Lent 2
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
(See Epiphany 3/Ordinary Time 3, Cycle A, for verses 1, 4-9.)
There are two themes flowing through this psalm. These themes are connected, a part of each other, like two sides of a coin. But they are also separate, especially as they manifest themselves in human experience. While existing closely together in thought, they diverge dramatically as they work themselves out in life.
The first theme is fear. The psalmist addresses the fear of his audience directly. He knows the fear as one who shares it with his fellow worshipers. The fear is named: enemies, evildoers, armies. These realities create other fears, whose names are despair, hopelessness, anger, bitterness.
But the psalmist, while knowing and naming the fear that plagues his audience, also knows the name of the one who can overcome the fear. He calls out the names of this fear-buster: the stronghold, the shelter, the savior, the gracious one, the good one, the Lord.
This is where we find the second theme -- hope. The fear is present reality. They fear now. The confidence that the psalmist offers as a remedy for the fear is a hope. It is an outcome that will only be found at the end of a disciplined path. The psalmist names the path: I asked of the Lord, I seek after, I will offer, I will sing, I cry aloud, teach me, I believe.
The psalmist assures his audience that in following the disciplined path, their fear will give way to something wonderful. Something life-giving will emerge in the place of the fear. He names this assurance: my heart shall not fear, I will be confident, my head is lifted up, I will be strong, I will have courage.
This is important wisdom for anyone who fears. Fear evokes in us all those qualities that ultimately work against our best interests. Fear makes us defensive, violent, untrusting. But the disciplined path suggested by the psalmist cultivates in us those particular human qualities that benefit not only our individual existence, but the lives of those around us as well. When we are confident and trusting that God's way is the best way, we resist violence, we refuse despair, we embrace our neighbor.
This is not a mind-game the psalmist proposes. This is not a form of self-hypnosis, whereby we convince ourselves that we are not afraid when in fact we really are. And this is not a form of denial. The psalmist is not proposing that we ignore the evil of our world or acquiesce to its power. In fact, he offers the very opposite of acquiescence. He offers us a way to resist the evil in our world in a way that the evil may be transformed.
The root of all fear is the threat of loss. We fear we will lose our lives, our homes, our purpose, our standing. The disciplined path the psalmist describes offers us a new identity -- an identity that is not shaken, even should the world in which we live cease to exist. Our purpose and being is not tied to any particular social or economic reality. Our identity comes from a constant that does not change and does not yield to the comings and goings of power. As we tap into that eternal constant, our fear begins to ebb.
And how do we tap into that eternal constant? What is the key to finding and staying on the disciplined path? The psalmist names the way plainly: Wait. Wait for the Lord.
-- J. E.
There are two themes flowing through this psalm. These themes are connected, a part of each other, like two sides of a coin. But they are also separate, especially as they manifest themselves in human experience. While existing closely together in thought, they diverge dramatically as they work themselves out in life.
The first theme is fear. The psalmist addresses the fear of his audience directly. He knows the fear as one who shares it with his fellow worshipers. The fear is named: enemies, evildoers, armies. These realities create other fears, whose names are despair, hopelessness, anger, bitterness.
But the psalmist, while knowing and naming the fear that plagues his audience, also knows the name of the one who can overcome the fear. He calls out the names of this fear-buster: the stronghold, the shelter, the savior, the gracious one, the good one, the Lord.
This is where we find the second theme -- hope. The fear is present reality. They fear now. The confidence that the psalmist offers as a remedy for the fear is a hope. It is an outcome that will only be found at the end of a disciplined path. The psalmist names the path: I asked of the Lord, I seek after, I will offer, I will sing, I cry aloud, teach me, I believe.
The psalmist assures his audience that in following the disciplined path, their fear will give way to something wonderful. Something life-giving will emerge in the place of the fear. He names this assurance: my heart shall not fear, I will be confident, my head is lifted up, I will be strong, I will have courage.
This is important wisdom for anyone who fears. Fear evokes in us all those qualities that ultimately work against our best interests. Fear makes us defensive, violent, untrusting. But the disciplined path suggested by the psalmist cultivates in us those particular human qualities that benefit not only our individual existence, but the lives of those around us as well. When we are confident and trusting that God's way is the best way, we resist violence, we refuse despair, we embrace our neighbor.
This is not a mind-game the psalmist proposes. This is not a form of self-hypnosis, whereby we convince ourselves that we are not afraid when in fact we really are. And this is not a form of denial. The psalmist is not proposing that we ignore the evil of our world or acquiesce to its power. In fact, he offers the very opposite of acquiescence. He offers us a way to resist the evil in our world in a way that the evil may be transformed.
The root of all fear is the threat of loss. We fear we will lose our lives, our homes, our purpose, our standing. The disciplined path the psalmist describes offers us a new identity -- an identity that is not shaken, even should the world in which we live cease to exist. Our purpose and being is not tied to any particular social or economic reality. Our identity comes from a constant that does not change and does not yield to the comings and goings of power. As we tap into that eternal constant, our fear begins to ebb.
And how do we tap into that eternal constant? What is the key to finding and staying on the disciplined path? The psalmist names the way plainly: Wait. Wait for the Lord.
-- J. E.
