Pastor Lisa Horst Clark

February 24, 2019

Psalm 120

Prayer for Deliverance from Slanderers

A Song of Ascents.

Message

The Psalmist writes, “I am for peace but when I speak they are for war.”  A clergy friend connected me with a podcast called “Invisibilia,” and they tell this story from a dinner party a few years ago:  It was Washington, D.C., in the summer time, and friends gathered in a backyard.  It was a celebration with food and wine and the stars above, eight folks gathering around for dinner.  It was about 10:00 P.M., they looked up and there was someone there with them: a man stood with a gun outstretched, pointing at one and then another and demanding money.  They were there in the backyard; they didn’t have anything on them and they were staring at this gun as threats were raised and tensions were escalating and as they were telling this story it seemed like someone was going to be hurt, and soon.  And then one of the friends that was gathered around there said to this man, “We’re here celebrating; would you like a glass of wine?”  And he said, “Yes.”  And when he tried it he said, “That’s good wine.”  He put the gun away and then he took some cheese and in a couple of minutes he asked if he could have a hug, and they did.  They gathered around and they hugged him and then he walked away with his glass of wine.  And they went back into the house and they closed the door and they sobbed because they thought they just had witnessed a miracle.  And I would say, of course, that they had.

There are many times when words of peace are met, instead, with war.  There are many times when graciousness is trampled and cruelty reigns, but sometimes, sometimes miraculously something shifts.  Sometimes, even though the world is shouting violence, even though you have known nothing but cruelty, even though violence is here and it feels like the only thing is to respond in kind, sometimes kindness befuddles.  Sometimes a response of love unsettles; sometimes a word of peace at the right place unlocks a miracle, where even for an alien in Meshech, sometimes you can speak a word of speak and they can respond in peace as well.

The Scripture today is a picture of the Psalmist in a place of persecution, hearing lies all around, even imagining retribution, picturing the arrows and glowing coals that will come upon their enemies.  And even after all that, somehow naming, “Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.  I am for peace, but when I speak they are for war.”  I can name some of the saints in our recent history for whom I would name this phrase, these words of peace that were met instead with retribution.  Throughout the Scriptures, faithful people of God have gotten themselves kicked out of towns, thrown out most of the time.  The Israelites just wanted to go on their peaceful way until Pharaoh at first said, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” before having a change of heart and sending the chariots chasing them to the Red Sea.  The Prophets spoke good words that seldom went over well with the kings.  Jeremiah got himself thrown into a cistern; Daniel faced the lions.  And, of co