Proper 28
Worship
Aids To The Psalms
God has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I say, "You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince."
Alternate Image
The Singer is at the Hague. The supreme leaders of all the countries of the world have been summoned to the world court. The Sovereign Lord enters the assembly and gazes critically on those assembled. He points his fingers at warring countries and thunders, "You have done wrong. You are killing my children with your inability to solve problems peaceably, moreover, you are stealing from your citizens the produce of the land to fight your wars." She points her finger at the major powers and proclaims, "You are charged with injustice. You have refused to share adequately from the abundance I have given you. You have used your position and power to bully smaller countries and to get your way. You have stolen what little they had through inequitable bargaining." He points again at neutral countries. "You lack passion and compassion for your compatriots. Your inaction is a decision not to be keepers of your brothers and sisters." She gazes sternly at the assembled presidents, kings and queens, prime ministers, dictators and states, "I called you to serve your people. I invited you to be godlike, caring and nurturing all people. I intended you to do my bidding that all my people would share equally in the bounty I have provided in this world. I expected you to lead my people in a life of peace and harmony. You have not done so. I find you guilty. This is my judgment. The president of violence, the prime minister of greed, the king of avarice, the potentate of divisiveness, the ruler of oppression, the demagogue of the afflicters shall die. You shall die as mortals die. You shall be removed forever from my kingdom. I shall change you into the prince of equity, the commander of justice, the governor of equality, the monarch of goodness, and these shall last always."
Reflection
How many gods we worship in this world that do us evil. These gods all come from our imagination as do the gods of this psalm. They are the gods of our own foolish attempts to be godlike. These ideologies drive us toward destruction. And, as false god, evil concepts, they must die and they will die. That judgment brings us joy because those gods are insignificant compared to our Lord God. The Sovereign of all creation intends that they shall be destroyed so that we may live. That plan cannot be thwarted. That is the victory Christ won for us.
in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
they walk around in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
I say, "You are gods,
children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
and fall like any prince."
Alternate Image
The Singer is at the Hague. The supreme leaders of all the countries of the world have been summoned to the world court. The Sovereign Lord enters the assembly and gazes critically on those assembled. He points his fingers at warring countries and thunders, "You have done wrong. You are killing my children with your inability to solve problems peaceably, moreover, you are stealing from your citizens the produce of the land to fight your wars." She points her finger at the major powers and proclaims, "You are charged with injustice. You have refused to share adequately from the abundance I have given you. You have used your position and power to bully smaller countries and to get your way. You have stolen what little they had through inequitable bargaining." He points again at neutral countries. "You lack passion and compassion for your compatriots. Your inaction is a decision not to be keepers of your brothers and sisters." She gazes sternly at the assembled presidents, kings and queens, prime ministers, dictators and states, "I called you to serve your people. I invited you to be godlike, caring and nurturing all people. I intended you to do my bidding that all my people would share equally in the bounty I have provided in this world. I expected you to lead my people in a life of peace and harmony. You have not done so. I find you guilty. This is my judgment. The president of violence, the prime minister of greed, the king of avarice, the potentate of divisiveness, the ruler of oppression, the demagogue of the afflicters shall die. You shall die as mortals die. You shall be removed forever from my kingdom. I shall change you into the prince of equity, the commander of justice, the governor of equality, the monarch of goodness, and these shall last always."
Reflection
How many gods we worship in this world that do us evil. These gods all come from our imagination as do the gods of this psalm. They are the gods of our own foolish attempts to be godlike. These ideologies drive us toward destruction. And, as false god, evil concepts, they must die and they will die. That judgment brings us joy because those gods are insignificant compared to our Lord God. The Sovereign of all creation intends that they shall be destroyed so that we may live. That plan cannot be thwarted. That is the victory Christ won for us.
