Saturday, June 30, 2012

Psalm 37: 37-38
Mark the blameless, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the peaceable. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off. NRSV

People tend to gravitate towards people who are of a quiet disposition who are peaceable in nature as opposed to the loud and boisterous. The Bible calls this latter type a vexation to the spirit. I certainly gravitate towards these type of people and in particular those who are not in the habit of speaking unkindly of others. When we have to tear down another it speaks to insecurity and our need to ‘make up’ for something that is missing. When we are like this, folk shy away from us. After our passing we are not well remembered and hence we have ‘no posterity’. The peaceable person, on the other hand, is well-remembered and has posterity. We should always be undergoing a process of self-examination so that we do not fall into the latter group. Good is better than bad any day.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Psalm 37: 21-22
The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving; for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off. NRSV

In the village in which I grew up in the 70s it was the practice for folk to cook and offer food to one’s neighbor. I remember on occasions running errands for my mother, taking food to the very home from which food was coming. It was not so much that people were hungry but people understood the value of communal living. I like to think that those were happier days. I remember one particular lady by the name of Louise, whom we called Aunty Weez, who always had small ripe bananas wrapped in banana trash tucked away in a basket under her bed. As children we enjoyed visiting because we loved getting those freckled bananas. I also remember Miss Icy whom you never visited without her offering you something to eat. She was known for her sweet potato pudding. Kindness, sharing and communal living was the order of the day. Yet, regardless of how little those folk may have had materially, poverty was never the word that one would associate with them. Their store basket was never empty but more than that, they were rich in spirit. When we give generously, God has more in store for us. As one individual so aptly puts it, ‘we cannot outgive God.’ Let us resolve to be more generous with our material goods, our smiles and laughter, because, after all, what are we on earth for if not to love, honor God and our fellow human beings, and make each other happy?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Read Psalm 9

Psalm 9: 7-8:
But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity. NRSV

God is the ultimate authority and He will exact judgment in the end. Sometimes we believe that some people can do whatever they please and get away with it. It would seem that some people are above the law of the land and even above God’s laws but nothing is farther from the truth. Even though they may be able to thwart the justice of the land and work things to their advantage, ultimately they pay for their sins because as the scriptures say, no sin goes unpunished. God is always fair. I never doubt that. God is watching our every move and He will judge us ‘according as our work shall be’. Being sidetracked by others should never become our business. Our business is to focus on God’s mandate and what He requires of us. We can control what we do and as agents of change we can work with God’s blessings and enabling power to do what He has called us to do.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Psalm 9:9
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. NRSV

Oftentimes oppressed people have no one to turn to. They have no one to whom they can bring their troubles. The authorities generally do not care; in fact, they are usually the ones responsible for their distress-directly or indirectly- and the afflicted often turn to God in their predicament. Now, here is one who will not turn away or be callous about helping. The scriptures say that God understands and knows what the oppressed is experiencing. Contrary to the belief of the oppressed, God cares and understands. This is good news because rest assured that God will intervene and bring not just redress but justice. When all else fails, the oppressed can rely on God’s benevolence and God’s reliability. In the midst of farce and uncertainty, God stands supreme as a Way maker. Thank God for who He is.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Psalm 10: 1
“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? NRSV

Many of us are familiar with the poem entitled, “Footprints in the sand.” In that poem the poet was complaining about one set of footprints in the sand at the most crucial point in the poet’s life. However, it was later revealed that at precisely that moment God was at hand to do more than walk beside but rather He was carrying His child. Sometimes we are inclined to feel, like the Psalmist, that God has left us at the most critical points in our lives but nothing is farther than the truth. Maybe if that were true we would have lost our minds, or perhaps not even live to tell the tale. We must be appreciative of all that God has done and stop worrying and doubting God’s faithfulness. Let the rod and staff be reminders of God’s goodness. Held high they will be reminiscent of God’s commitment to be our guide and comforter.