Epiphany
February 1, 2017
Scripture reading: Psalm 2 or 99
The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
He is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name.
Holy is he!
Mighty King, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob
Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool.
Holy is he! –Psalm 99:1-5
I draw the scriptures I use each day from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. It forces me to read the whole Bible and consider scriptures that are old favorites and ones that make me uncomfortable. It chases me to commentaries and concordances making me work at discerning with care and in context what I glean from it. A Psalm is included each week and I have become a little more comfortable with the stark communication styles that appear right next to the Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23) and I was glad when they said let us go into the house of the Lord. (Psalm 122:1) Today I was greeted with a choice of two Psalms. When I read Psalm 2, I understood why. The poet does not mince words regarding his disdain for world leaders. I know how he felt. I, too, wonder at times “What were they thinking?” When leaders do not seem to have the best interest of the people at heart.
I then flipped over to the second reading, Psalm 99, and found more hope and less discord. I think it is valuable at times to share my rantings and ravings with God so God can clean my filters clearing a path for greater objectivity and a place for God’s vision to return and rest in my soul. Perhaps those are the prayers best spoken in secret. (See Matthew 6:6) Even if my sense of the issues that frustrate me are right or partially right, my response to the situation to be effective must be a God-centered response.
My sister, who also gets to hear my rantings and ravings, reminded me this week that God is in charge and God is working God’s purpose out. Psalm 99 reinforces that message.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your infinite love and patience with people like me. Help me focus my energies in the most productive ways possible to live into your vision. Amen.