Sunday, August 13, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading 
Psalm 5

Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing.

Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you.

The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

You destroy those who speak lies; the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.

For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues.

Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.

For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield. (NRSV)

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Reflection

The psalmist must have had a bad night, perhaps like many of us. He is fearful of what his enemies may have in store for him. He expends a lot of energy reminding God about how evil and wicked these enemies are and beseeches God to destroy them. Then, it occurs to him, that he reveres God but also needs God’s help: “Make straight your way before me.” And then he remembers that those who seek and love the Lord will be blessed and protected.

 

The simple lesson in this psalm, perhaps, is to spend less time denouncing foes and people we disagree with and, instead, seek God’s guidance about how we can walk a straighter path in our own lives. Also, if we expect God’s protection, maybe we will be more likely to notice how things seem to be working out. We might even find ourselves rejoicing in the morning instead of grousing.

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Prayer
Loving God, I confess to complaining, worrying, and muttering about incompetent or mean people. Help me to reflect on my own behavior and seek your help in finding a more positive and restorative path — daily, particularly in the morning as the day begins. Amen.

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Written by Rebecca Dixon, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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