“Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. ² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. ³ But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.

⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the Lord—be exultant before him. ⁵ Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. ⁶ God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.” Psalm 68:1-6

Read again the words of Psalm 68, “Father of orphans and protector of widows is G-d in his holy habitation. G-d gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.”  For this psalmist, what humans achieve in life are not the achievements of our own efforts, but a recognition and dependence upon G-d and openness to understanding G-d’s ways – that it is through G-d where we receive our blessings. 

The psalms were regularly read in worship (and are, of course, still today). When we read the Psalms today, we are reading words in worship that connect us across time and space to people who shared our collective need for G-d’s love. But they also connect us with the G-d of justice, the G-d of righteousness, and the G-d of mercy. As such, these words remind us of our responsibility to be agents of hope, justice and social change.

Pastor Dave

“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy. ² Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the scheming of evildoers, ³ who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, ⁴ shooting from ambush at the blameless; they shoot suddenly and without fear. ⁵ They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see us?⁶Who can search out our crimes? We have thought out a cunningly conceived plot.” For the human heart and mind are deep. ⁷ But God will shoot his arrow at them; they will be wounded suddenly. ⁸ Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake with horror. ⁹ Then everyone will fear; they will tell what God has brought about, and ponder what he has done. ¹⁰ Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.” Psalm 64:1-10

We often think of G-d as a loving G-d, full of Love, Mercy and Grace. Yet, within the Old Testament texts, we will hear about the other side of G-d, the G-d who, like the Psalmist proclaims, will “..shoot his arrow at them; they will be wounded suddenly…he (G-d) will bring them to ruin;… then everyone will fear (G-d).”  Have you had experiences with G-d where you have mostly felt the presence of the G-d of judgment, the one to be feared? We know that Jesus shows his righteous anger, the same anger that Jesus expressed in driving the money changers out of the Temple. We read about how Jesus reacted with righteous anger to situations of disease and doubt. Luther says in the Small Catechism that we are to fear AND love G-d – because G-d is such an awesome G-d that our love for G-d should include some level of deep respect, if not some level of fear.

There are plenty of Old Testament stories, stories like the Noah story, the Jonah story, the Joseph story, the Red Sea story, the Cain and Able story, where human anger and G-d’s anger cross paths. However, we need to take heed of Luther’s teaching, to love and to fear G-d in all aspects of our lives. I see it as a fear that does not scare us straight, but keeps us obedient.

Pastor Dave