Thanksgiving Day
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
There is perhaps no greater challenge to the life of faith than suffering. There is an implicit expectation that God, who is strong and loving, will protect those who are weak. When tragedy befalls the innocent, it is hard not to wonder about God's strength or goodness, or both.
That experience was writ large for the people of Israel during the exile. For those Jews who believed God had called them and formed them into a covenant people, it was nearly impossible to understand how they could have been conquered by a foreign power. Instead of impugning God with charges of lack of love or lack of strength, however, the prophets interpreted the exile as punishment for sin.
The fact is, all pain feels like punishment. How many times have we heard someone in the midst of a struggle say -- or have said ourselves -- "What did I do to deserve this?"
Obviously the mystery of evil and suffering will not be solved in the course of one sermon (or even 1,000 sermons!). But it is interesting to observe what the psalmist does with the suffering of the people of Israel. Drawing on the power of memory, the psalmist evokes praise for the past deeds of God's goodness. In the narrative of Israel's history there are many examples of God's gracious intervention just in the nick of time. Out of this memory, the psalmist draws a prayer: "Restore our fortunes, O Lord" (v. 4).
But what to do with the suffering? What is the point of having a powerful God who refrains from protecting us?
The psalmist offers a beautiful image for dealing with suffering. He describes the tears we shed during times of difficulty as "seeds for joy."
Comparing our tears to seed is a powerful way of expressing hope at several different levels. For instance, thinking of our tears as a prelude to joy is intended to help us realize that though we suffer now, we will not always be in pain. After all, the courage to endure is directly related to our belief that our suffering will eventually end.
Another instance, the things we learn about ourselves during times of distress and difficulty, may contribute to the strengthening of our character and our resolve. There is wisdom gained from pain and loss that cannot be gained any other way. As the saying goes, you just have to be there.
And finally, experiencing the distress of privations and pitfalls can have an enormous impact on the way we view the world when we are not deprived. "Living without" for a while may help us, later, to express deep and sincere gratitude when we do have what we need.
In these ways, the seeds of our tears can produce joy. We rejoice when our sufferings end. We rejoice from the new perspectives we gain. We give thanks for the way God cares for us. And, as the psalmist begins his poem, we learn to remember the good things God has done for us in the past.
The folk who worship in our churches will know something of the doubt and fear that comes from loss. This psalm may be an effective medium for giving voice to those feelings, while at the same time engendering hope where hope is almost dead.
-- J. E.
That experience was writ large for the people of Israel during the exile. For those Jews who believed God had called them and formed them into a covenant people, it was nearly impossible to understand how they could have been conquered by a foreign power. Instead of impugning God with charges of lack of love or lack of strength, however, the prophets interpreted the exile as punishment for sin.
The fact is, all pain feels like punishment. How many times have we heard someone in the midst of a struggle say -- or have said ourselves -- "What did I do to deserve this?"
Obviously the mystery of evil and suffering will not be solved in the course of one sermon (or even 1,000 sermons!). But it is interesting to observe what the psalmist does with the suffering of the people of Israel. Drawing on the power of memory, the psalmist evokes praise for the past deeds of God's goodness. In the narrative of Israel's history there are many examples of God's gracious intervention just in the nick of time. Out of this memory, the psalmist draws a prayer: "Restore our fortunes, O Lord" (v. 4).
But what to do with the suffering? What is the point of having a powerful God who refrains from protecting us?
The psalmist offers a beautiful image for dealing with suffering. He describes the tears we shed during times of difficulty as "seeds for joy."
Comparing our tears to seed is a powerful way of expressing hope at several different levels. For instance, thinking of our tears as a prelude to joy is intended to help us realize that though we suffer now, we will not always be in pain. After all, the courage to endure is directly related to our belief that our suffering will eventually end.
Another instance, the things we learn about ourselves during times of distress and difficulty, may contribute to the strengthening of our character and our resolve. There is wisdom gained from pain and loss that cannot be gained any other way. As the saying goes, you just have to be there.
And finally, experiencing the distress of privations and pitfalls can have an enormous impact on the way we view the world when we are not deprived. "Living without" for a while may help us, later, to express deep and sincere gratitude when we do have what we need.
In these ways, the seeds of our tears can produce joy. We rejoice when our sufferings end. We rejoice from the new perspectives we gain. We give thanks for the way God cares for us. And, as the psalmist begins his poem, we learn to remember the good things God has done for us in the past.
The folk who worship in our churches will know something of the doubt and fear that comes from loss. This psalm may be an effective medium for giving voice to those feelings, while at the same time engendering hope where hope is almost dead.
-- J. E.
