Tag: Psalms

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 13  Read: 1 Chronicles 1-2 Listen: (11:18) Read: Psalms 79 Listen: (1:50)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 79.1-10

Reflection: When Temples Fall

By John Tillman

God closely tied his identity to the temple. Why didn’t he save it?

God filled the temple with his glory (1 Kings 8.10-13) and promised Solomon, “My eyes and heart will always be there.” (1 Kings 9.3) By God’s own description, the temple metaphorically and metaphysically connected God’s throne and identity with Jerusalem and his people.

Israel and Judah relied on this through many dangers. God saved the city and his temple many times over, from enemy after enemy. Israel and Judah tied their security to the idea that God would never let the temple suffer shame or destruction. They thought of God’s temple as an unbreakable shield that made them undefeatable, despite being unfaithful.

For this reason Psalm 79 begins with shock that God allowed his temple to be invaded, defiled, and destroyed. In the psalmist’s eyes, this brought shame not only on the people but on the name of God.

The psalmist called on God to forgive the people and help them for “the glory of your name” and “for your name’s sake.” (Psalm 79.9) God, however, is not shamed when a corrupt institution or person falls, even if that institution or person identifies themselves as belonging to God or representing him.

God’s promise to Solomon was conditional—if the people turned away, God promised to make the temple an object of ridicule and scorn. (1 Kings 9.6-10) It was for the sake of God’s name that the temple Judah corrupted was destroyed.

For Christians, Jesus is our temple and our salvation in him is secure and unshakable. Our faith is in his faithfulness, not ours. However, a person, church, organization, or nation cannot slap on the name “Christian” and expect escape from worldly failure or shame, especially when they are unfaithful. Jesus is not a bumper sticker that makes your car unwreckable no matter how you drive.

Are there “temples” you hold as impervious to falling? Is there anything labeled “Christian” that you trust to save you? Jesus will purge our unrighteous temples, whatever they are. Let him.

God would rather destroy his temple than see it continue in unrighteousness, but the psalmist’s good news is that God also restores. Jesus went through shame, ridicule, suffering, destruction, and death for the glory set before him and shares that glory with us. (Hebrews 12.2-3) Just don’t confuse the glory of an institution with the glory of God or presume upon the grace of God to continue in unrighteousness. (Romans 6.1-2)

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said: “The servant who knows what his master wants, but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes, will be given a great many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal, a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is trusted with a great deal, of that person even more will be expected.” — Luke 12.47-48

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Temple Confrontations

Uzziah angrily claimed purity and was made unclean. Isaiah fearfully confessed uncleanness and was made pure.

Read more: Tyre, Eden, the Temple

If Tyre, Adam, and the spiritual leadership of the Temple can fall, so can we. The same sins they tripped on strike at our heels.

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 7   Read: 2 Kings 20 Listen: (3:39) Read: Psalms 73 Listen: (2:56)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Nov 8   Read: 2 Kings 21 Listen: (4:06) Read: Psalms 74 Listen: (2:34)
Nov 9   Read: 2 Kings 22 Listen: (3:45) Read: Psalms 75-76 Listen: (2:33)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 73.1-3; 16-17

Reflection: Losing Cynicism in the Sanctuary

By John Tillman

Psalm 73 begins with its conclusion: Surely God is good to the pure in heart. But the psalmist goes through disillusionment and cynicism before getting there.

The psalmist is distressed by disparity, to the point of despair. The wicked grow rich, healthy, wealthy, and (at least in their own eyes) wise. He begins to think God uncaring and unjust, sinking in a spiral of cynicism. He describes this as a trap he almost “slips” and falls into.

But there is more than one trap. The psalmist says the arrogant rich are also “on slippery ground.” (Psalm 73.18-20) Wealth that works like a charm in this life is, for many, a curse and a trap. (Proverbs 17.8)

We can be snared by both traps. Wealthy as we are, we may think that other wealthier ones are guilty of greed as we hoard our own resources. Poor as we are, we can be in denial of the blessings that God has given us and guilty of the same selfishness as the wealthy. All of us can be guilty of taking rest, ease, and luxury at the expense of others. How can we escape these traps of hubris, greed, jealousy, and despair? 

The psalmist loses cynicism in the sanctuary of the Lord. It is there he sees that all humanity’s unpaid debts to each other are ringing up interest in the Lord’s accounts and we will not avoid his justice. 

We mistake wealth in this world that will pass away as being more desirable than wealth in God’s kingdom that will not pass away. Tricks of perspective can make large things seem small and small things seem large. 

For the rich and the poor, worship of God is the doorway through which we see with a different perspective. This is why James speaks so harshly about treating the rich and poor equitably in God’s house. (James 2.1-13) This is why Jesus was zealous for God’s house, expelling the money changers. (John 2.13-17; Mark 11.15-17; Matthew 21.12-14)

God intends our worship to reflect heaven, not earth.

It will be in worship that we gain a better perspective to help us see things rightly. 
May the Holy Spirit confront us about equity and justice. 
May we question our justice, not God’s. Are we being prudent or greedy? Are we being responsible or cruel?

May moments of worship overwhelm our cynicism and reveal a perspective of eternity.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Keep watch over my life, for I am faithful; save your servant whose trust is in you. — Psalm 86.2

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Greed and Envy

The trap the psalmist escapes is to mistake stored up justice for absence of justice.

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Links for today’s readings:

Nov 6  Read: 2 Kings 19 Listen: (6:11) Read: Psalms 72 Listen: (2:21)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 72.1-4

Reflection: A “Righteous” Government?

By John Tillman

What would a “righteous” government look like?

Remember, the Bible is not intended to dictate modern political policy. Beware anyone who tells you that it does. However, today’s psalm gives us an important picture of what characterizes a rule of righteousness and justice.

Psalm 72 is called “The Royal Psalm” because it describes a king of righteousness and justice. The “Of Solomon” is ambiguous. The Hebrew translated “of” could also mean “to” or “for.” The psalm ends saying, “this concludes the prayers of David.” Whether written by David for Solomon, by Solomon expressing his father’s prayers, or by some other author, the psalm speaks of David’s longing for a truly righteous rule, guided and blessed by Yahweh.

David alternates between asking God to bless the king’s reign and describing the purposes or results of that reign.

He asks for wealth and prosperity. (v. 3, 7, 10, 16) 
He asks for a long life and a long, stable reign. (v 5, 15, 17) 
He asks for a peaceful rule in which enemies are subdued, territory is secure, and all nations turn toward them with respect, gifts, and service. (v. 8-11, 15) 

Why?

So the needy and afflicted can be saved from oppression. (v. 2, 4, 6, 12-14)
So the Lord’s name would be praised over the whole world and all nations, not just Israel, would be blessed and call him blessed. (v. 11, 15, 17-19)

The Bible gives us moral principles, not political policies. What principles do you see in this picture of a righteous government? A righteous government creates prosperity that does not leave the poor in want. A righteous government creates stability and safety without resorting to brutality or oppression. A righteous government creates peace that blesses other nations and will be blessed by them in return.

Solomon’s kingdom, with its forced labor, promiscuous sexuality, flaunting of wealth, and growing idolatry, failed to live up to David’s vision. Many who try to build God’s kingdom on earth resort to Solomon’s corrupt methods. We should also remember that, theologically, this psalm is a prophecy about Jesus. Christ’s kingdom is the only one that could live up to David’s dreams.

We should not fall into the trap of thinking we can build a perfect government. However, we can and should dream of and work for a government that better reflects our principles.

When governments stray from principles of righteousness and justice, our prophetic role demands we speak up. Don’t stop dreaming and don’t stop “prophesying.” Endow us with your justice, O God!

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus went on to say, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.” — Luke 13.18-19

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Rulers with Borrowed Scepters

From Joseph’s beneficent Pharaoh to Moses’s genocidal Pharaoh, rulers are highly variable…None can be trusted to deliver us.

Listen To: Apotheosis of Politics

Jesus is indeed a “foreign god” to us. (Acts 17.18) His kingdom is opposed to, not aligned with, any human government or party.

Links for today’s readings:

Nov 5  Read: 2 Kings 18 Listen: (6:52)  Read: Psalms 70-71 Listen: (3:29)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 71:3a, 14

3 Be my rock of refuge,
    to which I can always go…
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
    I will praise you more and more.

Reflection: Always the Rock of Refuge

By Erin Newton

I remember sitting in the NICU with my twins hoping against the continual onslaught of bad news. Hope was hard to grasp; anxiety became a constant companion. I assumed that I would always feel that way.

Always. There is a constant and enduring essence to the word “always.” It is expected. It is reliable. For me, it was constant dread, then I latched onto Psalm 71 for dear life.

I needed a rock of refuge on day 1 of the NICU. I needed refuge on day 30, day 75, day 150 and on that last day, number 241. I read this psalm every day. It was my chant as I walked into the hospital. It was the prayer when I called each morning. It was the thought that helped me drift off to sleep.

I went to that rock of refuge again and again. And from that continual, enduring, and reliable source of refuge, I found hope.

Our story is a happy one. Just this week we celebrated the twins’ ninth birthday. Anxiety, doubt, and fear would have me think that maybe the Psalm 71 chant somehow guaranteed a positive outcome. But that’s not how Scripture and meditation work. It is not some magical spell (despite how much my dread wanted a solution). Prayers anchor our hearts against the ebb and flow of life.

For me, anxiety and fear continue to cling to the edges of my mind. I was right; I do always feel this way. I haven’t been freed of pain and suffering. New crises emerge. But what has changed is my relationship with that rock of refuge. I know he is reliable. I know he’s an open door for me any day or night. I know I can reach him with a faint whisper. I know I can reach him with a heartfelt scream.

While pain and suffering (and anxiety and dread) are always with me, so is hope. Verse 20 reminds us of the reality of life: “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.”

Our life is restored when we learn that we can run back to God, our rock of refuge. Maybe we stumble and crawl, but this return to the rock is a defiant effort against darkness. God, our rock is always there, even in the depths.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust.
Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you. — Psalm 33.20-22

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Embracing Uncertainty

Anxiety was always part of my life, so adding it to my faith was natural…I assumed my doubt meant my faith was in jeopardy.

Read more: Discipline for the Anxious

The psalmist writes of being “too troubled to speak,” yet he cries to God. He writes of insomnia, yet he rests in God.