Psalm 16

Psalm 16 (NRSV)

1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord , “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.

Lord,
“The holy ones in the land….” The realities of corruption and destruction are so pervasive that we are sometimes blinded to the reservoir of goodness that surrounds us. Your saints are scattered around us. Men and women of character and integrity bless us every day. Folk of faith encourage and instruct and sometimes even correct us. You have not left yourself without witnesses in this broken world. Thank you.

Lord, keep our eyes open to the holy ones who surround us. Bind us together with folk of faith for the sake of our own spiritual vitality. Help us all to be faithful together in you mission for the healing of your world.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Name 5 persons who have nurtured you in the journey of faith.
Ask God to help you to live in such a way that another may see something “holy” in you.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” t0 God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.


4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 16

Psalm 16 (NRSV)
1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”

Lord,
“Protect me.”
Lord, I mean no impertinence nor disrespect but I need to ask, what kind of protection can we expect from you? Today, we prayed for more than a dozen people in my congregation who have cancer. I know a young woman recently abused. I have buried children and adolescents and men and women before their aloted time. I have watched the horrors of war and seen children and youth maimed only because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. We have seen horrific storms take the lives of persons too many to count. My mother died of Alzheimer Disease and my Dad sacrificed years of his life to take care of her. He would have it no other way. Even Paul was beheaded and Jesus was crucified. Lord, what kind of protection can we expect?

This I have seen. I have seen your people struggle with life’s toughest challenges and hold on to courage and faith. Perhaps I should say, I have seen you hold on to them. I have seen those whose bodies have been destroyed but never lost their souls. If that is the protection that you promise, then I believe. Strengthen the weakness of my belief.

And I believe in resurrection. The realities of life may indeed take this life from me. Indeed, this life will be taken from us all. But eternal life belongs to you and you alone and that is forever protected.

Is that all? Is there something more? Are there other protections that you offer? I hope so but that is enough.

Dear Lord, I indeed take refuge in you. “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to protect you in the dangerous places in life.
Ask God to strengthen you to meet whatever life may bring.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989

Psalm 15

Psalm 15 (NRSV)
1 O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
[1]

Lord,
It’s clear that integrity and character are really important to you. At the same time, you have promised to love us as we are. And, there are times when character and integrity are challenged and sometimes fail. Do you kick us out of the tent? Are we in and out according to the rating on the integrity scale?

I am so grateful for the gospel that speaks of grace and pardon. And I am grateful for the promise of the Paraclete, the Spirit, who guides and instructs and corrects and accompanies us along the way. I am grateful for that love of yours which is never dependent upon the state of my character analysis nor the strength of my integrity in any given moment.

Lord, grow me to embody the way of life that you intend for all of your people. Abide within me so that I may indeed be and become the man of character and integrity that you call me to be. Grow me to live according to the standards of your tent and when I fail, forgive me, set me straight, and help me to try again.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God’s help to embody the wisdom of Psalm 15.
Ask God’s pardon and open you heart to receive forgiveness when you fall short.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.


[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989

Psalm 14

Psalm 14 (NRSV)


1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon the Lord ?
5 There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.
6 You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
[1]

Lord,

What a majestic hope! Those who “eat people as bread” and ignore you will come crashing down. You will take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. You will restore the fortunes of your people!

Dear Lord, let the wind of Your Spirit ignite the embers of hope into fire within me and among all of your people. Let your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let this hope be the air that we breathe as we live in you.

It comes to mind that we modern Americans benefit greatly from the plight of the global poor. Cheap labor around the world provides inexpensive goods which we all enjoy. When the poor lose their poverty, we’ll all have to pay more and some of us may earn less, the money going to those who actually make the products. Lord, if we are complicit in the misuse or abuse of others, we seek your pardon. But let it be so, be “the refuge of the poor.” And deliver us all into the regions of your righteousness.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to stir hope within your mind and heart.
Ask God to shape your life according to God’s concern for the least and lost.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.


[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 14

Psalm 14 and Psalm 53:1-6 (NRSV)

1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon the Lord ?
5 There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.
6 You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
[1]

Dear Lord,

Lord, the number of Americans who say, “There is no God” is a tiny minority. Everybody believes in God. Or, everybody believes “that there is a god.” There are few unbelievers here!

What we have forgotten is that You have an ethical agenda. We have so made religion a matter of personal comfort, which it is, and personal salvation, which it surely is, that we have forgotten that you are the God who passes judgment on ethical behavior. And should we think of the ethical dimensions, we immediately default to the issues of abortion and homosexuality. We used to worry about adultery and fornication, and living together without marriage, and out-of-wedlock children but those behaviors have become so commonplace that we no longer ponder the moral implications.

So, we believe “that there is a god” , which according to the book of James makes us the spiritual and moral equal of the devil but we do not believe that You have an ethical agenda and the morality that we do honor has been so diluted that it never gets in the way of our primal impulses.

We Americans believe that “there is a god” but we don’t believe that there is “a god” to whom we should pay attention. Regular and systematic worship, personal and private devotions, deeds of compassion, a driving desire that “justice will roll down like waters” full participation in “The Body of Christ”, all of that has been ignored.

It seems that we have taken just enough “god medicine” to inoculate ourselves against the real thing!

Are there not many faithful believers? Of course there are. Thank God! But Lord, there are many American fools who have found an American way to say “There is no God.”

Lord, God, grant that we may know you in the fullness of your being. Give us your comfort and grace and reveal to us the depth of your commitment to the righteous and the poor. Help me to believe that some day, in some way, you will make it right for those who have been trampled down by the circumstances of life and for all who have been faithful.

I believe. Help my unbelief.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:

Ask God to help you to know all of God that you can know.
Rejoice in the reality that we walk with many who are faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 13

Psalm 13 (NRSV)

1 How long, O Lord ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear paina in my soul,
and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord ,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.
[1]

Lord,
The mystics call it “the dark night of the soul.” There are seasons when you seem to be so very very far away. I know the old platitudes, “If God seems to be far away, guess who moved!” And there is truth to be found in that witticism. But who wants to accuse the poet of moving out on God?

No, there are seasons when prayers seem to never get out of the room and you, dear Lord, seem to never come in. This is the mystery. The experience of your absence seems to afflict the most faithful as much, maybe more, than the casual Christian. Wasn’t it Mother Teresa who confessed to a very long season, many years, of spiritual drought?

I do not pretend to know your mind about this. But I know that my droughts send me searching anew for the springs of living water and I come to a new awareness of my dependence on you. Usually, when I am spiritually dehydrated, I go looking for the water to drink! (Waiting for dehydration may be stupid.)

Now this is faith! In the season of spiritual drought, the poet proclaims, “But (what a powerful word, BUT) I trusted in your steadfast love….” In seasons, lush and lean, Lord, grant me that faith. Whether emotionally warm or not, spiritually full or empty, personally secure or at risk, grant to me that faith. And grant me the grace to love you back with all of my being.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to see you through your own seasons of spiritual difficulty.
Ask God to grant you the mighty faith of the poet in seasons lush and lean.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

a Syr: Heb hold counsels
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 12

1 Help, O Lord , for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”
5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord ;
“I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord , will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.
[1]

Lord,
I think that I see it. The reason that the poet is so comfortable in voicing his complaints is that he has ultimate confidence in your response. He is able to voice the reality of fear because he is ultimately confident in your help. He is able to voice doubt because beneath his doubt resides the core of faith. Because he finally trusts in you, he is able to voice his uncertainties about you. He dares to ask questions because he believes that there will, some day, be answers.

There is a counterfeit faith that serves as a vehicle for denial. Rather than being a force for confronting the toughest realities, it becomes an excuse for denying those hard realities. Rather than being a power for genuine forgiveness, faith becomes a way of avoiding guilt and shame. And because it avoids the tough issues, this counterfeit faith never has the experience of confronting and overcoming the really hard realities and the power of genuine faith is never experienced.

The poets of the Psalms never avoid an issue. They look the hardest realities of life in the eye, name them, fret and complain about them, give them to God in prayer, and then dare to trust and hope that God is sufficient to the challenge.

Lord, grant me this kind of faith.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Pray that God will grant you the power to meet the toughest realities in your life with genuine faith.
Pray that God will strengthen those in your personal web of friendship with faith.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 12

Psalm 12 (NRSV)

1 Help, O Lord , for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”

Dear Lord,
Flattering lips and forked tongues are powerful weapons in the arsenals of the wicked. They can convince a hungry man that starvation is a good thing even when he is sitting next to a rich man’s mountain of food. They persuade men of integrity to kill others for reasons nearly-good, bad and purely spurious. Lord God, for the onslaught of words, we need a giant spam filter. We need a defense shield against the word bombs that damage souls and corrupt characters.

But your words are as pure as refined silver – so declares the poet. Open my heart to your word. Let the world hear.

“For the oppression of the poor,
for the sighing of the needy,
Now I will arise”, says the Lord. (12:5,KJV)

Is this not consistent with Jesus? Did you not rise up in Jesus? How did we ever come to believe that a person could follow Jesus and neglect the needy or misuse the vulnerable? It seems that under the spell of sin-shaped words, even the gospel is corruptible.

The poet promises that you will keep your word. You will take care of the vulnerable and the week. You will provide protection for those unable to protect themselves. Lord, now would be a really good time!

Bless the Rescue Missions and the helping hand agencies of our world. Bless all who volunteer. In this political season, keep the poor before us as we choose our leaders.

Last week, my neighbor told me about his father’s funeral and the scores who visited to say, “He helped me when I needed it.” My friend said, “Nobody ever knew what my father did. May his tribe increase.

PERSONAL PRAYERS”
Ask God to show you your personal place in the protection of the poor.
Ask God to help you to faithfully follow Jesus.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen,


5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord ;
“I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord , will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 12

Psalm 12 (NRSV)

1 Help, O Lord , for there is no longer anyone who is godly;
the faithful have disappeared from humankind.
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Lord,
The poets who wrote the Psalms are full of faith but they are never optimistic. In the end, they fully believe that you will prevail and you will make all things right but in the meantime the world is a terrible mess and is populated by liars and hypocrites. To paraphrase the old folk song, where have all the faithful gone, long time passing?

The prophet and the apostle both declare that “all have sinned” which is true enough. Neither spiritual, moral, nor ethical perfection happens often in this world – Never! And some people will lie to you and some will lie about you and some will smile and say “Sweet Jesus” as they insert the verbal knife into your back. It does get very personal sometimes and the pain serves as a reminder of the fires of hell.

But Lord, there is more to the truth than this. You have blessed me to be companioned by some wonderful image-of-God human beings who really do reflect the character of Christ. There are some who tell the truth and keep promises and walk the path of integrity. Thank you for these better souls.

So, Lord, hear my prayer. Give me a gift of discernment in order to tell the difference between those who have integrity and those who don’t. Save me from the temptation to listen to honeyed lips and those who present a handsome appearance and grant grace to look into the heart and mind.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:

Ask God to give you discernment in relationships.
Ask God to help you to walk the path of integrity.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.


3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”
5 “Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan,
I will now rise up,” says the Lord ;
“I will place them in the safety for which they long.”
6 The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure,
silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord , will protect us;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among humankind.
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 11

Psalm 11 (NRSV)

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains;a
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord ’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
[1]

Lord,
The missing word between verses 3 and 4 is “but.” “If the foundations are destroyed (BUT) the Lord is in his holy temple.” The foundations have not been destroyed and will not be destroyed because you are where you are supposed to be. You are God as you have always been God and always will be God. And you know what is happening in your world. You know and, according to your own wisdom, you will make things right.

I confess that some days it is hard to believe. Yesterday’s flyer from the Board of International Ministries listed the world’s “Biggest Issues”, human trafficking, 25 million refugees and 5 new cases of AIDS every minute.

The wars are terrible and more war is threatened. Iran is testing its ability to deliver weapons to Israel and Europe. Speaking of Iran, it seems that two of America's largest exports to Iran are cigarettes and bull sperm. What happens if we cut off the cigarettes? Do we impose a massive societal nicotine withdrawal? Is it a secret weapon to use? Cut back on the missiles or we will cut off your nicotine! And what will they do without our bull sperm?

Forgive me, I digress. This I believe with the poet:
You are righteous,
You love righteous deeds;
And the upright shall behold your face.
And you have a sense of humor.

Let it be so.

PERSONAL PRAYERS
Describe to God your personal faith in God through Christ.
Ask God to empower you to do “righteous deeds.”
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.



a Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb flee to your mountain, O bird
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 11

1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me,
“Flee like a bird to the mountains;a
2 for look, the wicked bend the bow,
they have fitted their arrow to the string,
to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.
3 If the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”

Lord,
It does indeed sometimes seem that good people are the targets of irrational and inexplicable sorrow. Those who live ethically and behave morally and love you and neighbor sometimes suffer more than others who are unethical, immoral and grossly self-centered. It is simply not true that the faithful are always blessed with health and wealth.

“The wicked bend the bow…to shoot …the upright in heart.” The poet knows about sin and evil. The poet knows the eternal struggle. Save us from surprise when Sin and Evil raise their ugly heads to harm your children.

The poet was advised to run to the mountains and I understand the temptation. There are days when it seems to be not worth the fight. And yet, I still believe. In days of difficulty, I choose to believe that you are with us, paying attention to our plight, granting strength for the struggle and preparing a future that just and good.

Lord, I talked with a family this morning. You know them. You know their faithfulness. You know the kindness of their hearts. And, truth is, life is beating-up on them in ways nearly too bizarre to imagine. I cannot believe that they have earned their sorrow. But, earned or not, they have it. Comfort, encourage and bless them. Turn their sorrow to joy and their suffering to celebration.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Pray for faith in the midst of struggle
Pray for those who are suffering unfairly.
Name five things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.



4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord ’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.
5 The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,
and his soul hates the lover of violence.
6 On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur;
a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
7 For the Lord is righteous;
he loves righteous deeds;
the upright shall behold his face.
[1]

a Gk Syr Jerome Tg: Heb flee to your mountain, O bird
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 10

1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
4 In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”;
all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 Their ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of their sight;
as for their foes, they scoff at them.
6 They think in their heart, “We shall not be moved;
throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.”
7 Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
8 They sit in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places they murder the innocent.
Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9 they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.
10 They stoop, they crouch,
and the helpless fall by their might.
11 They think in their heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God,
and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”?
14 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.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
seek out their wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations shall perish from his land.
17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more.a
[1]

Lord,
Will it ever really be so? In the words of Jesus, will the meek ever inherit the earth? When will the orphan and oppressed ever receive justice? When will You act?

I know! You will act when we make ourselves available to you for action. When we become the Body of Christ, quickened by the Spirit of Christ, you will act through us. When we become the hands and feet of Christ and the voice of Christ, you will act through us.

Allow me an irreverent thought. Wouldn’t it be easier if you would just do it yourself? Who, after all, are we? We can hardly see the problem due to our fixation on our own problems-- at least we are fixated on ourselves in some way. It’s a complicated world and the answers seem to be beyond us. We are not smart enough, courageous enough, faithful enough and probably not willing enough. Wouldn’t it be easier, less complicated, more direct, if you would just step in and make justice work?

It’s a fair question. In the meantime.… It appears that you have cast your lot with us. You have chosen to work with us and through us and perhaps even to depend on us to do the work that you want to have done.

The poet is clear. It is a violation of your will, a contradiction of your character, for the weak to be trampled, for the orphan to be abused, for the needy to be neglected, for injustice to reign. If that is true and if you are waiting for your people to sign on, then it must be your will for your people, those who have freely chosen to be a part of the Body of Christ, to take on the struggle for justice in your name.

If I am wrong, show me. If I am right, lead me.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:

Pray for the weakest persons you know.
Pray for the victims of war who, by the sheer accidents of life, happen to live in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Ask God to show you your proper place in the ministry of the Body of Christ.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank You.”

In Christ’s name,
Amen

a Meaning of Heb uncertain

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989

psalm 10

Psalm 10 (NRSV)
Psalm 10
Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
4 In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, “God will not seek it out”;
all their thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5 Their ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of their sight;
as for their foes, they scoff at them.
6 They think in their heart, “We shall not be moved;
throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.”
7 Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
8 They sit in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places they murder the innocent.
Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9 they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.
10 They stoop, they crouch,
and the helpless fall by their might.
11 They think in their heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

Lord,
What a description of evil this is! What a devastating proclamation of the reality and the destructive power of sin! And Lord, we know that it is so. “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely.”

I think of Lazarus and Dives, Jesus’ parable of the rich man who was so insulated from the reality of life at his front door, he just did not see. And Jesus said that the rich man who was blind to his neighbor went to hell for it. That’s harsh! He did not set out to do bad things to the poor man. He did not deliberately abuse him or misuse him. The poor man at the door was just ignored and that was sin enough. Forgive us all our blindness.

For those of us who sit on the far outer circles of power, it’s hard to know what to do. Today I pray with the poet. Lord, see the evil that is around us. See the sin the drives the evil as the poor and the weak are trampled. See it and stop it.

I may be wrong but I believe that most people with great power do not set out to be oppressors or tyrants. They just become insulated and isolated from the realities of life in other parts of town. Convert them. Open their eyes. Open their hearts.

Open my heart O God. Open my eyes. Show me the way that you would have me walk as you minister to the wounded, the defeated, the oppressed, the weak and vulnerable.

Last week Peggy volunteered at Doorstep, a helping agency in town. She sorted clothing and offered a warm welcome to all who entered. In the face of global poverty, it doesn’t seem like much but it is more than nothing. It is a testimony and I am grateful for that.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to help you see those who are near you, all who are near you.
As God to lead you in God’s walk of rightful living.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.


12 Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God,
and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”?
14 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.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
seek out their wickedness until you find none.
16 The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations shall perish from his land.
17 O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
18 to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
so that those from earth may strike terror no more.a
[1]

a Meaning of Heb uncertain

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989

psalm 9

Psalm 9
God’s Power and Justice
To the leader: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turned back,
they stumbled and perished before you.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
their cities you have rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever,
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion.
Declare his deeds among the peoples.
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Be gracious to me, O Lord.
See what I suffer from those who hate me;
you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
14 so that I may recount all your praises,
and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
rejoice in your deliverance.
15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
19 Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord;
let the nations know that they are only human. Selah
[1]

Lord,
I want to affirm with the poet that:“The needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.” I remember well my own days of financial frugality. Was I poor? I don’t know. But I know that we lived with financial limitations that would embarrass most members of our church and would require a very difficult adjustment should I be required to live that way again. Five of us lived in a house, 36 by 8, providing a grand living space of 288 square feet. Thank God for the great Florida out-of-doors. Out of my own memory, I pray that the needy will not be forgotten. As the economy seems to deteriorate and as the gap between the richest and the poorest widens, I pray that the poor will not perish forever. Touch the hearts of those who are financially able to help those who are not.

The poet speaks of the nations who have forgotten God and the destination of the wicked. He speaks of the neglect of the poor and needy and the nations who are wicked in nearly the same breath. I pray that my nation will not forget the poor and needy and be sent to Sheol. Let us not self-destruct on our own greed and selfishness and arrogance.

A personal matter: Lord, members, friends, and perhaps others, are reading my retirement letter today. It’s an awkward season. It will be emotionally and spiritually mixed-up for all of us. Grant the grace of you Holy Spirit. Most of us are not financially needy, though some are indeed pressed tight. But in this season we are indeed needy. Do not be absent to us in our season of need.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Pray for the poor and needy.
Pray that God will meet your own needs.
Ask God’s grace for your church.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “thank you” to God.

Amen
[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989

Psalm 9

1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turned back,
they stumbled and perished before you.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;
their cities you have rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever,
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord , have not forsaken those who seek you.

Who are you Lord?

You are “enthroned forever.” You are the Sovereign of the Universe.
You are the ethical, moral, and spiritual arbiter of all that is and all who are. You are the judge, the evaluator, the One who sets the standards. Your throne is “for judgment.” You sit in judgment with each of us. You sit in judgment with me.

Bad news and good news; there are times when I fail the test (bad news) but what I do and what we do and what the nation does really matters. Our behavior is worthy of your attention and consideration and judgment.

Jesus declared that you pay attention to the slightest details of our lives. You care enough to watch and listen – good news indeed. You call it love.

Righteousness and equity are the standards by which you judge both individuals and communities. “You judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.” And how do equity and righteousness look? “You are a stronghold for the oppressed.” You have a special place in your heart for the underdog, for the disadvantaged, for the one who needs extra help. If I am reading the poet correctly, “equity” and “righteousness” mean that you want to level the playing field. Those who cannot protect themselves have your protection and because they have your protection, they have a right to the protection of the community and the nation.

Lord, how shall I pray? “Those who know your name, put their trust in you.” I pray for those who need for the playing field of life to be leveled. I pray for your righteousness and equity to be made manifest.

At the same time, as I struggle with the issues that are mine, though I am not particularly oppressed, I pray for your protection and grace. And I pray that I will be an instrument of your righteousness and equity. I pray that our churches will be instruments of equity and righteousness.

Lord, I believe the poet. “You…have not forsaken those who seek you.” Thank you Lord for this remarkable promise. You are with us now. You are with us in our need and in our success. You are with us as we celebrate and as cry for help. You are with us as we seek you. Thank you.

Lord, a change of subject: The story is in the news. A black high school student in Kansas, I think the only black student in the town, was tied up at a party, had a bucket put on his head, was pissed on and had his arms spray painted white! The oppressors have been arrested and are headed for trial but that will never be enough to heal the wounds of that young black man. I pray for him.

Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. I pray for our nation, that righteousness and equity might be the hallmarks of our national character. In the words of our pledge, I pray for “liberty and justice for all.”

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Pray for God’s righteousness and equity for those who have been denied the necessities of life.
Ask God to be present to you in your places of need.
Name 5 things for which your are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.

11 Sing praises to the Lord , who dwells in Zion.
Declare his deeds among the peoples.
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Be gracious to me, O Lord .
See what I suffer from those who hate me;
you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
14 so that I may recount all your praises,
and, in the gates of daughter Zion,
rejoice in your deliverance.
15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
19 Rise up, O Lord ! Do not let mortals prevail;
let the nations be judged before you.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord ;
let the nations know that they are only human. Selah
[1]

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.