pretty good to be the king. (Which coincidentally is a line from a Mel Brooks move, History of the World, Part I, I believe. But don't take this as a recommendation for the movie -- not particularly spiritually edifying :-) and also not one of Mel's bests.)
With all the riches and the line about the king being given his heart's desire, Solomon springs to mind as a possible king that the writer has in mind. Solomon asked for wisdom and got much more because he was wise.
There is a vengeful note to the song. God's enemies will be discovered and destroyed. It fits with the times -- the world was and often still is a violent place. One challenging consideration in anytime is just who are God's enemies. We often think we can easily identify them, but perhaps we should be think carefully and wonder if some days we don't make ourselves God's enemies.
History has proven that kings for all their good intentions are often corrupted by money and power. One of the politically charged pieces of news from both the Old and New Testament is there is only one ultimate king and one ruler who we can trust. No wonder the Romans hated the Christians and the Jews. Earthly powers are secondary and don't command our ultimate allegiance. Only God deserves that loyalty. Even the king can be God's enemies and then it isn't so good to be the king!
With all the riches and the line about the king being given his heart's desire, Solomon springs to mind as a possible king that the writer has in mind. Solomon asked for wisdom and got much more because he was wise.
There is a vengeful note to the song. God's enemies will be discovered and destroyed. It fits with the times -- the world was and often still is a violent place. One challenging consideration in anytime is just who are God's enemies. We often think we can easily identify them, but perhaps we should be think carefully and wonder if some days we don't make ourselves God's enemies.
History has proven that kings for all their good intentions are often corrupted by money and power. One of the politically charged pieces of news from both the Old and New Testament is there is only one ultimate king and one ruler who we can trust. No wonder the Romans hated the Christians and the Jews. Earthly powers are secondary and don't command our ultimate allegiance. Only God deserves that loyalty. Even the king can be God's enemies and then it isn't so good to be the king!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Today's Psalm - I told you so!
Remember the last two day's of psalms have David at a low point. Surrounded by the deceitful and really wondering if God was ever going to listen. But it would appear a new day has dawned.
David is gloating. "The fool says in his heart there is no God. I know better. I know there is one. And I know he sees all those who folks who deny the existence of God. And God will judge, yes God will judge."
Might seem like a rather petty prayer. Might not always fit with the loving attitude we see displayed in other passages. But remember, the psalms are prayers. They are absolutely overflowing with human emotions and all that this entails. There are rants. There are cries of desperation. There is anger. There is bitter weeping. And some days you just feel deep down like saying, "All you fools who don't believe in God, just wait! God will judge."
And just so you don't think that David was completely self centered. Over and over his psalms speak out on behalf of the poor. While he was on the run, he may have been poor, but even after he became king, he seemed to always remember that his leadership was a trust from God that involved responsibility for those less fortunate.
So if you want to rejoice with David about the fools of the world who say there is no God remember it comes with a caveat. God doesn't appreciate those who say they believe in him and then act like they don't. Justice will be exacted at some point. Sobering words.
David is gloating. "The fool says in his heart there is no God. I know better. I know there is one. And I know he sees all those who folks who deny the existence of God. And God will judge, yes God will judge."
Might seem like a rather petty prayer. Might not always fit with the loving attitude we see displayed in other passages. But remember, the psalms are prayers. They are absolutely overflowing with human emotions and all that this entails. There are rants. There are cries of desperation. There is anger. There is bitter weeping. And some days you just feel deep down like saying, "All you fools who don't believe in God, just wait! God will judge."
And just so you don't think that David was completely self centered. Over and over his psalms speak out on behalf of the poor. While he was on the run, he may have been poor, but even after he became king, he seemed to always remember that his leadership was a trust from God that involved responsibility for those less fortunate.
So if you want to rejoice with David about the fools of the world who say there is no God remember it comes with a caveat. God doesn't appreciate those who say they believe in him and then act like they don't. Justice will be exacted at some point. Sobering words.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Today's Psalm - From Bad to Worse
Yesterday, David spoke of being surrounded by the deceitful. He felt alone. In today's psalm (Psalm 13) he asks, how long will God forget about David's plea? Will it be forever.
Each psalm was likely written independently. However at some point later an editor (or several editors) arranged the psalms into a particular order. Most scholars believe it was not a casual or accidental arrangement.
The progression from yesterday's psalm "Help things are bad" to today's "God you must have forgotten about me" is a not an unusual struggle we all share. I'm all alone and I wonder if God even cares is the middle of the night heartache feeling most of us have experienced.
But the psalmist remains faithful. He will still proclaim God's love and trusts that he will experience God's salvation and so he sings. Faith at its strongest is faith when life is toughest.
Tomorrow - "I told you so!"
Each psalm was likely written independently. However at some point later an editor (or several editors) arranged the psalms into a particular order. Most scholars believe it was not a casual or accidental arrangement.
The progression from yesterday's psalm "Help things are bad" to today's "God you must have forgotten about me" is a not an unusual struggle we all share. I'm all alone and I wonder if God even cares is the middle of the night heartache feeling most of us have experienced.
But the psalmist remains faithful. He will still proclaim God's love and trusts that he will experience God's salvation and so he sings. Faith at its strongest is faith when life is toughest.
Tomorrow - "I told you so!"
Monday, October 12, 2009
Today's Psalm - Help I am surrounded
In Psalm 12 David laments the world is filled with deceitful, godless people who are just interested in flattery but not honesty. Hmm, anyone remember junior high? Many of the psalms carry the theme that everyone else is against me. Remember, psalms are prayers and there are times in most of our lives when we might feel like most of the good people have dropped of the face of the earth.
One could easily see this is an emotion David felt during his days of persecution. It's also possible that he encountered a subject coming and asking for justice. David could have heard a story of betrayal and lies and decided he would compose an psalm based on this person's experience.
The conclusion of the psalm is a proclamation of God's trustworthiness. Faith in the midst of adversity? Maybe reminding God he had better come through? If I say this enough I will believe it myself? Any and everyone of these are possible when it comes to a heartfelt cry to God. Help, I am surrounded by deceivers. Who can I trust God? Can I tust you? Help!
One could easily see this is an emotion David felt during his days of persecution. It's also possible that he encountered a subject coming and asking for justice. David could have heard a story of betrayal and lies and decided he would compose an psalm based on this person's experience.
The conclusion of the psalm is a proclamation of God's trustworthiness. Faith in the midst of adversity? Maybe reminding God he had better come through? If I say this enough I will believe it myself? Any and everyone of these are possible when it comes to a heartfelt cry to God. Help, I am surrounded by deceivers. Who can I trust God? Can I tust you? Help!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
YOB - Where Is God When You Need Help?
October 8, 2009
Job 23:1-9, 16, 17
Job is having a bad day, week, month, year. Read the first couple of chapters of the book if you forgot the story. And he is angry. For good reason. His life has been beset by calamities not of his own doing. My mother likes to remind her children, life happens to everyone. Well life is certainly happening in a very harsh way to Job.
Some friends show up to comfort him, but they are no help. They tell him he must be a sinner. His wife tells him to curse God and die. Harsh! Harsh!
Job wants to know why God is allowing him to suffer. Good question Job! And Job can't seem to find God's presence anywhere either! Another good point. I think the book of Job is in the Bible because Job says all those things that we say/think when we suffer. God does seem far away at times. There are times when we don't think we are getting a fair shake in life. We want God to know and we want to hear an explanation from God.
I know there are folks who will tell you the Bible has all the answers you need. If they mean by that there is a simple formula waiting to solve all of life's woes, then I don't agree! The answers in the Bible are often the kinds of answers that Job received -- life is mystery and is often filled with pain. What God offers in those kinds of moments is presence and comfort and the strength to grow when life happens. The Bible's answers are honest and not simplistic or stupid.
And thankfully most of us can find much better friends that Job had. I have found some who stood by me when times were dark and helped me. I pray you can do the same when you have those Job like moments.
Job 23:1-9, 16, 17
Job is having a bad day, week, month, year. Read the first couple of chapters of the book if you forgot the story. And he is angry. For good reason. His life has been beset by calamities not of his own doing. My mother likes to remind her children, life happens to everyone. Well life is certainly happening in a very harsh way to Job.
Some friends show up to comfort him, but they are no help. They tell him he must be a sinner. His wife tells him to curse God and die. Harsh! Harsh!
Job wants to know why God is allowing him to suffer. Good question Job! And Job can't seem to find God's presence anywhere either! Another good point. I think the book of Job is in the Bible because Job says all those things that we say/think when we suffer. God does seem far away at times. There are times when we don't think we are getting a fair shake in life. We want God to know and we want to hear an explanation from God.
I know there are folks who will tell you the Bible has all the answers you need. If they mean by that there is a simple formula waiting to solve all of life's woes, then I don't agree! The answers in the Bible are often the kinds of answers that Job received -- life is mystery and is often filled with pain. What God offers in those kinds of moments is presence and comfort and the strength to grow when life happens. The Bible's answers are honest and not simplistic or stupid.
And thankfully most of us can find much better friends that Job had. I have found some who stood by me when times were dark and helped me. I pray you can do the same when you have those Job like moments.
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