Wednesday 29 July 2015

PSALM 11

When things get too bad, people are tempted to emigrate,
the Scots have been doing that for generations.
Some people leave society to become a hermit.
Bands of robbers "take to the hills" to avoid the law.
When society changes, when your own values and your
own culture are threatened, you may seek a "New World"
somewhere else.
     When you are actually under attack, you need to go to
"the shelter" . In London during WW2  as in Israel  today,
people need a place of refuge.

Psalm 11:1  NRSV
In the LORD I take refuge;
how can you say to me,
"Flee like a bird to the mountains."

In Psalm 11 the psalmist makes a statement of confidence.
He feels he should stand fast in the faith that
"the LORD protects those who take refuge in Him."

ISAIAH 54:10  NRSV
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

The psalmist is confident because he is a member of God,s
covenant community. Why should he run off to the hills
when he has God,s covenant promises ?

Psalm 46:1-2  KJV
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.

There is no doubt about where the psalmist stands.
As C.S.Lewis points out;
The Lord is righteous and commands righteousness
because He  loves righteousness.
He enjoys what is good, because it is good and
because He is good.

Psalm 11:7  New English Bible
For the LORD is just and loves just dealing;
His face is turned towards the upright man.
Psalm 84:11
No good thing does the LORD withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

The God of Israel has his way of dealing with cities
and nations who turn their back on Him.
As individuals we have some responsibility, before God,
for the society in which we live.
If the city has turned it's back on God and has embraced injustice,
we need  to discern God's values and share His vision !

Wednesday 22 July 2015

PSALM 9 (9,10)

Psalm 9(9,10) demonstrates that the psalmist is ever mindful of the
active presence of God, in an ongoing way, in every area of life.
He praises God with rejoicing and with song.
He is aware of God's activity in everyday life
as a righteous judge, in conflict with the ungodly,
actively defending the oppressed.
Like the psalmist, we experience in our own lives
 the presence of our divine Creator.
We are an integrated part of His divine creation.
   Our own sphere of influence (and dominion)
is experienced in His power and in His authority.
No wonder the prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
In fact the very act of crying out to God in petition
recognizes God's capacity and God's willingness
to act for us.
Psalm 9:13 NRSV
Be gracious to me O LORD.
See what I suffer from those who hate me.

Psalm 8,9 and 10 express a liberation theology
for the poor, the oppressed and the afflicted.
God's commitment to the poor is NOT equivocal,
ambivalent or ambiguous.
Social injustice is perpetrated by the oppressors
(not by the poor)
The poor are the victims of the oppressors.
Some newspapers and political commentators
would have you believe the opposite!
The same people condescendingly advise Christian
leaders to stay out of politics.

The honest business practices of people who
do the right thing and treat people fairly
are not always seen to be the most successful.
Psalm 10 speaks of times when the wicked and
the arrogant seem to have the upper hand.
But people ( and nations) who turn their back on God
or who choose to disreguard  His presence
in fact choose not a blessing but a curse.
Psalm 9 St Athanasius Academy Septuagint
10  The Lord is also a refuge for the poor man
       A helper in seasons of affliction ;
13  He does not forget the cry of the poor.

If we believe that "His will" is, without reservation,
the very best, for ourselves , then that must be our
prayer...for all men.
1st Timothy 2:1 RSV
First of all then, I urge that supplications, intercessions,
and thanksgivings be made for all men...

There is not a child in the world who deserves
a poor diet ,   a poor education,  poor health care,
poor justice,  or  poor accommodation.
We have a ministry of care
in His power and in His authority.......

To help the fatherless and poor unto their right.
Psalm 10:20 from the psalter of the book of common prayer . 

Sunday 12 July 2015

PSALM EIGHT

If we consider Psalm 8: 1 and 9, in the light of Amos 2: 6,7 and 8
we can see that there is an unacceptable incongruity in taking part
in public praise of God and also being responsible for affliction
of the needy. The glorification of God can never be at the expense
of the poor.
Psalm 8:1 NRSV
O LORD, our Sovereign,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth !
     You have set your glory above the heavens.

Amos 2:6-7-8  NRSV
6 Thus says the LORD:
For three transgressions of Israel, and for four,
I will not revoke the punishment;
because they sell the righteous for silver,
and the needy for a pair of sandals.
7 they who trample the head of the poor
 into the dust of the earth,
and push the afflicted out of the way;
father and son go in for the same girl,
so that my holy name is profaned.
8 they lay themselves down beside every altar
on garments taken in pledge;
and in the house of their God
they drink wine bought with fines they imposed.

Psalm 8:9 NRSV
O LORD, our Sovereign,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth !

We can hardly impose austerity on the young and old and then give
thanks and praise to our God who lifts up the weak and lowly.
The words of prayer which we express to the God of heaven and
earth, can not be isolated from the words and deeds which affect
our neighbour.
Psalm 8 calls us to an awareness of the Divine Majesty, present
to us in prayer, and the Human Dignity of our fellow beings and
ourselves as perceived by the mind of Christ.
Psalm 8: 4-5-6 NRSV
4  What are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them ?
5  Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honour.
6  You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet.

Our attitudes in prayer need to match our attitudes in everyday life,
and may they always match the example given in Psalm 72..
Psalm 72:12-13-14  NRSV
12 for he delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
13 He has pity on the needy, and saves the lives of the needy
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life;
and precious is their blood in his eyes.

Saturday 4 July 2015

PSALM SEVEN

Rule of law keeps society operating within acceptable legal bounds.
Social limits and unwritten family standards keep us from doing things
which ( if made public ) would make us embarrassed or ashamed .
The child has to learn not to fight with or hurt his friends in order
to experience the joys of friendship.
People are sometimes aggressively competitive. They bring the
attitudes of office politics into what might otherwise be quiet
social gatherings.  In retirement, people can bring the immaturity
of the infant class  ( social domination, bragging and bullying )
into the over 60's coffee morning.
Social maturity is either a Christian virtue or fruit of the Spirit.
The long suffering are likely to turn  (with the psalmist) to seek
the intervention of the Lord our God.

PSALM 7: 6   NJB
Arise, Yahweh, in your anger,
rise up against the arrogance of my foes.
Awake , my God, you demand judgment. 

The child who is being bullied
and the worker who suffers injustice from fellow workers
or supervisors, may join the psalm praying community.

Psalm 7:9 NJB
Put an end to the malice of the wicked.
Make the upright stand firm
You who discern hearts and minds, God the Upright.

Christian answer boldly
"While I breathe I pray"

From a hymn by St Andrew of  Crete, 660-732
translated from the Greek by J.M. Neale DD  1818- 1866.

The hymn calls Christians to rise up in battle against the forces
 of evil in our world  and our temporal flesh.

Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground,
How the powers of darkness rage thy steps around ?
Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss
In the strength that cometh by the holy cross.

Christian, dost thou feel them , how they work within,
Striving, tempting, luring, goading into sin ?
Christian never tremble; never be downcast;
Gird thee for the battle, watch and pray and fast.

Christian dost thou hear them, how they speak thee fair ?
"Always fast and vigil?  Always watch and prayer?"
Christian answer boldly: " While I breathe I pray !"
Peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.

And when we get through it all and  get home in one piece,
we can sing;-
Psalm 7:17 NJB
I thank Yahweh for His saving justice
I sing to the name of the Most High.