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