Epiphany

January 29, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 15
O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15 continues the theme that the priority of God’s people who hold God in the highest esteem is to love our neighbors and to do what is right, which is the same Hebrew word as justice.

What does it mean in this scripture to despise the wicked? God commands us to love one another, and surely that includes those we deem wicked. Who are we to deem anyone wicked? Jesus got the assignment to judge others. (John 5:22)  Despise means to consider oneself better than another. How does considering oneself better than another help anything? I do not think the act of despising fits the definition of love.

Much of what we know about God’s presumed reaction to evil is filtered through the eyes of the reporter before we read it. For example, I cannot imagine the God that is love ordering all innocent people killed (See 1 Samuel 15:2-3) in a raid.  This I know, I do despise the behavior of certain people because I disapprove of their actions. I guess that means I think my way is indeed better than their way. One of the challenges of doing justice in our world today is to call attention to and try to dismantle the injustice practiced by others and do it while walking humbly with God. Rightness is not self-righteous. All of us called to do justice must do it in the framework of equality of all God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, hold me accountable for any behavior of mine that does not reflect your love even when I disagree and am working to change the behavior of another. Amen.

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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.