June 12, 2023 — Psalm 55 

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm. ” Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets.” Psalm 55:1-11 

Often we meet people that do not listen to us even though they pretend to hear us, leaving us frustrated that we cannot get across to them what we want to say. In this Psalm we get the impression that David is pleading to be heard in the highest heavens by G-d Himself. He pleads that G-d would not ignore him in his troubles. 

There is no place on earth where trouble is not found. Our Lord Jesus says in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart in me for I have overcome the world”.  The Greek word translated “conquered” or “overcome” means “to defeat, to win a victory over, as in a contest or military conflict.” The “world” we live in is the created physical realm of our existence. Jesus knows that here on earth we encounter trouble and sorrow. But He has overcome the world and every earthly obstacle for us. Through the cross, Jesus defeats for us the evils of this world including sin, death and the devil. We will not be held above such evils, but because of Jesus we will endure through them, and continue to the end.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you were rejected by your people, betrayed by the kiss of a friend, and deserted by your disciples. In our trouble, give us the confidence that you had in the Father and the assurance of our salvation now and forever. 

Amen. 

June 13, 2023 — Psalm 56 

“Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me; all day long foes oppress me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? All day long they seek to injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps. As they hoped to have my life, so repay them for their crime; in wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record? Then my enemies will retreat in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me? My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life.” Psalm 56 

Many times we feel helpless when people attack us — our reputations and our actions. Stress and the cost of living are as much a “pandemic” to us in these times – as much as was the virus called Covid-19. We also experience the stress from the comments of those who disagree with us on Social Media and other sites and so many venues. I think the longer we seek only to be heard and not to hear our neighbors, we will find ourselves not only afraid of hidden viruses, but also suffering from an overwhelming sense of fear, helplessness and hopelessness.  

Like so many before us, if we could run away, we would fly away to some distant land to be at rest. But it is just not possible to simply run away. Now is a good time to put more trust in our G-d and spend more time in the Word of G-d. The Psalms remind us to pray to G-d for help, and to expect that we will receive not only help, but G-d’s abundant love as well.  

Captain Ahab in Moby Dick says, “I will have no man on my ship who does not fear a whale”. Fear of whales or snakes or even spiders may be very real for many people, imaginary fears are a drain on our energy and will leave us tired and listless. Running away from our fears and troubles is usually always futile — approaching G-d and seeking G-d’s love, mercy and Grace is well within our daily schedules — or at least it should be.  

Prayer 

Lord Jesus Christ, victim for our sins, you trusted in your Father’s protection and kept silent when you were tormented. Give us that same confidence, that we may gladly suffer with you and for you, offering the Father our sacrifice of praise and walking before him in the light of the living; and to you be the glory now and forever.  

Amen. 

 June 10, 2023 — Psalm 54 

“Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me—people without regard for God. Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.” Psalm 54 

Our G-d longs to be gracious to us; longs to be near to us; longs to hear us and bless us; and longs to be with us. G-d will hear the prayer of the righteous and the Psalms remind us that this is a promise. In Psalm 50:15 we are reminded: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” And in Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he  acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”  

How can we imitate the Psalmist and their lesson that we are to learn to live by the strength of G-d? The answer is:  

1. Live in the light of G-d.
2. Read and obey His word.
3. Have true fellowship with His people.
4. Serve the church well.  
5. Have no confidence in your own strength but depend on the strength of G-d alone.
6. Do not give way to fear. 

In the end, my friends, we have the choice to either depend on our own strength—or to trust in the Lord with all our heart, our mind and our trust. I for one will put my trust in the Lord—for the Lord is merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. 

Prayer

Father, hear our racer and come to the aid of your Church. Mercifully deliver us from evil, so that from the rising of the sun to its setting we may offer you a pure sacrifice of praise; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Amen. 

June 11, 2023 – Pentecost +2A; Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

“As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.” Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

When Jesus called his disciples like he called Matthew, he did not call them to come and watch or come and take notes – he called them to live the life of a disciple. And to cement this understanding Matthew and the other disciples were following Jesus to the home of a leader in the synagogue – whose daughter has died. And Matthew witnessed Jesus healing this little girl. In other words, Matthew and the other disciples were forced to see things in new ways – and to see their faith in a new light.

Jesus calls you and me to follow as well. Are we willing to open our homes and our hearts to all Jesus calls us to do? Many of us pray “Come Lord Jesus and be our guest”, but do we live this each and every day. You see, in the long run, people will be able to notice if someone who claims to be a Christian is faking it or not. Jesus says “I desire compassion, not just lip service.” As such, we need to let our light so shine before others that they may see our good works that give glory to G-d every day.

Pastor Dave