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
No comments:
Post a Comment