August 12 — Psalm 103

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.” (Verses 1-14)

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”

We hear these words in a variety of forms throughout the Old Testament — in Nehemiah 9:31; Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:5; Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13. It is repeated again and again — so there must be something to this teaching.

Hesedness, in Jewish theology is used to describe G-d’s love for the Children of Israel, and in Jewish ethics it is used for love or charity between people. The word “Hesed” or “Chesed” is also considered the foundation of many religious commandments practiced by traditional Jews, especially interpersonal commandments. Hesed, or “Steadfast love” is, of course, the attribute and activity of the LORD celebrated in the psalms — it is the LORD’s essential goodness beyond all others.

Steadfast love is both the character of G-d and the foundation of all G-d’s actions. One can attempt to define it as helpfulness toward those with whom one stands in relationship. To do “hesed” is to do the best in and make the best of a relationship. The Lord’s steadfast love, says the Psalm, is so abounding that it fills all time and space. It is as great as the heavens are high above the earth; it is lasting as everlasting lasts.

Let us pray:

Compassionate Father, you forgive all our sins and put them far from us. As an eagle to her young, you nourish and renew us with your tender love. Sustain us each day of our mortal life, that we may seek your healing for all who are in need, and bring us at last with saints and angels to bless and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

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.