Prayer, Injustice and Psalm 58

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, August 20, 2017

Prayer, Injustice and Psalm 58

I was amazed when I read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s words in this short commentary on Psalm 58. (I’ll deal with verses 1 through 3 tonight.)

First off, verse 1: “Are you then dumb, that you will not speak what is right, and judge the children of men with equity?” Bonhoeffer’s immediate response is somehow prescient…”It is an evil time when the world allows injustice to occur and keeps silent.” [1]

With all that has happened in these past days, between the horror from the marches and countermarches in Virginia last weekend and the subsequent vigils, marches, and other gatherings this week…it is an evil time indeed when we allow injustice to occur and the mass of humanity observing merely watches, and keeps silent. As Bonhoeffer says, so many are not only dumb, but are unmerciful.

Verse 2: “No, you devise evil in your hearts, and your hands deal out violence in the land.” It is not only those who merely watch that Bonhoeffer condemns. No, it is also the rulers. The leaders and overlords of the countries involved. How long, O Lord? How long? I agree with Herr Pastor Dietrich. It is truly a mystery of godlessness that runs rampant in all humanity.

Verse 3: “The wicked are perverse from the womb; liars go astray from their birth.” Ah. This, again, is the very depth of wickedness.

I am reminded of those verses from Isaiah 53:6 that mention “All we, like sheep, have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way.” (Ah, Handel, you set those verses so beautifully in your oratorio “Messiah”…) This is such a Lutheran sentiment, too.

All I can think of is running to my Lord and my God for help, for succor, for relief from sinfulness and blackness of heart. I know only too well that there is much injustice in this world. How long, O Lord? How long will we suffer? How long will You be silent?

Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our cries to You.

@chaplaineliza

 

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[1] Meditating on the Word, Dietrich Bonhöffer, edited by David McI. Gracie. (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Cowley Publications, 2000), 77.

Place of Prayer Protection

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Place of Prayer Protection

People who need people are the luckiest people in the world. No man is an island, and all that. Each person has a connection with each other person. Connection, attachment, kinship, relationship. We do need each other. But, that isn’t all.

I know I need a relationship with my God. If I am separated from God, I am in bad straits. Cut off from God and cut off from other people? Not a very good situation, at all.

How our enemy loves to cut us off from each other, and separate each one from God. How dare they? I’ll tell you: through natural happenings, through human error, through emotional or psychological or physical attachment gone awry. And sometimes, through something as straightforward as loneliness, or grief, or anger, or boredom, or fear.

What can you and I do about this? The answer in part is: prayer. Prayer stands as a protection and strength.

Dear Lord, gracious God, thank You for Your presence. I appreciate You acting as a refuge and strength. God, You are my rock and fortress, sure to be there for me and with me. I know the Lord is there when I go through the thick of things. Just like King David said, even though each of us is walking down the solitary path through the valley of shadow. No matter! We are still on God’s side. And, God will keep each one under the shadow of heavenly wings. Thank God.

@chaplaineliza

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Focus on Immanuel, God With Us

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, September 17, 2015

Focus on Immanuel, God With Us

Today’s Name of God? This is one of the words I have used a number of times in the past for meditation and Centering Prayer! Really. Really and truly. Yes, my word—Name of God for today is Immanuel.

Except—I couldn’t quite focus, or settle down to pray in depth. I set my alarm for twenty minutes. Yes. I sat in my comfortable computer chair (with back support). Yes. But as I tried to settle and pray and focus on “Immanuel,” my silly brain kept skittering off in all directions.

“Immanuel” comes from Isaiah, chapter 7: “¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.“ This Name means “God with us,” a particularly meaningful Name to me. For years, when I recalled this Name of God, I’ve known God is not far away, distant or remote. That thought is not only reassuring but also comforting. My God is present, and right by my side.

It was rainy this afternoon and evening, with a powerful storm blowing through the city. I spent a while on the road, especially coming back from a late lunch south of downtown. Yes, I remembered all that about God. I wasn’t concentrating on the mighty and powerful aspects of God, but on the loving, nurturing and comforting part.

Immanuel, God with us. God with me. Dear God, thank You for being there for me. Thank You for loving and caring for me, so much that You would come alongside of me. No matter what.

@chaplaineliza

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Prayer for Friends, Part Two

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Prayer for Friends, Part Two

It helps when friends pray for each other. I know. I’ve felt the prayers when I really needed them.

I’ve been praying for a dear friend who is in the middle of a yucky situation. Lo and behold, the Psalm chosen for Tuesday night on the www.dailyoffice.org website is Psalm 91. And, the first two verses of the Psalm are as follows:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, * abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
He shall say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I put my trust.””

These two verses are enough to give me courage, and encouragement. “Dwells in the shelter?” That means putting down roots. Not just camping for a night or two. “Most High:” God = the Highest thing, spatially speaking.[1] “Abides.” Again, staying for awhile! “Under the shadow of the Almighty:” I can’t help but think of the rough terrain of much of the Holy Land. Shade would certainly be desired, especially in the heat of the day. Thus, the Almighty would be able to provide a tremendous amount of shade.

I hope God is listening. (Are You, God?)

Dear Lord, thank You for these wonderful promises written by the Psalmist in Psalm 91. I pray that all of them may quickly come true for my dear friend, and my friend’s family! While I’m at it, I pray these wonderful promises for me and my family, too. Lord, You are a mighty God. You are our Refuge and Stronghold. (The Psalm says so!) And, You are totally trustworthy. Thank You for hearkening to all of our prayers. Amen, and amen!

@chaplaineliza

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Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/god-names-of.html

Not Just Here, but God is Everywhere!

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, April 27, 2015

Not Just Here, but God is Everywhere!

Sometimes, some people tell me that they are a little puzzled by certain books in the Old Testament. Or, especially certain scripture passages in those books. It is true. Those views about Jeremiah 23 can be puzzling, indeed. Sometimes, the views on different bible verses are unclear. Or, obscure. Or, even wrong-headed.

Here, in Jeremiah 23, the prophet demands to know what is the matter with prophecy. Sure enough, claims of serving false prophets linger. What I focused on was verses 23 and 24, where the prophet is kidding around about God. “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away?” In other words, the reader hears that God is not just a local God, a parochial deity, but the God who fills the heavens and the earth.

The God who is personal enough to care for each and every individual on earth is also the God who made a cosmic difference, made heaven and earth, and goes above and beyond anything anyone can possibly understand.

I am astounded, amazed, and touched. My God is even more marvelous than I could ever ask or imagine. Thanks, Lord! Thank You so very much.

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And read #40acts sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er