Merciful Justice

hateEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 14, 2015

 

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18

O that you would kill the wicked, O God,
   and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me—
those who speak of you maliciously,
   and lift themselves up against you for evil!
Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
   And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
I hate them with perfect hatred;
   I count them my enemies.  — Psalm 139:19-22

Psalm 139 is one of my favorites. It reminds me of God’s vigilance for each and all of God’s children including me. It makes me feel good until I get to verses 19-22 quoted above. Why did the author have to stick those verses into my meditation?

The word hate or hatred is defined by Merriam Webster as a general attitude of prejudiced hostility :  group animosity.* I suppose the author of this Psalm wanted us to each remember that even with the attentiveness of God to our care and guidance we are still capable of hatred. It probably starts with hating those parts of ourselves that we know are not a part of God’s plan. Our hatred can then blossom into exaggerated surveillance of others to see where they too may be missing the mark. We may search out likeminded disciples to coalesce our hatreds and even give them the credence of community so that what we hate together becomes a self-defined righteousness. When our cup runs over with self-righteousness, there is little if any room left for God’s justice and righteousness.

I for one do not believe we can ever hate the sin but not the sinner. God calls us to all inclusive love that Merriam Webster defines as unselfish and benevolent concern for the good of others**. All of us stand in need of the healing of our souls at one time or another and the balm for that healing is always love, God’s love and our love for each other.

Prayer: Lord, overcome us with your merciful love so that we can live and model your merciful justice. Amen.

*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/hatred
**http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/love

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.