Although I have not mentioned it for a while, I continue to follow the lectionary. This helps me with my own form of spiritual discipline. Simply put, the lectionary is a series of readings picked out for each day. I follow the lectionary I know Benedictine monks follow. They observe multiple times daily when they worship. During these periods, some Biblical material will be used. At every one of these, some selection from one of the Psalms will be used. Since I did not grow up using the Psalms, this continues to be part of my ongoing spiritual formation.
The Psalms are not all fun. Many of them talk about hard things in life. They deal with people who have gone off the rails in terms of their faith. Often the emotions being dealt with in particular Psalms are raw. The God portrayed in the Psalms is not a God who is always easy going and dispensing happiness all the time. This God is a demanding God who wants people to stay faithful to the covenant: I will be your God if you will be my people. If we can maintain a covenantal relationship, then there is blessing. If not, cursing follows. It’s simple, but not easy.
That is why it requires discipline. Community helps, too, but I don’t always find myself involved with community. That is why it is helpful for me to know that following the Benedictine lectionary, at least I am part of that community, even if I am not physically present in one. I know the support is there and I value that.
I usually try to do the morning prayer time. I know that the monks are probably up and at it earlier than I am. So when I come to the morning prayer, I am playing catch up. But then, in spiritual time, perhaps there is no past and future. In spiritual time, it is always present---present because that is where and when we encounter God. I think God is always present tense---hence, Presence.
One of the readings from the Psalms this morning was from Psalm 85. This is a Psalm of reassurance. God will be there, even when we have wandered off. God will call us back and receive us back when we are ready to get with it again. For that I am thankful. Let’s listen to a verse or two from that Psalm.
The first verse I want to read is Psalm 85:8. It tells us, “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” Let’s take a minute to unpack this hopeful theological gift to us. The initial observation notices the Psalmist announcing that he is going to hear what God will speak. Another translation I checked has the Psalmist saying to listen. I actually like the verb, listen, better. I can hear many things, but may not pay attention. But if I am listening, I am paying attention. To me listening adds a participatory dimension to simple hearing.
The Psalmist is specific. Hear what God will speak. Interesting this is future tense. God has not yet spoken, but God will speak. And what God speaks is immensely important. God will speak peace. And if we follow the Genesis creation stories, God “speaks” things into existence. Simply by pronouncing it, peace comes to be. If you know the Bible well, you know that peace is usually one of the descriptive phrases for the Kingdom.
One final thing is to be noted. God speaks this peace to two different groups of people. In the first place, God speaks peace to God’s people. Given what we have already said, God’s people are those who keep the covenant. As the Psalmist notes, this covenant-keeping people are God’s faithful. This group of folks is a no-brainer. Their faith has them in right relationship with God. The second group of people to whom God will speak peace is that group of folks who return. In old language, this is the group of people who recognize they have gone astray, confess and return to the relationship of the covenant.
By speaking peace to this group, they can be assured that God has forgiven them and welcomed them back into relationship. This is the group to which I have often belonged. The key here is to recognize we have gone afield, be sorry for the relationship rupture and return to that we know is a better deal. God will welcome us back into the divine arms.
The next verse is classic Hebrew Bible, Psalmist theology. If we have the word of peace spoken to us, then “Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” (v 9) The switch to salvation language is not surprising, although in today’s culture, we may have to find more up-to-date language. Salvation is the language that describes the right relationship of covenant living.
A term I prefer to salvation is wholeness. I like to think of the person who is in right relationship to be whole. We are not fractured or disintegrated. We are not broken, nor distraught. We are whole. We are not wounded. The good news is we can be whole, even if we are not happy. To know God is not necessarily a happy occasion. It is an occasion of wholeness---of welcome and peace.
So the game plan is simple. Hear; in fact, listen.
The Psalms are not all fun. Many of them talk about hard things in life. They deal with people who have gone off the rails in terms of their faith. Often the emotions being dealt with in particular Psalms are raw. The God portrayed in the Psalms is not a God who is always easy going and dispensing happiness all the time. This God is a demanding God who wants people to stay faithful to the covenant: I will be your God if you will be my people. If we can maintain a covenantal relationship, then there is blessing. If not, cursing follows. It’s simple, but not easy.
That is why it requires discipline. Community helps, too, but I don’t always find myself involved with community. That is why it is helpful for me to know that following the Benedictine lectionary, at least I am part of that community, even if I am not physically present in one. I know the support is there and I value that.
I usually try to do the morning prayer time. I know that the monks are probably up and at it earlier than I am. So when I come to the morning prayer, I am playing catch up. But then, in spiritual time, perhaps there is no past and future. In spiritual time, it is always present---present because that is where and when we encounter God. I think God is always present tense---hence, Presence.
One of the readings from the Psalms this morning was from Psalm 85. This is a Psalm of reassurance. God will be there, even when we have wandered off. God will call us back and receive us back when we are ready to get with it again. For that I am thankful. Let’s listen to a verse or two from that Psalm.
The first verse I want to read is Psalm 85:8. It tells us, “Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.” Let’s take a minute to unpack this hopeful theological gift to us. The initial observation notices the Psalmist announcing that he is going to hear what God will speak. Another translation I checked has the Psalmist saying to listen. I actually like the verb, listen, better. I can hear many things, but may not pay attention. But if I am listening, I am paying attention. To me listening adds a participatory dimension to simple hearing.
The Psalmist is specific. Hear what God will speak. Interesting this is future tense. God has not yet spoken, but God will speak. And what God speaks is immensely important. God will speak peace. And if we follow the Genesis creation stories, God “speaks” things into existence. Simply by pronouncing it, peace comes to be. If you know the Bible well, you know that peace is usually one of the descriptive phrases for the Kingdom.
One final thing is to be noted. God speaks this peace to two different groups of people. In the first place, God speaks peace to God’s people. Given what we have already said, God’s people are those who keep the covenant. As the Psalmist notes, this covenant-keeping people are God’s faithful. This group of folks is a no-brainer. Their faith has them in right relationship with God. The second group of people to whom God will speak peace is that group of folks who return. In old language, this is the group of people who recognize they have gone astray, confess and return to the relationship of the covenant.
By speaking peace to this group, they can be assured that God has forgiven them and welcomed them back into relationship. This is the group to which I have often belonged. The key here is to recognize we have gone afield, be sorry for the relationship rupture and return to that we know is a better deal. God will welcome us back into the divine arms.
The next verse is classic Hebrew Bible, Psalmist theology. If we have the word of peace spoken to us, then “Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.” (v 9) The switch to salvation language is not surprising, although in today’s culture, we may have to find more up-to-date language. Salvation is the language that describes the right relationship of covenant living.
A term I prefer to salvation is wholeness. I like to think of the person who is in right relationship to be whole. We are not fractured or disintegrated. We are not broken, nor distraught. We are whole. We are not wounded. The good news is we can be whole, even if we are not happy. To know God is not necessarily a happy occasion. It is an occasion of wholeness---of welcome and peace.
So the game plan is simple. Hear; in fact, listen.
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