March 11, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 95

O that today you would listen to his voice!
   Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,
   as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
when your ancestors tested me,
   and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.
For forty years I loathed that generation
   and said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
   and they do not regard my ways.’
Therefore in my anger I swore,
   ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ –Psalm 95-7b-11

How do we react when life takes a turn for the worst? I was glad to turn off the news this morning as I am weary of listening to updates on the spread of the coronavirus, the drop in the stock market, the oil war going on between Saudi Arabia and Russian. One reporter noted that the battle over the price of oil was good news for those of us who like seeing the cost of gasoline going down. Who does not like that? Those of us living in states where the production of oil is a major part of the economy have very mixed feelings about the drop in price.

People are fearful of what we do not understand. Scientist are just beginning to analyze the corona virus and we do not know if we have any immunity to it. We have no control over Russia and Saudi Arabia’s production and resulting price war regarding oil, but we do suffer the consequences of it. The drop in the stock market only verifies once again that where money is concerned, we do not learn from our mistakes.

I read Psalm 95 this morning as it reminded me about the panic of the Israelites in the wilderness when they had no water, and I thought how human behavior has not changed much over time. We serve a God who loves us, wants the very best for us, set down guidance for how we are to live to have God’s abundant life, sent prophets to remind us of both God’s love and guidance, and ultimately sent God’s son to teach and model a life filled with love and ultimately to give his life so that we might have life more abundant.

I read the last line of Psalm 95 as words from God telling us that God is the god of rest and peace and wholeness. His gift is there for the taking and it makes God angry when we flail about like a fish out of water ignoring the one who can and will slip us gently into God’s stream of living water, if we will just let God.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we look everywhere else but to you as we face the challenges of life. Grant us  shalom that we might address with courage and love problems we face in our world. 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.