e-vo for week of January 19

Dearest e-votees-

The assigned psalm in the lectionary for the 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany comes from Psalm 27. There are verses that are excised from the psalm in the appointed text.

For our devotional thoughts this week we’ll look at the psalm in its entirety. The texts set of in the “[ ]”s are the ones that didn’t make the pericope cut.

Peace,
Karl

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1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

[2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.]

4 One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!

[10 If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!]

Psalm 27 appointed [and unappointed] verses.

The verses that are removed speak much more directly about the pains and the harms that people can work each other. Evildoers can seek after us to devour our flesh (hopefully this is metaphorical but it is still quite vivid). Enemies encamp against us an prepare to wage war. Parents and others appointed to watch over us and guide us and love us can fail. People can rise us with slanderous tongues and libelous keyboards. The can breathe out untruths and violent murmurings. When such things assail us we can find hope and security and refuge in the Lord.

Of course, we are not always the recipients of such events—at times we are the perpetrators. We can seek after our enemies hoping to devour their flesh (hopefully this is metaphorical but quite vivid nonetheless). We hunker down and prepare to wage war against our perceived enemies. We fail those we are called to watch over and guide and love. We put the worst construction on everything and post it (verbally or in other ways) where the listenership is maximized. We exhale untruths and menacing murmurings. We drive others to seek refuge and security and hope in the Lord.

We do well to return to the beginning of this psalm “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Whether we are beset upon or are plaguing others—none of us need to fear. God knows the worst that could happen to us and could happen through us. It is precisely such knowledge that sends God into the world in the form of Jesus to disrupt our sinful and painful and hurtful cycles with the good news of the gospel.

Jesus has endured all the things that beset us as fallen humanity. Jesus knows our pain.

Jesus has forgiven all those who inflict pain and grief on others—tax collectors, his enemies, the soldiers who killed him and us.

Jesus knows our pain. Jesus knows our broken lives. Jesus knows our broken ways. Jesus love us. Since that is so, whom shall we fear?


God, draw us into the rich and vibrant prayer of Psalm 27. Help us lean into you when we are inflicted upon. Help us do the same when we are the inflictors. Change our hearts and draw us more fully after you. Amen.