Proper 17/Pentecost 15/Ordinary Time 22
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
The writer of Psalm 81 employs a most interesting mixed metaphor. It is not mixed, however, because the psalmist was careless and neglected his subject matter. On the contrary, it is because of an important insight into human nature that the psalmist has us "eating with our ears."
Verse 10 rehearses what was, and is, the most basic confession of faith for followers of the Lord. God speaks and says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it."
This single confession draws together the full sweep of Hebrew salvation-history: from the great "I Am" of Moses' meeting at the burning bush, to the dramatic rescue out of Egypt, to the daily manna and ultimately the bounty of the promised land. The psalmist skillfully draws us, by means of this confession, into what will be the Lord's complaint with God's people. We are ready for it and we hear it coming. In fact, if we peek ahead to the next verse, we can actually see its opening volley: "But my people...."
The way the psalmist leaves us in verse 10, however, we are expecting some sort of complaint about what God wanted us to eat. The second phrase, "Open your mouth and I will fill it," leaves us expecting God to complain, "But my people would not eat what I gave them." Instead, however, the psalmist writes, "But my people would not listen to my voice" (v. 11).
Why the mixed metaphor? Why set us up for food, then give us words? The clue is given in the final verse, in which the psalmist reintroduces the feeding/food imagery. He writes, "I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you" (v. 16). The key word is "satisfy."
The people have been trying to satisfy their needs. They have gone off on their own trying to find contentment, peace, security, and meaning. Yet in following their own lights, they abandoned the only authentic source for those kinds of things -- the Lord's words and way. God tried to stop them, but they would not listen. They wanted what they wanted, and the Lord let them go, to pursue it (v. 12).
God let them go, then waited. God knew that the longer they followed the empty paths of their own counsels, the emptier their lives would become. Sooner or later, they would become hungry for the one truth that truly satisfies. They would need real security from real danger; they would need real help with real problems. They would eventually realize that their meager diet of self-gratification was killing them, and that they must feed on the sacred words that constituted their existence in the first place.
Then, and only then, would God be able to give them that which would save them. It's not that God was unwilling. The problem was with their appetites, not God's willingness to care for them. Any time they were ready, God was ready with the menu.
"I will fill their mouths," God says, "if only they will open their ears."
-- J. E.
Verse 10 rehearses what was, and is, the most basic confession of faith for followers of the Lord. God speaks and says, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will fill it."
This single confession draws together the full sweep of Hebrew salvation-history: from the great "I Am" of Moses' meeting at the burning bush, to the dramatic rescue out of Egypt, to the daily manna and ultimately the bounty of the promised land. The psalmist skillfully draws us, by means of this confession, into what will be the Lord's complaint with God's people. We are ready for it and we hear it coming. In fact, if we peek ahead to the next verse, we can actually see its opening volley: "But my people...."
The way the psalmist leaves us in verse 10, however, we are expecting some sort of complaint about what God wanted us to eat. The second phrase, "Open your mouth and I will fill it," leaves us expecting God to complain, "But my people would not eat what I gave them." Instead, however, the psalmist writes, "But my people would not listen to my voice" (v. 11).
Why the mixed metaphor? Why set us up for food, then give us words? The clue is given in the final verse, in which the psalmist reintroduces the feeding/food imagery. He writes, "I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you" (v. 16). The key word is "satisfy."
The people have been trying to satisfy their needs. They have gone off on their own trying to find contentment, peace, security, and meaning. Yet in following their own lights, they abandoned the only authentic source for those kinds of things -- the Lord's words and way. God tried to stop them, but they would not listen. They wanted what they wanted, and the Lord let them go, to pursue it (v. 12).
God let them go, then waited. God knew that the longer they followed the empty paths of their own counsels, the emptier their lives would become. Sooner or later, they would become hungry for the one truth that truly satisfies. They would need real security from real danger; they would need real help with real problems. They would eventually realize that their meager diet of self-gratification was killing them, and that they must feed on the sacred words that constituted their existence in the first place.
Then, and only then, would God be able to give them that which would save them. It's not that God was unwilling. The problem was with their appetites, not God's willingness to care for them. Any time they were ready, God was ready with the menu.
"I will fill their mouths," God says, "if only they will open their ears."
-- J. E.
