Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. – Psalm 6:2

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 31, 2016): Psalm 6

Pope Francis recently released his book “The Name of God is Mercy.” In the book, Francis argues for the centrality of mercy in Jesus message and ministry. Mercy is essential because we all struggle with doing what is right. As a race, we stand in continual need of the forgiveness and grace of God. But maybe even more importantly, as people we are wounded and hurting and we stand in need of the healing that only mercy can provide. It is mercy that is required if we are to find our way back to health. That has always been true, and always will be true.

In the book, Francis lays the groundwork for the path of the Roman Catholic Church to move into the future. On the fate of poor, the homeless and immigrants running from violence and tyranny, the church must have the unrelenting commitment of Christ in easing the pain of life. On more complex issues such as homosexuality and divorce, Francis proposes no changes in doctrine, but he invites the church to take a welcoming approach to all who are willing to come near. He calls the church to extend the mercy of God to the world.

David asks God for mercy. Many have thought that this Psalm was written because of some sort of failure in David’s life. We may not know the specifics of David’s failure, but the failure has caused physical pain inside of David. Now David stands in need of the grace of God so that he can move into his own future. David stands in need of a merciful God.

Dr. George DeHoff, in his commentary on this verse, includes this little story.

"David did not cry for justice; he cried for mercy. I once participated in a funeral with a splendid young minister who kept saying, "The deceased is in the hands of a just God." I suggested to him that if he ever had a part in preaching my funeral, I would appreciate it if he would say that, "I am in the hands of a merciful God." It is mercy and not justice that all of us need."

DeHoff is right. We do not need justice. We never have. We need mercy which will save us from the justice that we deserve. The church that makes a real and positive difference in this world in which we live is a church of mercy and not of justice. So it is to a God of mercy that both David and Pope Francis make their plea.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 7

Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?” Let the light of your face shine on us. – Psalm 4:6

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 30, 2016): Psalm 4 & 5

In 1986, the movie “Gung Ho” was released. “Gung Ho” was a comedy about an entrepreneur, played by Michael Keaton, who travels to Japan to convince a Japanese automaker to use a closed auto plant in the U.S. to make their cars. And it is here that the fun starts. “Gung Ho” is a story about the clash of cultures, and essentially concentrates on an American culture where workers are often concerned with their own rights and the concept of what is “good enough” and a Japanese culture which is dominated by a sense of honor and often seems to concentrate on getting things right or even perfect – often going way far beyond what is “good enough.” And this is the start of the drama – and comedy of the movie.

But the question of the fictional small town auto workers in the movie is still one with which our own culture struggles. How can I get the most while at the same time giving the least? I know, we would never phrase it that way, but that doesn’t erase the reality. A generation ago John F. Kennedy requested Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” But the reality is that that was a long time ago. Now we reverse the importance. It doesn’t matter what I can do for my country, the question is really what is my country, city, company, organization willing to do for me. If you can answer that question, then I will tell you who far I am willing to go for you. And there is little that honor has to do with any of this.

The question that Israel was asking was a common one – Who is it that will bring us prosperity or how can we receive the most? The solution is an important one. God, let your light shine on us. Prosperity and the light of God have historically been linked. We say that we are blessed when things go well, but sometimes we miss that the one who blesses us is God, or the gods,  whoever we might imagine them to be. 

But David’s challenge to Israel is actually that they would trust God for their prosperity, no matter what seemed to be happening. His desire is that they would commit God, knowing that, if they did, then God would commit to them. But David’s call is much closer to Kennedy’s request than any more contemporary understanding. This is not God give me what I want. It is God I will give to you everything I have, even if the world thinks that I am crazy, knowing that in the end God will commit to me.

But we also hear an echo of the great Aaronic blessing in David’s words: 

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

The promise of God to us is simply this, if you will commit to me, then I will place my name on you, and I will bless you.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 6

I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. – Psalm 2:6

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 29, 2016): Psalm 2 & 3

In the wake of the Belgium attacks, and the waiting for the next attack, the world has been set on edge. We are waiting for whatever comes next. This is a time when the nations begin to talk about strengthening borders and walling ourselves in. Question emerge about the wisdom of accepting refugees into our teetering political systems for fear that among sheep are wolves intent on destroying us. Even though most of the attackers have come from within our own national borders, we fear the outsider. In fact, we are just plain afraid. 

And we should be. Those who would cause terror in our nation's believe strongly that they come in the name and the power of their God. One of the suicide bombers in Belgium left a note indicating that he was sure that there were no other options; that the net was closing in on him and he would rather die serving his God then to wind up in prison without accomplishing anything. After all, Allah wills it. That phrase continues to plague us. Originally it wasn’t the Muslim Allah who willed it, the phrase has been handed down from the Christian Crusades of almost a thousand years ago. Then it was the Christian God who willed the destruction. The Christian Church has long since repented of its error and arrogance in believing that somehow God had commanded wanton destruction. It wasn’t God. It was our own hubris that caused the destruction. And I believe that many years from now our Muslim friends will come to the same conclusion. This isn’t about God, it is about our own egotistical desires and pride, and that is true on both sides of the fight.

David reminds his opponents that their plans will ultimately fail because God’s king reigns on the throne. From David’s point of view, this was entirely true. He had done very little to secure the throne of Israel. Although there were popular rumors that condemned David as a power-hungry General thirst for the throne, the truth was that David had never lifted a finger against Saul. All through Saul’s reign, David believed that Saul was God’s man, and he would do whatever he could to protect him; even when Saul was trying to kill David. David had been anointed as king, but the process of how he would rise to the throne remained in God’s hands.

But God had raised him up and placed him on the throne. And so he was God’s man for this moment. While his opponents would plan their attacks against him, it was only God who would ultimately be able to remove him from the throne. So it was God that David intended to place his focus on, rather than on those who wanted to do him harm.

The Christian Church has a powerful message for the world. We believe that Jesus is still king and he still sits on the throne. While our enemies, and sometimes our friends, might plot against us, our focus should not be on them. It should be on our king, for he is the only one who can determine our fate. They can plot and plan, but the ultimate reality is that our king still reigns in Zion. And there are absolutely no signs that he is planning on leaving that throne. 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 4 & 5