August 11 — Psalm 102

“Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call. For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread. Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin. I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places. I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop. All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse. For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink, because of your indignation and anger; for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside. My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations.” (Verses 1-12)

Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you.

Some commentaries call this Psalm the “Psalm of the lowly”. Of course, you cannot read lines like “I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink” without getting some sense of the plight of the writer. Whether this is the writing for an individual or for the people collectively is unknown. I would say it really doesn’t matter for this devotion, for the importance of prayer is the lesson for today.

We all hope that the Lord hears our prayers. The biblical witness tells us that Jesus prayed, and prayed often. He prayed at his baptism, he goes on top of mountains to pray, he teaches his disciples how to pray. Prayer was important to Jesus, and he expected his prayers were heard. Of course, prayer has been a consistent theme in the Psalms, like the 71st which reads: “Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.” (Verses 4-5)

But we cannot confuse “Hearing” with “Answering”. We trust G-d hears our prayers, but the answers we receive cannot be controlled by our human desires and wants. Notice that even in this Psalm the writer notes the timelessness of G-d (you O Lord are enthroned forever). We trust our prayers are heard, and the answers are up to the Lord — we may never receive an answer, we may receive an answer immediately, or our patience in waiting may be rewarded. No matter, we should always lift up our joys, our thanks, and our needs to G-d in prayer.

Let us pray:

Lord God, while our days vanish like shadows and our lives wear out like a garment, you are eternal. Although our earthly lives come to an end, help us to live in Christ’s endless life and at length attain our home, the heavenly Jerusalem, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

August 10 — Psalm 101

“I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing. I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy. A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence. Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the LORD.”

“I will walk with integrity of heart within my house””

The writer of Psalm 101 is trying to say something about leadership — especially about how those in power should carry themselves with integrity. Of course we would assume that this Psalm is considering a leader who has both a religious expectation and a secular responsibility as well. This is not so the case in our country today. And yet, why shouldn’t we strive to elect leaders who demonstrate an integrity that has both a thirst for law and order and a theological morality.

In other words, Psalm 101 teaches that it is not enough for those who lead to live by the legalities and govern by codes. It is the character of the leader, and the character of those in their administration that really determine what the effect of their governing is on the governed.

For example, the Psalmist says: “No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.” Shouldn’t the people who elect individuals to office have, at the least of their expectations, the hope that their leaders tell the truth and are willing to admit to their mistakes. How refreshing it would be to hear someone in office say they made a mistake and hope to do better in the future — and then not have to endure the ridicule of the populous who wish to hide their own mistakes and lies while finding such joy in their hypocritical accusations. But, our political climate forces the hands of anyone who hopes to be honest, by reinforcing the idea that “honesty will not get you re-elected.”

Ultimately, Psalm 101 teaches that conduct depends on character and character is shaped by “ultimate” concerns. In other words, “you cannot be good without G-d” — a message that 21st century America needs to hear more and more.

Let us pray:

God of truth, you call us to walk with integrity of heart. Turn us from evil and guide us in the ways of faithfulness, that we may delight in your love and justice forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.