May 30, 2023 — Psalm 44 

“We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish. It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.” Psalm 44:1-12 

The book of Psalms is a collection of works which were gathered and collected over a long period of time. As some commentators note, it is clear from hints within the Psalms that various collections arose which were then, at some point, consolidated into a “collection of collections” as we have today. You wouldn’t think a psalm that talks about how G-d chooses not to answer prayer and this same G-d who leaves people suffering could be positive for the reader — except if you consider it in this encouraging but alternative kind of way. In considering this psalm of lament we are reminded that: 

1. This is how life is. No one promised us a bed of roses — there is pain and suffering and we all will encounter those days. 
2. G-d expects and accepts the cries, the screams and the strained questions from people who do not understand the pain in their life. 
3. Confusion and concern is a valid part of a faithful life and is not something we should bottle up and hide. 

G-d has called us to be disciples – even faithful, questioning, confused and fearful disciples. G-d knows how we think, how we feel and how we are scared a lot of the time — especially in times where there is a plague, or a pandemic. G-d knows what we endure and the Psalmist reminds us that G-d knows all — and accepts our angry, fearful, and pleading thoughts and prayers.  But where else should we go but to G-d — in our prayers, and when we pray the Psalms. 

Prayer: Lord, rise up and come to your aid. You are the King who knows the secrets of our hearts; fill us with the light of truth and with your strong arm lead us to freedom, as you mightily delivered our ancestors; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

May 29, 2023 — Psalm 43 

“Vindicate me, my God, and plead my cause against an unfaithful nation. Rescue me from those who are deceitful and wicked. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43 

“When reading Psalms such as this, do you see the danger in telling Christians that they have the abundant life and will be happy all the time? Yes, they have the abundant life, but they are not always happy. As a matter of fact, most of the Psalms are spent agonizing over our sin and/or the sensible lack of God’s presence. Yes, God is always with us; but that doesn’t mean we always feel that presence! It’s much easier to feel like a Christian when everything is going great in our lives. However, our faith is tested and grows during the difficult times when God seems far off.” (devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com; Psalm 43)

The Psalm prayer for this Psalm brings us the mention of “our joyful participation at your altar” — or as I interpret this, our participation at the table with Holy Communion. As per our “right practice” as Lutherans, we cannot consecrate the communion elements in isolation from the physical gathering of the community of believers — it is part of our understanding of Jesus coming t0 be a part of the bread and wine.

Yes we are to put our hope in Christ, but agreeing with the Psalmist here, we also trust that “the Lord directs his love” — and there are no barriers that can come between that love — whether it is through prayer, through worship, through mindfulness, or Holy Communion. But in the end, I believe we trip all over ourselves walking over and around the road bumps of “right practice”. Perhaps this is the best that has come out of the pandemic – that we have found many ways to once again gather as a community, whether virtually or within the church building, we continue to joyfully participate at the altar of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Prayer: Almighty Father, source of everlasting light, send forth your truth into our hearts and pour over us the brightness of your light to bring us, through our joyful participation at your altar, to your eternal dwelling on high, where you live and reign now and forever. 

Amen.