Lent 6
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also,
For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many -
terror all around! -
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O Lord
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Do not let me be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.
O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
Alternate Image
The Singer has diarrhea. He has diarrhea consistently. He worries about it and talks about it continually. It has become a fixation which exacerbates his problem more. His friends and neighbors are repelled by his preoccupation with his problem. They avoid him as he walks down the halls of his tenement building. They mumble about him as he walks past their apartments. He seems so infirm they speculate about possible successors to his rent-controlled lodging. The Singer's paranoia is justified but that does not make him happy, only more miserable. He wonders, "Do I have diarrhea because I am worried, or worried because I have diarrhea? Woe is me. Woe to all around me. Woe to God who probably hates me." The last part of the question even startles the Singer. Does God hate me? He hopes not. The Singer considers, perhaps I can become more lovable. He begins to sing God's praise. As the Singer sings, a sense of ease moves through his heart, stomach and bowels. His song gathers strength and power. Neighbors open their doors to listen and smile.
Reflection
Does God hate? Well, yes, God does hate. God hates self-absorbed people. Since our body, mind and soul are one entity, when God hates us, God hates all of us. We cannot just disembody part of us in an attempt to remove sins from our being. When our favorite pronoun is "I" and our favorite subject is our own problems, people tend to avoid us. Is that surprising? If we act unlovingly why are we surprised when people avoid us? Can we force them or God to love us? God's love draws us to see our sin for what it is; self-alienation from others and God. God enables us to understand that guilt swallows our strength; we need help. God's love draws us to confess our sin and when we do sin is destroyed, sin is forgotten, guilt is alleviated and we feel wholeness. And, it is a lot more pleasant to be with forgiven people.
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also,
For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror to my neighbors,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
For I hear the whispering of many -
terror all around! -
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
But I trust in you, O Lord
I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Do not let me be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.
Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.
O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
Alternate Image
The Singer has diarrhea. He has diarrhea consistently. He worries about it and talks about it continually. It has become a fixation which exacerbates his problem more. His friends and neighbors are repelled by his preoccupation with his problem. They avoid him as he walks down the halls of his tenement building. They mumble about him as he walks past their apartments. He seems so infirm they speculate about possible successors to his rent-controlled lodging. The Singer's paranoia is justified but that does not make him happy, only more miserable. He wonders, "Do I have diarrhea because I am worried, or worried because I have diarrhea? Woe is me. Woe to all around me. Woe to God who probably hates me." The last part of the question even startles the Singer. Does God hate me? He hopes not. The Singer considers, perhaps I can become more lovable. He begins to sing God's praise. As the Singer sings, a sense of ease moves through his heart, stomach and bowels. His song gathers strength and power. Neighbors open their doors to listen and smile.
Reflection
Does God hate? Well, yes, God does hate. God hates self-absorbed people. Since our body, mind and soul are one entity, when God hates us, God hates all of us. We cannot just disembody part of us in an attempt to remove sins from our being. When our favorite pronoun is "I" and our favorite subject is our own problems, people tend to avoid us. Is that surprising? If we act unlovingly why are we surprised when people avoid us? Can we force them or God to love us? God's love draws us to see our sin for what it is; self-alienation from others and God. God enables us to understand that guilt swallows our strength; we need help. God's love draws us to confess our sin and when we do sin is destroyed, sin is forgotten, guilt is alleviated and we feel wholeness. And, it is a lot more pleasant to be with forgiven people.
