Thursday, November 9, 2023  

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Today’s Scripture Reading
Psalm 142

With my voice I cry to the Lord;

with my voice I make supplication to the Lord.

I pour out my complaint before him;

I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit is faint,

you know my way.

In the path where I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

Look on my right hand and see—

there is no one who takes notice of me;

no refuge remains to me;

no one cares for me.

I cry to you, O Lord;

I say, ‘You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.’

Give heed to my cry,

for I am brought very low.

Save me from my persecutors,

for they are too strong for me.

Bring me out of prison,

so that I may give thanks to your name.

The righteous will surround me,

for you will deal bountifully with me. (NRSV)

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Reflection

David wrote Psalm 142. He was in the cave of Adullam as he was fleeing from persecution by King Saul. A cave is a gloomy place to live, with only a small amount of light coming from the entrance — no fresh air or warmth. No wonder David is asking for mercy, complaining, growing faint, and feeling as though no one is concerned for him. His words are “I am in desperate need.”

Who do you know that is locked in a cave? A cave caused by depression, a cave caused by fear, a cave caused by loneliness. If not actually confined to their home, who do you know that has built a wall around themselves due to anger, a wall to prevent people from getting close so they won’t be hurt again, a wall to prevent further trauma?

David asks to be set free from his prison — the light needs to enter. The person in the cave can’t reach out, so who is going to bring the light into the cave? Is that you? How? Maybe just a smile, a few words of encouragement, a prayer, a touch, or nothing at all other than to just be there, silent, but sharing your light.

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Prayer
Softly sing —

This little light o’ mine, I'm goin’ let it shine.

This little light o’ mine, I'm goin’ let it shine.

This little light o’ mine, I'm goin’ let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Amen

“This Little Light of Mine” is an African American song from the 1920s. It was often reported to be written for children in the 1920s by Harry Dixon Loes, but researchers at the Moody Bible Institute where he taught can find no evidence of this.

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Reflection written by Linda Gibboney, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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