May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us— … Psalm 67:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 3, 2016): Psalm 66 & 67

It is at the end of almost every political speech given in the United States. The words … and God bless America. It would almost seem unpatriotic not to include them, although the meaning is probably different with every speaker that breathes the words. I can’t imagine that Bernie Sanders, a Jew and almost agnostic, means the same thing when he speaks them as Marco Rubio, a born-again Christian, does. Or that Hillary Clinton, a follower of the law of political expediency doing whatever it takes to get elected, means the same thing as Donald Trump does when he speaks them. (To be honest, Trump is a bit of an enigma when it comes to what he really believes in, if he even believes in anything past Donald Trump.) But God bless America anyway.

For some, the phrase is archaic. It extends back to a time when we didn’t understand the world as well as we do know. The world was a mysterious place where sometimes rain fell and sometimes drought happened – place where the earth shook and the mountains erupted with lava for apparently no reason at all. And it all seemed to be at the whim of some deity who had control over the good and the bad. And so we asked for his blessing, hoping that he would change our reality. But now we know more. We understand global weather patterns and have a handle on climate change – not that that has helped us become better predictors of the weather – and the need for God’s blessing seems to be somewhat less.

Sometimes I think we have become too satisfied with what we know. There is still much that we do not know, and much that maybe someday we will understand in more depth than we do now. But our knowledge is not a reason to stop seeking the blessing of God. Even with all that we know, we still need his blessing. And actually, it might be that we are in even more need of God shining down on us. The blessing of God often comes in a very countercultural way. After all, just consider the beatitudes at the opening of Jesus Sermon on the Mount.

Blessed are the poor …

Blessed are those who mourn …

Blessed are the meek

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness …

Blessed are the merciful …

Blessed are the pure in heart …

Blessed are the peacemakers …

Blessed are the persecuted …

Blessed are you when people insult you …

I am not sure that any of the politicians who are asking for God’s blessing are actually asking for God to make this list a reality in their lives when they say “God Bless America.” But maybe this should actually be our prayer. God, allow your blessing to fall on me until I look like that. Then, maybe we can actually be the peacemakers we are supposed to be. Then maybe we will bring understanding across cultural divides. Then maybe we will begin to really be recreated into the image of Christ.

It would not be an easy prayer, but in the midst of all that we know, it might be the one that we need to pray. God, bless us, be gracious to us and make your face shine done on us – until we begin to look more like you.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 71

People, despite their wealth, do not endure; they are like the beasts that perish. – Psalm 49:12

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 2, 2016): Psalm 49

The name of Genghis Khan drove fear into the hearts of the known world during the later part of the 13^th Century. Even in Europe, the fear that maybe today the Mongolian hordes would ride over the horizon toward them reigned in the heart of the people. And there was a good reason for the fear. Khan’s Mongolian Empire threatened to take over the entire world. Many have tried to rule the world, but of all the pretenders, Khan, and the Mongolians came the closest to actually accomplishing the feat. And as the King over a vast empire, Khan was rich. And yet he seemed to understand what that really meant. The Mongolian army was maybe the first army that was forbidden from looting among the defeated peoples. What was taken from defeated nations was divided evenly among the military units. Khan took his portion, but even that was used to create goodwill and unity among the factions. The real secret among the Mongolians, as it has been among other successful empires, was unity.

But, eventually, Genghis Khan died. Even though he was rich, nothing could stop that moment that comes to all of us. Death is an equal opportunity event in which someday, unless Jesus comes back and we meet him in the sky, we will all participate. The Mongolian Empire gave way to the Yuan Empire, started by Kublai Khan, and the Yuan Empire disappeared because of internal bitterness and rivalry. Apparently they had not learned the secret of unity that Genghis Khan had possessed. Today we remember nothing really of the Khan’s other than their names, and even then we do not remember Genghis Khan because he was rich, but because of his military prowess and the empire that he had built. 

The psalmist does not intend to remind us that we are no different from the beasts of the field. His intention is that it is not our wealth that makes us different. If it was left to our wealth, then there would be no difference. What is different is that we have the ability to make connections and to understand the greater things in life. As far as this world is concerned, Genghis Khan may have actually discovered the initial stages of this understanding. Wealth only has importance in that it is a tool that can be used to bring unity among people. It can be spent to help those in need and to alleviate the pain that almost always results in division. And even as Christians, we can learn to appreciate this part of Khan’s wisdom.

But money can also be used to reflect the goodness and providence of God, going a step beyond Genghis Khan’s establishment of unity, to bringing health. And this is when we truly shine as a people – and when we prove that we are different from the beasts. It is no wonder that the psalmist concludes with these words - People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:20). Without understanding, wealth is wasted. And when wealth is wasted, in the end, we die - just like the beasts of the field.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 66 & 67

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers … - Psalm 1:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 1, 2016): Psalm 1

“Oh dear Lord. You made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, it’s no shame to be poor. But it’s no great honor either. So what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?” Of course, the prayer is from “Fiddler on the Roof” and makes up the prelude to Tevye’s song “If I Were a Rich Man.” The song exposes both the good and the bad about being rich. On the good side, Tevye talks about having time to go to the synagogue and pray, and time to spend discussing the “Holy Books.” But, on the other side, there would be no need to work hard, he could waste his money building “one long staircase just going up and one even longer coming down. And one more leading nowhere just for show.” And, of course, he would be the one that people come to for advice, just like “Solomon the Wise. And it won’t make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong, when you’re rich they think you really know.” (And these words, written in 1964, explain parts of our political system that have boggled my mind, and the mess that we currently seem to be in.) The closing words of Tevye’s daydream ask an important question. “Lord, who made the lion and the lamb, You decreed I should be what I am. Would it spoil some vast eternal plan, if I were a wealthy man?”

The words from the song probably resonate with us because we have all asked the same question at least during some of the harder moments of our lives. God, what would it matter if you made me rich? Political systems have been dreamed up and instituted around the idea that no one should be rich and no one should be poor. Some people feel that North America is setting itself up for a rebellion because of the vast chasm that has developed between the rich and the rest of us. But the single most important factor that stops the rebellion is the idea that maybe someday we can cross the divide and stand on the other side – it is the essence of the American Dream, maybe someday I can be rich too. Maybe I can live in the house Tevye dreamed of in the center of the town with three staircases, one going up, and one coming down and one just for show.

I love Charles Spurgeon’s description of Psalm 1. First, he reminds us that the Psalms open with a benediction, or a blessing, on the readers. Usually, we think of a benediction coming at the end, but the Psalms also begin with one. And, so did Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” Both invoked a blessing at the very beginning.

But Spurgeon also reminds of something else. The words in this opening Psalm are not directed at the exceptional – The Psalmist has not written ‘Blessed is the king,’ or ‘blessed is the scholar’ or even Tevye’s ‘blessed are the rich.’ The Psalmists words are ‘blessed is the man’ or a more politically correct phrasing for our day ‘blessed is the one.’ It is not just the special that God blesses. His blessing is on all of us who dare to stand up against wrong and for right. It is in that moment that our consciences have no reason to complain. No matter the cost, we have done what is right … and that makes us the blessed.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 49