Friday, January 22, 2016

Today’s Reading  |  Psalm 31

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
   do not let me ever be put to shame;
   in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
   rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
   a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
   for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
   for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
   you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
   but I trust in the Lord.
I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
   because you have seen my affliction;
   you have taken heed of my adversities,
and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
   you have set my feet in a broad place.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
   my eye wastes away from grief,
   my soul and body also.
For my life is spent with sorrow,
   and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
   and my bones waste away.

I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
   a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
   those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
   I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many—
   terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
   as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;
   I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hand;
   deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
   save me in your steadfast love.
Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,
   for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
   let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
Let the lying lips be stilled
   that speak insolently against the righteous
   with pride and contempt.

O how abundant is your goodness
   that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
   in the sight of everyone!
In the shelter of your presence you hide them
   from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
   from contentious tongues.

Blessed be the Lord,
   for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
   when I was beset as a city under siege.
I had said in my alarm,
   “I am driven far from your sight.”
But you heard my supplications
   when I cried out to you for help.

Love the Lord, all you his saints.
   The Lord preserves the faithful,
   but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
   all you who wait for the Lord. (NRSV)

Reflection
After reading Psalm 31, two distinctly “unchurchy” references popped into my head: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the classic children’s book by Judith Viorst, and Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna of Saturday Night Live fame. Alexander is six and his bad day consists of waking up with gum in his hair; tripping on a skateboard; his teacher’s disapproval of his picture of the invisible castle (which is actually just a blank sheet of paper); and much more. As Roseanne Roseannadanna would put it: “Well, it just goes to show you: it’s always something. If it ain’t one thing, it’s another.” We all have these days, weeks, months, and sometimes years.

In today’s text we see the psalmist writing in agony, alternately praying for protection from enemies and relief from suffering, depression, grief, and rejection, and then rejoicing and thanking God for shelter from enemies and the revelation of an ever-faithful love. The psalmist trusts in God and ends with “All you who wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage.”

I am reminded of Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott, who writes there are really only two prayers. One is “Help me, help me, help me.” The other is “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” We read them both in Psalm 31. In our times of deepest trouble and despair, let us remember Psalm 31 and, like the psalmist, be in constant conversation with God, holding up our troubles knowing that no matter how bad it is, God is ever faithful to us, walking with us through the depths of our troubles, and may we rejoice and give thanks for God’s all-encompassing love.

Prayer
Praise, my soul, the God of heaven, glad of heart your carols raise;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
who, like me, should sing God’s praise?
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the Maker all our days. Amen.

(Prayer from an adaption of Henry Francis Lyte’s hymn “Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven”)

Written by Martha Brown, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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