We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. – Psalm 75:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 30, 2019): Psalm 75 & 76

What is the name of God? It sounds like such a simple question, but maybe it is more complicated than we realize. We simply call him “God.” We rebel against the name “Allah,” insisting that that is not the name of the God that we serve, but misunderstanding that “Allah” is just the word “God” in Arabic.

In actuality, we seem to serve a God of nicknames. The earliest name of God is “Elohim” or “God Almighty.” In Christian circles, he is often called “Jehovah,” which is a misunderstanding or mispronunciation of the Hebrew name “Yahweh.” But I am becoming more and more convinced that Yahweh is the name of the God of the Midianites, one that Moses learned from his father-in-law, who was the Priest of Midian and was likely the source of much of Moses’s adult religious education. One of my favorite names or nicknames of God is El-Roi or the “God Who Sees Me.” El-Roi arises from Hagar’s escape away from Sarah with Ishmael at a time when she felt particularly vulnerable and needed to know that God was there and that he saw her. It is an emotion with which I can identify.

There are other names of God, but fundamentally they are all nicknames; names that we call him because they mean something to us. I have had several nicknames throughout my life, but they were all authored by others, they were never the names that I chose for myself. For God, the name that he chose for himself is more than a little mysterious. Only once does God seem to answer the question “what is your name?” directly. And his answer was “Hayah Hayah” (Exodus 3:14). The name translates into “I am that I am,” or maybe “I will be who I will be.” The name itself seems to be a criticism of Moses’s question, “Who should I say has sent me?” God seems to be telling Moses; I am the God who exists, the only one who can speak to you. What does it matter what you should call me? It should be enough to know that “I Am.”

The Psalmist agrees. He argues that the name of God has come near to his people. The words of the Psalmist take me back to the words of Hagar. Surely you are El-Roi, the God who sees me. And to Moses, you are the only God who exists and can come to my aid. He is the God who has decided to draw near to his children because that is who he has decided to be. He really is the God who sees me, and the one who continually draws near.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 77

Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. – Psalm 73:9

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 29, 2019): Psalm 73

I recently read an article centered on the primacy of the Catholic Church. According to the report, there is only one Christian Church that follows the will of God. Protestantism, the movement to which I belong, are pretenders and are suffering from the sin of vanity in that we think that we know better than Roman Catholicism, the church that descended from the Apostle Peter, what God desires from us. There are so many problems with the assertion. First, the fact that Roman Catholicism descended from Peter employs a bit of historical revisionism. They have claimed the early church movement as theirs when history is not all that clear. Roman Catholicism started centuries after Peter, but they extended their history back to him. And the Protestant break was an attempt to repent from some very unbiblical practices that were, then, intricately connected with the Catholic Church and return to the teachings of Peter than the other apostles.

Protestantism is also a break from the Roman Catholic motto “Deus Vult” or “God Wills it.” In our contemporary culture, “Deus Vult” seems to be more of a radical Islamic doctrine, but we (and this is part of my history as well because it occurred before the Catholic/Protestant break) were the first ones to use the motto. It was the cry of the Crusades because God wills us to go to battle against his creation. Over the past millennium, many evils have been committed under the motto of “Deus Vult.” But my reading of the Scripture reveals that what God wills is that we would go and love our neighbor, who Jesus defines as anyone who comes across our paths.

I recently also met with a gentleman in my office who wanted to convince me that the current Roman Catholic church was a tool of Satan. According to him, the Roman Catholic Church and any kind of loose reunification or peace between the Protestant Churches and the Roman Catholic Church was a sign of the end times. He stopped just short of calling the Roman Catholic Church “the Beast” described in Revelation.

Both sides of the argument bother me. But the current Roman Catholic Church is not the same Roman Catholic Church from which the Protestants reluctantly broke centuries ago. In the same way, the Protestant Church is not the same. And both groups are much closer in beliefs today than they were centuries ago.  

The Psalmist argues that the wicked lay claims to heaven while their tongues take possession of the earth. Maybe we should take this as one of the definitions of what the wicked do. In the case of the Roman Catholic Church and their Protestant descendants, both have been guilty of this sin in the past. We have committed acts or taught doctrines arguing that “God wills it” when the truth is that God has done no such thing.  We have forgotten the words of Jesus spoken in the very common prayer that he taught to us. “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” God, what we want is what you want. And as long as that is our prayer, then we are part of his church, no matter what the sign reads in front of our places of worship.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 75 & 76

But to the wicked person, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?” – Psalm 50:16

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 28, 2019): Psalm 50

Louisa May Alcott in “Little Women” writes “I like good strong words that mean something…” Maybe the most crucial part of the phrase are those final words – “that mean something.” Because the truth is that not all words, even good strong words, mean something. To many, our words are just noises that fill the space that surrounds us. We speak words that will make us look good. Or we speak words that will make someone else, usually someone in power, like us. Listen to a newscast, and you are likely to hear the question asked, “Is what you are saying what you believe, or are they simply words spoken to please someone else.” The problem is that with those same strong words that we reveal the truth, we can also mislead or even outright lie.

Maybe one of the advantages of living in a post-Christian world is that Christian words are beginning to lose their political significance. Yes, some will still pretend that they live a Christian life for some sort of political gain, but the advantage is steadily growing less. And maybe in this, we are returning to the reality that the first generation of Christians understood perfectly; to admit that you were a Christian was to experience very real loss in this world, but the knowledge that you were counted among those who followed a very real God who had given up even more for us.

The Psalmist places these words into the mouth of God, spoken to a wicked person. “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?” The essence of these words are “how dare you speak my words if you are unwilling to live a life that honors me.” Words are not enough, even if they are strong words. In fact, increasingly, we need fewer Christian or religious words in our culture, and more lives that reflect the demands that God has placed on us. We need to talk less about justice and work more towards justice in the unjust areas of our word. We need to speak less of righteousness and work more toward living out righteousness in our lives. We need fewer affirmations of love and more acts of love and kindness to those who are around us. And maybe I can get even more radical. We need fewer words about Christ, and more being Christ to those who are far from God who are all around us.

We need to commit that we will be the people who will not just recite the laws and covenants of God, but who will live out those laws before all those who watch us every day.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 73

He has founded his city on the holy mountain. – Psalm 87:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 27, 2019): Psalm 87 & 88

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. The mountain rises to 52 peaks and dives into several deep gorges. The highest of the peaks is named Mytikas, and it is Mytikas, which means nose, that is thought to be the dwelling place of the Greek gods. And it is precisely the mountains height and majesty that likely first drew worshippers toward the mountain and the conclusion that the gods must live there. Mytikas rises to an elevation of 2,919 meters or 9,577 feet. It was a fitting place to be the home of the gods.

In contrast, the highest point on Mount Zion was 765 meters or 2,510 feet. The Holy Mountain of God was not God’s because of its majesty. Zion was holy because of God’s presence, and not because of the majesty of the mountain itself. It just seemed to the people that God kept on returning to this place on the earth for significant moments in the history of the nation. 

Just consider then following:

            It was the place where Melchezidek, the king and priest of God reigned and served.

It has here that Abraham proved his dedication to God by being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, and it was here that God provided an alternate, perfect sacrifice instead.

David took the mountain and made it is his city.

The tabernacle would eventually be brought here.

Two temples dedicated to God would stand in this city.

During Jesus’s ministry, he honored the mountain by observing the feasts and rituals that would take place there.

It was here that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again from the dead.

Pentecost happened in an upper room on this mountain.

And God has promised that this mountain would be the center of his kingdom when he comes again.

Zion is not as physically impressive as some other mountains, even in the general area of Zion. But God has chosen the mountain to be significant in our experience with him. And so it is his holy mountain.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 50

Personal Note: Happy 60^th Wedding Anniversary to my parents, Duane and Shirley. I am looking forward to getting together with you to celebrate this weekend.

Show us your unfailing love, LORD, and grant us your salvation. – Psalm 85:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 26, 2019): Psalm 85

Oscar Wilde asked, “How else but through a broken heart may Lord Christ enter in?” Wilde’s truth is that when everything is going well, we have nothing present in our lives that will drive us toward understanding our need for salvation. It is in the broken moments, which we all experience, that the concept of salvation can find its way through our emotions and into our consciousness.

What makes salvation even harder in our culture is that we do not like to admit our brokenness. I have meetings with people who through their sobs, will insist that nothing is really wrong. Often the excuse that we use is that we are just tired, but we are definitely not broken. And in doing so, we lose sight of the purpose that brokenness plays in our lives, not just in the underscoring of our need for salvation, but also the way that our brokenness often shapes our lives, and it creates a beautiful mosaic in the process.

The Psalmist was no stranger to sorrow and brokenness. And he understood the history of the land. God had blessed Israel. He had brought his people out of slavery and into this new existence. But Israel had become proud and had wandered into sin. And in the process, God’s blessing had been obscured. Now they were broken, and amidst their brokenness, they were beginning to understand their need for God.

And so the Psalmist pleads for salvation; a salvation that would be a direct result of God’s unfailing love. It is interesting that we often think of the God of the Hebrew Bible as being different from the loving God we see in the Christian Testament. We mistakenly believe that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17) could never be spoken about a God of the Mosaic Covenant. But that is wrong. The Psalmist cries out to the God of unfailing love, asking that he would come, not to condemn Israel, but to restore it and save it.

It that is precisely what the God of the Hebrew Bible did when he gave us his son, Jesus bar Joseph, who is the Christ.      

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 87 & 88

How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! – Psalm 84:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 25, 2019): Psalm 84

I have a high view of the church. We are the Body of Christ. It is what we miss in Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 11. When Paul argues that “those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:29) he is not talking about the crucified body of Jesus. He is pointing directly at the Christian Church. When you do not realize who you are, and who that person is who is standing next to you, that you collectively are the Body of the Christ, then you eat and drink judgment on yourself.

Taking the illustration to the next level, the idea that we are the Body of Christ reveals our purpose on this planet. Jesus did not come to judge and condemn the world. Jesus was very clear on this point.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17). This becomes the description of who we are if we are truly the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, too often, we would rather judge and condemn the world. But then, once again, we lose sight of who we are as the body of Christ. Or in Paul’s words, we stop “discerning the body of Christ.”

The Psalmist begins his Psalm with the familiar words, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty.” The Psalmist, if it was David, was speaking of the Tabernacle. But the words apply just as equally to the Temple of Solomon that followed the Tabernacle, and to the smaller Temple of Zerubbabel that was built after the Babylonian Captivity. The words describe the Herodian expansion of the Second Temple before it was finally destroyed by the Romans. And the words apply to the current dream of a future Temple that might someday once again stand on Temple Mount. 

But, as Christians, they should also apply to us. We are the dwelling place of God. Not our churches or places of worship. We, the people. We are the Body of Christ. And if we are doing our jobs, people should look upon the Christian Community and echo the words of the Psalmist, “How lovely is your dwelling place.” But something has gone horribly wrong. And the proof is found in a simple Google search. Type in Why are Christians? … and let your computer finish the sentence. Why are Christians mean? Why are Christians judgmental? Why are Christians fanatics? Why are Christians conservative? Why are Christians Republicans? Why are Christians for Trump? What is missing? The query “Why are Christians lovely” will not be revealed by your computer. But I am convinced that it should if we are doing our job. Something has to change because the Psalmist is right. “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty.” And that should include us.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 85

You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. – Psalm 44:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 24, 2019): Psalm 44

What happened to you this week about which you would like to write? Anything important happening right now that is shaping your life? Any news stories that are impacting you and what you believe? There is an understanding that we can only write about what we know. Songs are often heavily influenced by what is happening in the poet’s life. We can watch the shift in lyrics as time passes. For example, the Swedish band “ABBA” made a definite shift from the carefree pop music that dominated their early careers to much darker themes as the band members began to struggle with their marriages and eventually started the process of ending their relationships.

But there is it true that we can only write from our experiences. If it is, then most writers would have only one or two books or poems lurking inside of them. We do write from our experiences, but we can also create from an imagination that extends beyond our experiences. But even then, we will probably not venture too far away from what we know.

Traditionally, Psalm 44 is considered to be the work of David. But there is a problem with that understanding that is found in these verses. There is no doubt that David went through troubling times; there were moments when David felt defeat and wondered if God had forgotten him. But we have no evidence that he ever experienced anything like what is mentioned in this passage. Not only was Israel not scattered among the nations during his lifetime, but it had never been distributed to this extent in the collective memory of the country. Something like this happened during the Assyrian Captivity on the eighth century B.C.E., or during the Babylonian Captivity in the early sixth century B.C.E. But the description David gives here really didn’t take place until the time of Jesus, and then after the fall of Jerusalem in the first century C.E. All of these events are, at minimum, hundreds of years in David’s future. And it is that fact that caused John Calvin to date this Psalm not to the age of David, but rather to the time of the Maccabees; a time just before the birth of Jesus.

But we should not discount the traditional understanding. David might have written these words. But if he did, then these words are not based on experience but are a prophecy about a time that was coming. And when it finally came, it revealed itself in a way that even David could not have comprehended during his day. And yet, obediently, David saw an image of what was coming and wrote down what had been revealed even though he had no experience of the events that were reflected in his words.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 84

Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. – Psalm 43:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 23, 2019): Psalm 43

Joshua Harris, in “I Kissed Dating Goodbye: A New Attitude Toward Relationships and Romance,” argues that “The right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing.” Timing is essential in every aspect of our lives. In baseball, the perfect swing is only perfect if the ball is present in the path of the bat. Over the many years of the sport, millions of perfect swings have become the ingredients of a strikeout. If the ball had been present, those swings would have been home runs. But the ball was absent and the batter was sent back to the dug out to get his or her glove, and to prepare to return to the field to make a defence against the perfect swings of the other team.

Psalm 43 seems very similar to Psalm 42. Some have argued that Psalm 43 is actually a fragment of Psalm 42, or maybe it is a summary of Psalm 42. Others have argued that the two Psalms should be placed together to make up one Psalm. But the likelihood is that the two Psalms appear so similar because they are written during the same period and about the same event. It seems that, from the point of view of the Psalmist, God is slow. He is not responding to his poetic plea with the speed that the Psalmist desires.

But God’s timing is perfect. While sometimes it seems that he is slow, by faith, we understand God’s evaluation of our situation is better, and that he will move when the time is right. He delivers his answers to our prayers when we most need them. Until then, like the Psalmist, we learn the lessons that are present in the waiting. Vindication will come, but it might not be the most critical part of the struggle. The lessons we learn as we wait on God’s timing helps to shape our lives into the extraordinary thing that they can be. And God wants nothing less for any of us.     

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 44

I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” – Psalm 42:9

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 22, 2019): Psalm 42

Why? It is often the unanswerable question. It is the child’s question of a tired mother; the unending query of the curious. And sometimes the tired mother’s answer is the only one that is available to us – “because.” There is no other answer, at least no answer that will ever satisfy. But why is also the beginning of finding the answers to those questions. Why is part of our struggle for truth, even the answers seem to be so far away.

The Psalmist offers us three why questions in this passage. The first is directed at God. “Why have you forgotten me?” The words are an echo of the opening questions of Psalm 22, words that are repeated by Jesus from the cross; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish” (Psalm 22:1)? The answer to this why question, both for the Psalmist and Jesus, is that God had never forgotten or forsaken any of us. Sometimes, amid the stress and struggle of life, we can’t feel God’s presence, even though he remains with us. But by faith, we know he stays with us, even when we can’t feel his arms wrapped around us.  

The second why question is self-directed. “Why must I go about mourning?” And the answer is that mourning is simply the reality of living on this planet. Life means transition and loss, and both of those things require grief. But mourning is not actually bad. Mourning a person we have lost means that that person made a genuine difference in our lives. We would have been experientially poorer if they had not been part of our experience during this life. Mourning a life situation gives us a reason to struggle to get back to where we want to be. Mourning is a positive response to the realities of living.

The last why question is directed at the unnamed “them.” “Why must I be oppressed by my enemy?” This might be the unanswerable question. But the truth of our reality is that someone will always oppose us, even though we may struggle understanding why. The Psalmist’s last why query might be the hardest for us to understand, but that is also okay. Because we know that God is with us, even when we can’t feel him, and their opposition will only make us stronger

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 43

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. – Psalm 145:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 21, 2019): Psalm 145

Friedrich Nietzsche writes in his “Twilight of the Idols” that “without music, life would be a mistake.” I like the quote. For me, and I realize that this might not be true for everyone, music soothes the trials of life. There are few things that I enjoy more than being able to get outside and go for a walk with music playing through earbuds placed carefully in my ear. Admittedly, I listen to a lot of seventies and eighties rock; it is the language that speaks to the core of my being. I understand the words; they mean something to me.

But I also grew up in a musical family. I remember evenings when people actually gathered around the piano singing songs that meant something to them. In my family, the song was part of the process of celebrating God and everything that he had done. It was also part of the way that the message about God was passed from one generation to the next.

I am also a survivor of what has been called the “Worship Wars” in the Christians church. The term has been affectionately applied to the transitional period between the music of one generation and the next. I remember one bassist warning me not to “Gaitherize” the modern songs. I understood the comment. Music is complex, and it involves more than just the music and lyrics; it consists of the way that the song is played and transmitted to the worshippers who have gathered. Sometimes I am asked why we don’t play more country. And my reply is that “every time we try to play country, it comes out as rock. It is just the way that we know how to transmit the message.”

And I am afraid that the Worship Wars are here to stay. My sense is that ever since Bill and Gloria Gaither and their community began writing songs for the worshipping church, every generation since has attempted to make the music their own. There are some songs of the next generation that I don’t like, it is not my language, but I think that that is the way that it is supposed to be in our contemporary world.

And so I sing my songs, transmitting the message of God that I know, in the language that I know, to the next generation. But the process continues, and I don’t think that communication is successful until the next generation translates my song into their language. Every generation has to make the song its own so that they can continue to sing it, and transfer the message to those who will follow them.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 42

They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. – Psalm 144:4

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 20, 2019): Psalm 144

If you live in a colder climate, you know that sometimes breathing is a visible experience. There seems to be a moment every winter, in the bone-numbing cold, where I find myself standing somewhere just breathing and watching the vapor pour out of my mouth and rise into the air. The visible breath does not last long. Even in the coldest of temperatures, in the length of time it takes to draw the cold air back into your lungs, the vapor disappears and is no longer visible. The air in front of your eyes is once again clear and waiting once more to receive your exhale visibly.

David might have known that experience. The city of Jerusalem itself does not usually get cold enough to make breath visible, although it can come close. But David had likely climbed mountains where the temperature does dip far enough to make the breath visible. He had probably stood somewhere and marveled at the vapor that came out of his mouth, drifted upward, and then quickly disappeared. And the poet inside of David saw that this disappearing vapor was an excellent example of the fragile nature of life.

David lived, he reigned over an empire in his days. Israel was feared by her neighbors as long as David was on the throne. I am sure that no one could imagine that one day, Israel could disappear. And yet that is precisely what happened. Israel the strong became Israel the oppressed and then Judah the defeated. There is no doubt that the people in later generations, and maybe even today, longed for another David and another chance to rule on the world stage. But David’s life and kingdom, in spite of all its strength, was nothing more than a vapor.

We are people who often live in the moment. And the reality that exists right now is often the only one that we can imagine ever existing. But this moment is only a vapor, a fleeting breath that you can see for a moment when the weather turns cold, but quickly disappears. Even the most influential people that we know are more fragile than we realize. And our concern should be about what it is that happens next.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 145

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. – Psalm 143:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 19, 2019): Psalm 143

What exactly is love? It is a question that might not have an obvious answer. From my experience with people, love is often defined as affirming and supporting your position, no matter what that position might be. We may talk about a tough love, but that is almost non-existent in our reality. Your child doesn’t want to eat. That’s okay, show love and support them in that decision. Someone is unusually demanding in their behavior. That is okay, show love and give in to whatever it is that they want. Love is always affirming. Love never asks questions. And, above all, love is a verb; it is an action and if I am not feeling that action then there is no love present.

My problem is that I am not sure that I agree. Yes, love supports us, even when we are wrong. But love also wants the best for us, even when what we are doing is not the best. Love gently shapes us. Love strengthens us; it allows us to be better. And love is an action, but it might not always be an action of which I am aware.

Specifically, I believe that God loves me, even when things are going wrong and my life is mess. In fact, God loves me even when I am the reason that things are going wrong in my life. But he loves me enough that he does not want to leave me in my misery. He wants to take action that will strengthen me and help me to move into a better future.

So I struggle with the words of this Psalm. The Psalmist testifies that he has placed his life into the hands of God. God is the only one who the Psalmist would trust with the core of his being. Yet, it is also obvious that the Psalmist is in trouble. Life is not going as he wished that it would. And he stands in need of help from God. And so his prayer is that help will come in the morning in the form of the love of God.

But God’s love is already present in the Psalmists life. He does not have to wait until morning for it to arrive. It has been surrounding him during every moment of the turmoil that the Psalmist is experiencing. The problem is that the Psalmist could not feel the love. But that did not mean that the love of God was not present in his life.

And that is a lesson that we need to learn. God is moving in our lives and loving us. But sometimes, as the stress of life mounts, we cannot feel that love. But being unable to feel that love does not negate it. By faith, we recognize that love is present, even when we can’t feel it. And we do not have to wait until the morning for that to be true.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 144

May slanderers not be established in the land; may disaster hunt down the violent. – Psalm 140:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 18, 2019): Psalm 140 & 141

Jim Carrey released a political cartoon on May 18, 2019, depicting a late-term abortion. The baby in Carrey’s cartoon had the face of the Governor of Alabama. The words accompanying the cartoon were “I think If you’re going to terminate a pregnancy, it should be done sometime before the fetus becomes Governor of Alabama.” The cartoon received the love of some, but also the ire of many. The cartoon and the words reflect a political violence that, to be honest, has become common in our current political environment. And this violence is not just present in the political dialogue in the United States. For those who argue that what happens in the United States is only the business of those who live in the United States, we are seeing an alternate reality. What happens in the United States becomes the seed for what happens in the rest of the world. This is the reality of living in a world with a Superpower. It is a reality to which we need to become more comfortable.

Ted Cruz, in particular, reacted negatively to Carrey’s cartoon. Now, this was not the first time that Carrey’s cartoons and political stand had ignited Ted Cruz's anger. But in this instance, Cruz’s response was interesting. Cruz wrote, “This is not OK. Today’s Left: vicious, angry & consumed by hate. Instead of insults & dehumanizing rage, we should return to civility. I disagree w/ Carrey’s politics, but believe we should respect his humanity nonetheless. I wish he could reciprocate. #LoveIsStrongerThanHate.” The struggle that I have with Cruz’s words is that civility is absent in the totality of the political dialogue, not just on one side. The problem is that we often miss the violence and slander that is present on our side of the political debate. When we agree with the political stance, it is easy to overlook or find humorous the violence inherent in the statements of support. But when it is on the other side, it strikes us as more offensive. Cruz has an excellent point, but it needs to be applied to his colleagues as well as to Carrey.

The Psalmist prays that slanderers and name callers would not be established in the land. He calls for disaster to “hunt down the violent.” They are words that we need to hear today. It is time that we stopped trying to do violence with our presence and with our words. We need to take a stand against slander and name-calling, even of those with whom we have serious disagreements. The Bible calls us to something higher and better, but it will not become a reality until we make it important, and until we will not stand for anything that is less.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 143

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. – Psalm 138:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 17, 2019): Psalm 138 & 139

At the close of World War II, Japanese Emperor Hirohito was put in an almost impossible situation. Whether Hirohito was personally responsible for war crimes has always been a bit of an open question. But the United States made the decision that the Emperor would not be tried for any of the actions of his nation during the war. He would also not be forced to give up the “crown of leadership” that he wore for his country. His sacrifice was that he would have to renounce his mythical lineage explicitly. Shinto belief was that the family of the Emperor were direct descendants Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun and the universe. Hirohito would not be tried for war crimes, but he would not be able to ever publicly claim that he was a god again. While Hirohito agreed to reject the mythical lineage, there is evidence that he struggled with that idea for the rest of his life. For Hirohito, he could no more deny that he was the descendant of Amaterasu than he could deny that he was Japanese.

Hirohito does not stand alone. Throughout history, many kings and hereditary leaders have believed that they were gods. And we can add to that list many others who may not have thought that they were gods, but who insisted on acting as if they are.

The Psalmist writes that he will praise the God of Israel with all of his heart, or with his whole being. But he also commits to doing so “before the gods.” The Psalmist is not indicating gods like Amaterasu or the mythical gods of the other nations. He is speaking directly to the Hirohito’s of his time. The Psalmist’s message is directed at men and women who could not imagine that they were not gods and demanded that they are worshipped as such. He commits to not only worship his God with all of who he is but to do so in the presence of those who believed that they were gods. He would not share the worship that belonged to his God with anyone who only thought that they were gods, no matter how firmly they may hold onto that belief.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 140 & 141

Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. – Psalm 134:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 16, 2019): Psalm 131, 133, & 134

In May 2019, Julia Slonska was purposefully filmed knocking the nose off of a two-hundred-year-old statue in Warsaw, Poland. The act of vandalism was filmed in an effort to attract more Instagram followers to her account, and it is one incident of several acts of vandalism against irreplaceable works of art that has taken place in the past few years. Adding insult to Slonska’s act is the laughter that punctuates the video. We have lost respect in things of the past. I have to admit that I don’t understand that lack of respect. The list of places and things that we have destroyed is growing, and the sense of loss is multiplying even faster.

There was a time when the doors of a church were always open. The idea of locking a church almost made no sense. Priests were continually present to welcome the stranger or the one in need of prayer. But budget constraints, theft, and vandalism have forced holy places to close their doors outside of regular worship hours. And even then, those houses of worship who can afford it have begun to hire armed guards to protect the House and those inside who are giving their attention to the worship of their God. I have served in a church that had their sound system stolen, twice. The image of the wealthy and well-funded religious institution is a bit of an urban myth. There are well-funded ministries and religious leaders who live in luxurious residences, but most do not have anything close to that kind of cash flow. And for every dollar that we have to spend on repairs or to deal with vandalism, a dollar is not going to other ministries that help and support people. The church in which I currently serve had to begin to lock its doors, even when I am on the premises because someone decided to use the sanctuary as a bathroom. The times, they are a-changin.

David writes of those who minister in the Tabernacle, especially at night. These ministers gave up on sleep so that someone would always be present to welcome the weary traveler when they came to the Tabernacle. Because of these people, doing their duty day or night, the welcome mat was always out at the House of God. The traveler and worshipper could come and offer their prayers day or night. And safety from violence was always available at the Tabernacle of the Lord.

But there is a second message in David’s words. The invitation to those who minister in the Temple at night to “Praise the Lord” or Bless the Lord” could also carry the meaning of “Pray to the Lord on our behalf.” So not only was the Tabernacle always open, prayer on behalf of the nation was always originating from the Tabernacle. Never was there a moment in Israel when someone was not offering a prayer on behalf of the country.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 138 & 139

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. – Psalm 125:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 15, 2019): Psalm 124 & 125

Faith can be nebulous and hard to define. I know many people who adamantly declare that faith in things that they cannot see is false and something that they could never possess. And before someone remarks that we cannot see the air that we breathe (hopefully, if we can then we are in deep trouble) or gravity, they would respond that while we cannot see it, we do know of its effects. I know of at least one person in my circle of acquaintances who would argue that gravity is just a theory. What we interpret as gravity is really only the “Law of Repeated or Repeatable Events.” We know that something will always drop to the ground if we let it go, and it is not otherwise suspended. That result might be because of gravity, but it might also be because of some other force at work. So we cannot say that gravity exists, only that specific actions tend to produce precise, predictable results. But faith does not necessarily produce predictable results, and therefore, faith is harder to understand or define. And, in the end, faith is hard because the movement of God is mysterious.

And yet, there are, and we are, people of faith. And often we try to make comparisons between our faith and the outside world that we see and with which we deal.

Psalm 125 is one of the Songs of Ascent. Traditionally it is understood that these Psalms were recited as the worshippers ascended into Jerusalem or the Lower Eastern Hill which at the time was known as Mount Zion. Another theory is that these songs were sung as the Levites moved up the fifteen steps to the Higher Eastern Hill, which has become known as Temple Mount, but at the time was also known as Mount Zion. (Not to confuse the issue, but today Mount Zion is identified as the Western Hill, just outside the old city walls.) But either way, the Psalmist was trying to pair this vague idea that we call faith with something genuine and physical, the Mountain that they were climbing. The Psalmist wanted the worshippers to know that their faith and trust were on just as firm ground as the mountain they were climbing. The hill would stand forever, and so would God.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 131, 133, & 134

For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” – Psalm 122:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 14, 2019): Psalm 122 & 123

Albert Einstein argued that “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” And yet, our natural path seems to be one of trying to force our opponents into peace. We spend so little time trying to understand each other and trying to comprehend that we all share very similar needs and dreams. It doesn’t seem to matter the arena in which we are fighting. We keep fighting. If understanding is the path to peace, then it is a path that we seem to struggle to find.

And one of the global arenas in which we have long sought for peace is in the Middle East. The Middle East has long been a place of struggle and war. It has also been an area of our world where there has been a lack of understanding. We continually see images dance across our news screens of the latest violence in the area; of missile and bullets being fired back and forth across imaginary lines in the dirt. And there seems to be just a declaration of want from each of the combatants, rather than a desire to understand and for peace.

David longed for Jerusalem to be a place of peace. To keep Jerusalem in a state of peace, he worked hard to push the borders of the nation further and further away from the city. He created puppet states around the edges of Israel so that there would be a further buffer to keep his city secure. David had the power to keep his city safe, but that power proved to be an illusion. Without understanding, the city could never experience real peace.

Today, Jerusalem is a divided city, and often a place of potential violence. I am one of the many friends of Israel around the world, even if I am not a Jew. But I am also one of the ones who urge caution with any moves in the Middle East. For instance, I do not believe that moving Israel’s capital city from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem is an appropriate move because it seems that such a move could only increase the tension rather than help to provide understanding. And in the end, it is only understanding that can give lasting peace.

And so we continue to pray for peace. We want peace for Israel. But peace for Israel also means peace for the Palestinian States. And it means an increased understanding that in a global world, we are all global residents, living in the same neighborhood, with an innate need to be seen and understood.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 124 & 125

He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high. – Psalm 110:7

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 13, 2019): Psalm 110

I have a Diet Coke addiction. I know, everyone tells me how bad it is for me, and yet I still look for my next fix. This is especially true when I am on the road. Often I stop someplace to buy my soft drink of choice before I leave on a trip, but I will also pause “on the way.” I have periodically given up on my drink of choice for a period of time, but I keep returning, maybe especially when I am on a trip.

Psalm 110 is widely considered to be Messianic in nature. But biblical experts point to the closing words of the Psalm with a bit of confusion. For most, the words are a reference to the humiliation of Jesus. The idea is that even though Jesus bent his head in humiliation, or as the Psalmist indicates to “drink from a brook,” he would eventually be glorified, and his head would be lifted high in victory. Others aren’t quite sure. They point to the similarity of the phrasing in this passage with Gideon’s pausing at a brook as he pursued his enemy. The soldiers drank from the brook but then continued on toward victory over the enemies of Israel and of God.

If I had to choose between the two, I would probably go with the latter explanation. But, for me, I think I would phrase it a little differently. The Gospel of Mark presents an image of Jesus who was on the move. He was active, always going somewhere and always on the move. He had a purpose, and he was engaged in fulfilling that purpose. In this, he was maybe different from some of the other religious leaders of his time who had centered their activities around Jerusalem. But Jesus was always “on the go.” He was always “along the way” talking to people, healing, and teaching wherever the opportunity arose. In story after story, the significant moments of his ministry happened while Jesus was headed someplace else. For example, consider the story of Jairus and his daughter. According to Mark, Jairus was part of a crowd that Jesus met as he was returning from healing the demon-possessed man in the region of Gerasenes. He no sooner gets out of the boat when Jairus asks him to heal his sick daughter. Jesus goes with Jairus to the place where his daughter lay sick, and “along the way” Jesus met a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. He heals her and then continues on to deal with Jairus’s daughter.

Somewhere, I am sure he stopped for a drink from a brook before he lifted his head high with purpose and headed on to the next person who needed him, or the next teaching moment of which he could take advantage. He did his ministry on the way. And maybe it is just me, but I am sure that I would have been looking for my next Diet Coke somewhere “along the way.”

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 122 & 123

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. – Psalm 109:22

Today’s Scripture Reading (June 12, 2019): Psalm 109

I know that I am rich. A few months ago someone broke into my car and found a change purse that I had kept in my vehicle. It was filled with coins that I might need someday, maybe eight or nine dollars worth. I was upset, but the loss of the money has not in any way set me back. I don’t keep change in my car anymore, but I still have change. Every time I open my fridge, I find food. Every time I look in my closet, even on wash day, I find clothes. I own a car, actually three, including my two-dollar mid-life crisis car, a 1983 Mustang Convertible with a 5.0-litre engine. I don’t have everything that I want, but I have what is important and, admittedly, many less important things. I am rich. And I know that.

Yet, I am also poor. I am broken and hurt. Sometimes I am troubled by those who want to criticize me, and yet often even those who are close to me, who I have considered to be my friends, have hurt me. And continue to hurt me. As I move through life, I know that often my heart is wounded within me.

The title of Psalm 109 indicates that the author of the Psalm is David. And David, King of Israel and a man that had all that he wanted, admits that he is poor. We might question that. Among the people of Israel, there were very few, if any, who had more material wealth than David possessed. He had wives and children. He had flocks. In every way that we can imagine, David was wealthy, and yet he admits his poverty.

And it is the second part of David’s claim to which we need to give our attention. David’s heart is wounded within him. And as long as our heart is wounded, we are poor, no matter how much we might possess materially. And the wounded heart is a common trait of the human race. The cause is varied. Sometimes our hearts are wounded because of the acts of others. Sometimes we wound our hearts by our own actions. Often just the realities of life hurt us in ways that we cannot describe.

Yet, God is the one who holds our wounded hearts in his hands. And he is the healer of our hearts. And so David, feeling wounded, poor, and needy, looks to his God to heal his heart and save him according to his (God’s) unfailing love.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 110