Proper 7 / Pentecost 5 / OT 11
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
-- Psalm 86:1
As a response to the lectionary passage of Genesis 21:8-21 that tells the story of God's hearing Hagar's cry on behalf of her son, Ishmael, this passage emphasizes an important aspect of the character of God. While God elected a specific people to be God's people, God continued to be the God of all people. If we hear this part of the psalm with the story of Hagar and Ishmael in mind, we recognize that God's hearing the cry of the slaves in Egypt, while specifically told of the Hebrew people, is characteristic of God with respect to all people. While Hagar and Ishmael were not to share in the heritage of Abraham and Sarah, God was not unmindful of their fate. When Hagar lifted up her voice and cried out, she represented all of the cries of pain that come from humans that suffer in this world. Beginning with Abel's blood that cried out (Genesis 4:10), we learn that we worship a God who refuses to be indifferent to human suffering. The first act of faith is not a statement of belief but a cry of pain.
To lament the state of the world is to affirm that injustice is abnormal. To cry out in complaint is to affirm that if someone hears our cry, it will make a difference. "In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me." Most of the descriptions that we have of pagan gods suggest that one's worship and sacrifice was meant to appease them so that they would not bring suffering upon the people. The God of the Hebrews was shown as someone who was offended by such suffering. Even when Jesus prayed Psalm 22 from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me ..." it was a challenge to God to respond. In challenging God to respond, one is affirming that not to respond violates the very character of God. This is true even if we have not been faithful. "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you." This psalm could encourage us to teach our people the value of lifting their complaint to God. In doing so, they can reconnect with the source of all their healing.
-- Psalm 86:1
As a response to the lectionary passage of Genesis 21:8-21 that tells the story of God's hearing Hagar's cry on behalf of her son, Ishmael, this passage emphasizes an important aspect of the character of God. While God elected a specific people to be God's people, God continued to be the God of all people. If we hear this part of the psalm with the story of Hagar and Ishmael in mind, we recognize that God's hearing the cry of the slaves in Egypt, while specifically told of the Hebrew people, is characteristic of God with respect to all people. While Hagar and Ishmael were not to share in the heritage of Abraham and Sarah, God was not unmindful of their fate. When Hagar lifted up her voice and cried out, she represented all of the cries of pain that come from humans that suffer in this world. Beginning with Abel's blood that cried out (Genesis 4:10), we learn that we worship a God who refuses to be indifferent to human suffering. The first act of faith is not a statement of belief but a cry of pain.
To lament the state of the world is to affirm that injustice is abnormal. To cry out in complaint is to affirm that if someone hears our cry, it will make a difference. "In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me." Most of the descriptions that we have of pagan gods suggest that one's worship and sacrifice was meant to appease them so that they would not bring suffering upon the people. The God of the Hebrews was shown as someone who was offended by such suffering. Even when Jesus prayed Psalm 22 from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me ..." it was a challenge to God to respond. In challenging God to respond, one is affirming that not to respond violates the very character of God. This is true even if we have not been faithful. "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you." This psalm could encourage us to teach our people the value of lifting their complaint to God. In doing so, they can reconnect with the source of all their healing.
