This week this psalm is a beautiful testimony to trusting in God. We are looking at the threat of another terroristic attack in some form and worrying what that form will be. We know they were looking at crop dusting planes before the WTC was hit... Biological or chemical agents are good possiblities and that fear is greatest in the big cities that could be easily hit by such broad acting "weapons". One of our members is worried about her college aged son, a chemistry major, being drafted soon because this would be his form of war. Under God's wings we would be safe. Our youth in AR Presbytery will be at a Youthquake event and I know they will be singing this psalm. That gives me comfort to know that they will be calmed by the word of the Lord. Now let the adults be soothed by the same word. I welcome any input at a Seminary student taking 12 hours and preaching occasionally... MW in AR
This week this psalm is a beautiful testimony to trusting in God. We are looking at the threat of another terroristic attack in some form and worrying what that form will be. We know they were looking at crop dusting planes before the WTC was hit... Biological or chemical agents are good possiblities and that fear is greatest in the big cities that could be easily hit by such broad acting "weapons". One of our members is worried about her college aged son, a chemistry major, being drafted soon because this would be his form of war. Under God's wings we would be safe. Our youth in AR Presbytery will be at a Youthquake event and I know they will be singing this psalm. That gives me comfort to know that they will be calmed by the word of the Lord. Now let the adults be soothed by the same word. I welcome any input at a Seminary student taking 12 hours and preaching occasionally... MW in AR
I used this Psalm for Sept. 23. New Yorkers are calling the WTC site "the belly of the beast." I spoke of how those who saw their fate coming found themselves in the belly of the beast; the aid workers in Afghanistan find themselves in the belly of the beast; Martin (sic?) and Gracia Burnham, missionaries being held by radical Muslims in the Philippines find themselves in the belly of the beast. All are/were helpless in and of themselves to change the situation. God "will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence." But many of those in the WTC were undoubtedly believers; the missionaries are presumably believers; so why were that not protected? The answer lies in 15 and 16: Terrorists may take your life, but "With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation." Eternal life can not be taken away.
Thank you Ken-on-the-Hudson. This psalm imediately brings to mind the hymn "On Eagle's Wings" (You Who Dwell In The Shadow of the Lord) by Michael Joncas, a song of great comfort in times of trouble. We are certainly in a time that our people are seeking the assurance of God's presence and protection. SS in PA
Thought just occured to me. The world is never the same just as scripture is always fresh and different when we read it. We are now in a new era! Nancy-Wi
Just wondering, as I often do about the RCL's selection of verses - WHY NOT JUST PREACH THE WHOLE PSALM?!
This will be a young people's Sunday at the inner city Baptist church where I am interning. This Psalm has a lot to say to young people both in the inner city and in the suburbs, from whence I come... The language of verses 5 and 6 particularly fits the cityscape (as it did the Gulf War battlefield, where this Psalm was a favorite among the troops! - and no, please, that is not an invitation to debate that war...)
The issue is, how does one abide in the shelter of God? How do we conceive this? What does it look and smell and feel like to a teenager, whether in the mean streets or in the equally dangerous, in other ways, suburbs?
Brad T in MA
Brad, The RCL's selections are SUGGESTED readings. If you want to preach the whole Psalm, by all means do so.
Ooops --That last from: Rod in Pixley
Visitors to monasteries will exclaim in joy at the choice of this Psalm - at some monasteries this one and Psalm 4 are sung every night at Compline. They become a deep part of the memory of the community. With real excitement I recently gazed on the familiar words with a new delight: the one who releases us from the snare of the fowler protects us with his pinions - saves us by becoming a fowl! Isn't that incarnation?
Oh yeah, kbc in sc
To Brad T in MA: You asked a specific question... how does one preach to street kids on this scripture. You ask a difficult question for any one. What does God's shelter look like? It looks like a pastor who cares enough to come and speak to them. It looks like the hands of a volunteer serving spaghetti. It looks like the face of a friend who listens to why they are there. It looks like the person who is willing love without judgment. And we pray that at some time in the darkest of hours the shelter of God comes back to give strength and peace and guidance. I pray for you in your ministry this weekd. Rev. D in BG
I am drawn to the idea that we do seek shelter from God. I am thinking about vs. 14 & 15 which suggest that knowing and loving God have something to do with finding that shelter -- doug near la
In our Bible study, we're reading thru Exodus. Yesterday, we read the chapters about the tabernacle, 25-31. It hit me, the tent of meeting, the holy place, was a cool dark shadowy place. It was covered with layers of woven goat hair and animal skins. In the middle of the desert where the sun is constant and unrelenting, here is a shelter under the shadow of the almighty. The only light was from the lampstand, 7 oil lamps shining upward to reveal the richly woven tapestry on the inside of the ceiling and walls. Larry
Greetings DPS colleagues!
It looks as though only a few of us are preaching from the Psalm this week. The Spirit is leading me to speak about this Psalm as a declaration of faith and trust in God. The psalmist writes, "You...will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust."
A story from my summer as a hospital chaplain: One night a teenager was brought into the emergency room. She had been hit by a car and thrown several feet before landing on her head. She was unconscious and there was swelling of the brain. The doctors were not sure whether or not she would recover. I met with the family in the emergency area, escorted them to visit "Maria" before she was quickly wheeled to surgery. We went together to the waiting room where we talked and prayed. Maria's mother asked for a Bible which I quickly retreived. She immediately opened it and turned to a passage which I could tell was important to her. I asked what she was reading and she replied, "I'm reading of Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane where he was in great anguish, but prayed, "Father, not my will, but yours be done." That's my prayer for Maria tonight. We talked and prayed together throughout the long night of surgery and Maria's mother taught me about a trusting faith. For on what was by her own admission, the worst night of her life, her faith in God was her fortress. It was clear that no matter what happened, her trust in God was complete. [Maria did fully recover.]
God never promises that we will not face difficulty in life when we are in relationship with Christ. God promises, "I will be with them in trouble." As Christians, our hope and trust is in the Lord who never leaves us nor forsakes us. May our faith and trust be strengthened by the unapologetic witness of the psalmist and others who have struggled and remained faithful.
Blessings to you all for a Spirit-filled Sunday. Ken-on-the-Hudson
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