David Bahn - Reflections

God's word is truly precious. More precious than gold and sweeter than honey. God's words are the word of life (cf. John 6:68-69). They enrich the soul. God's word warns us of dangerous thoughts, words, and actions. It directs us in paths of true joy and blessing. God's word points us to Jesus, the source of eternal life. God's word lifts our spirits to focus on more noble things. And it helps us deal with the very real muck and mire of daily life.

God’s word adds to the testimony of creation and points us to the LORD God and his ways. David speaks of God’s Law, precepts, commands and rules. They revive the soul, give wisdom, joy and enlightenment. They endure forever, are perfectly righteous, precious and sweet. There are great blessings to be had in their keeping.

Creation sings a song of praise to God. Those who hear and read God’s word are blessed so that they too join that song of praise. An even better declaration of praise pours from the hearts of those who hear, read, meditate on, and believe God’s word.

The heavens declare the glory of God. Will we echo that song of glory and praise among others?

This psalm is a lament of God over the sinfulness of humankind. It is a rueful expression of disappointment on God's part that there are none who care for the poor, call upon him in prayer, or do the good he calls for. On the one hand this is an overstatement, for we also see references to the poor and the righteous. They are not under the same judgment. On the other hand, even the righteous must repent daily for our thoughts and words leak out, showing an inner corruption from which we have not fully escaped. And sometimes, we must be numbered among those who do not do good. Sometimes our thoughts become words and our words lead to actions for which we must repent. We are among those who have turned aside.

Thank God we have a champion of righteousness! Our Lord Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God and our righteousness also by faith. Through his suffering and death our sins are forgiven. By his perfect life our faith puts us in the league of the righteous. For Jesus' sake we can both confess our sins, and rejoice in God's salvation. For it has come out of Zion. Our urgent need has been met. And we have been saved.

"In peace, in peace we pray to you..." So begins the Holden Evening Prayer litany and prayer. The refrain throughout the prayer is a beautiful and appropriate call: "God of mercy, hold us in love." I've included a YouTube video below of that beautiful prayer, preceded by the text of the prayer itself. In light of this psalm, it seems to me very appropriate that we call on the God of mercy to hold us in love.

Based on the words and thoughts of this psalm, I offer this rephrasing of this beautiful litany.

God is looking for people who do good. He desires we be righteous--just in our dealings with one another. He values people who seek him. He cares if we care for the poor. He delights when we call upon him in prayer.

Those who live in this manner have no terror of his retribution. And even when we realize we have transgressed against these character markers, we who repent of our sin and return to his ways have no fear of his judgment. For our God is a gracious God. He has delivered us from judgment and condemnation. Salvation has come out of Zion. Jesus has come and saved us. For his sake we live out wisdom's precious practices.

God cares. He is watching. He is not only watching, he is looking, searching, seeking those who are faithful and upright. He is looking for those who are looking for him.

Sadly all he finds are those who foolishly ignore him. All he discovers are those who do not do good. All he sees is a world devoid of people who call on him. He sees people who abuse the poor, take advantage of the weak, and ignore his laws. All this is not lost on him. He cares.

The strong and powerful impose their will on the weak and vulnerable. Foolishly they think they will always get away with it. They don’t call on God in prayer - either in praise or supplication. They do abominable things.

But surely they must always look over their shoulders. There may be someone stronger than they. And, of course, there is irrefutable evidence of God’s glory in creation and his holiness in their consciences. We can hope that they will come to their senses and repent of their sins and believe in God. This is the daily activity of the wise. When we lose our heads and depart from the path of wisdom and life, we repent, return to our good and gracious God, and live in the context of his grace and truth.

Faith is not just belief. It is also trust, and love. And that move in the heart is a miracle of the Holy Spirit that moves us to praise him. When God's Holy Spirit comes to us, and does his work, people are set free. Sins are forgiven. Joy is born. Peace prevails. Praise ensues.

Who alone does this good work in us? Only God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - in whose name we are baptized. And in that moment, God puts his name on us. We are his. O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! We and babies and infants sing your praise.

This name, LORD, is majestic and holy. So profound that scholars and rabbis have studied it and his works for millenia. Yet it is so accessible that a child can speak it in great power. It puts substance behind our faith. It is more majestic than the highest heavens, yet comes to the most humble of needy in grace and mercy. It instills fear and inspires love in the hearts of all kinds of people, young and old, rich and poor, mighty and weak, religious and those who do not think of themselves so.