August 5, 2023 — 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 71^st 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.

Prayer

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.

Pastor Dave

August 4, 2023 — 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.” Psalm 101

 “When shall I attain it?” — the Psalmist asks the question: “When will You come for me, Lord?” Have you ever asked the same question? Perhaps not. But I have known many with whom I have walked the path of the end of their lives who have asked that question. We sometimes ask a different but similar question: “When will You come, Lord Jesus?” Often we utter these words out of frustration as we look around this world and witness the injustices, the abuse, and the inequality. I would imagine many ask this question because of the increase of violence and injustices in this world. There are those days where I sit down in frustration and think  “I just want to be with Jesus.” Out of the brokenness of life, I long to feel such wholeness.

We will all, one day stand face to face to meet Jesus, and face the final judge of our lives. We should remember that G-d’s blessing in our life is directly connected to our obedience. Let us make sure we are walking the life Jesus calls us to live, running the race of faith, sacrificing our will and pride and giving ourselves completely to G-d’s will in our lives. Then perhaps we might dare ask with certainty “When will you come for me?” knowing that as we’re striving to do and become what G-d hopes and intends, we will continue in faith knowing that one day, we will be with Jesus.

Prayer

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.

Pastor Dave