Fake news thrives in a world that longs for certainty apart from a deep trust in God. The fundamental question of truth will never be answered in a culture shaped by spin and talking points. The danger of our day is the temptation to root identity and truth in political ideologies of the left or right rather than in a moment-by-moment relationship with God.
This temptation finds in roots in the opening chapters of Genesis. In Genesis 3, we encounter the narrative of Eve, Adam, and the Serpent. Genesis 3 opens with the Serpent asking a probing question: “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?’” Bonhoeffer described this exchange as the “first conversation about God.”[1] In other words, the loss of truth emerges at the moment when humanity makes God an object of reflection and conversation rather than the principal subject of relational connection.
In Genesis 3, Eve and Adam quickly succumb to the serpent’s words and eat the fruit of the tree that God had forbidden them from consuming. This changes the future for all humanity and marks the entrance of sin and death into the world (Rom 5:12–21). Once relationship is broken alternative truths become engaging. At the heart of the Genesis 3 story is a question that we must answer: Do I trust that a loving God has my best interests at heart as well as the interests of those whom I love deeply?
For Adam and Eve, they ultimately answered “No.” The rest was history. Yet Adam and Eve’s story is also a tale of our lives. It explains the origins of sin, but it also serves as a warning to us. When trust with the Creator is broken, we are left to find alternative pathways to certainty. This often leads us to trust our instincts, ideologies, and interests apart from a moment-by-moment relationship with the LORD.
In the Old Testament, truth is anchored in the LORD (Deut 32:6, Isa 25:1, Ps 119:30). The Hebrew word is ’emunah. This word may be translated as “true”, “truth”, “reliable”, or “faithful.” What does it mean to be “true” or to be “truth”? It means that one is reliable, dependable, and faithful. Truth is found in the character of the LORD. Thus, it is relational because truth is defined in relationship with the LORD who is faithful and true. The LORD does and acts rightly, at the right time, every time. The LORD is dependable. The LORD is trustworthy. The LORD embodies faithfulness and stands over all human claims to truth.
Scripture testifies to this truth from Genesis to Revelation. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus lived out the truth and invites us to walk in its light. The way forward for us today is a moment by moment relationship with God.
Ask yourself: Do I trust that a loving God has my best interests at heart as well as those of the people whom I love deeply? When we can say “yes,” we have embraced the truth that truly makes us free.
This essay appeared originally in the Spring 2017 issue of the Asbury Herald.

[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Creation and Fall: A Theological Exposition of Genesis 1–3. (Translated by Douglas Stephen Bax. Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works 3. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress, 2004), 111.
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Friday, May 12, 2017
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Trusting Fully in the LORD for Deliverance and Protection: Learning to Pray Ps 25
Psalm 25 is a lament grounded in deep trust. The psalmist
prays to the LORD for forgiveness of sin and protection from enemies. This
psalm teaches us to pray in trying times and invites us to receive and act on
the LORD’s instruction to forge a godly character.
Psalm 25 uses an acrostic design. This means that in the
original Hebrew each successive verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew
alphabet. This gives the psalm a unity and completeness. Verse 1 begins with
the letter aleph and verse 21 with the letter tav. Verse 22 stands outside of
the acrostic design and brings the psalm to a conclusion with a final plea for
help.
1
In you, LORD my God, I put my trust.
2
I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.
4
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
5
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
6
Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
7
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, LORD, are good.
8
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
10
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11
For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12
Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13
They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land.
14
The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
15
My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
17
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
18
Look on my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
19
See how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me!
20
Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.
22
Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
In verses 1–2, the psalmist twice declares his trust in the
LORD. He addresses the LORD as “my God.” He recognizes his dependence on the
LORD. This is the proper posture by which to approach the King of Glory (see Ps
24). The psalmist then petitions the LORD to keep him from shame and from the
triumphs of his enemies. Verse 3 affirms the psalmist’s faith in the form of an
affirmation that those who hope in the LORD will be spared shame at the hands
of their enemies. The LORD will instead shame those who are intent on acting
wickedly.
The psalmist recognizes his dependence on God and in vv. 4–7
asks for the LORD’s instruction so that he may walk faithfully through the
world. Thus far, we’ve read psalms in which there is a clear line between the
righteous and the wicked. The psalmist in Ps 25 includes himself with the
righteous, but demonstrates a key trait for God’s people to nurture: a
teachable spirit mixed with a desire for growth.
In verses 4–5a, the psalmist prays, “Show me your ways.”
This is a prayer for the LORD to cause the psalmist to know the LORD’s
ways or paths. The assumption is that life is a journey and guidance is
necessary. A second assumption is that God is willing and able to teach.
The psalmist understands that he needs the GPS of God to help him navigate the
world.
In verses 5b–7, the psalmist grounds his prayer in his
confidence in the LORD’s character. In
v. 5b, the psalmist declares his loyalty to God. The psalmist is “all in” in
his trust. The LORD is plan A, B, C, and D. He recognizes that the LORD is his
God and his Savior.
The psalmist appeals to the core of the LORD’s character:
his mercy and faithful love (cf. Exod 34:6–7a). These are the traits that the
LORD demonstrated in saving God’s people from bondage in Egypt and in revealing
to God’s people the Law on Sinai. The psalmist trusts that God will deal with
him in the same way. The psalmist recognizes his own need for cleansing and
asks God to deal with him out of his love and goodness.
As we seek to grow into the people whom God desires for us
to be, let us pray out of dependence and need while opening ourselves to God’s
cleansing and empowerment.
In verses 1–7, the psalmist declared his trust and
dependence on the LORD and appealed to the LORD’s love, mercy, and goodness as
the basis for forgiving his sins and delivering him from enemies.
Now in the remainder of the psalm (vv. 8–22) the psalmist
reiterates his need for deliverance and his belief in the LORD’s goodness. The
psalmist moves back and forth in his prayer between proclaiming the guidance
and kindness of God with his petitions for God to act to save him.
Verses 8–11 illustrate this well. In verses 8–10, the
psalmist praises the LORD for his instruction and guidance. These flow directly
out of God’s character. The psalmist describes the LORD as good, upright,
loving, and faithful. In other words, the LORD embodies the positive traits
that we long to experience in our own lives. The psalmist appeals to these core
characteristics of the LORD by crying out for forgiveness for his own sense of
lostness. Notice the phrase in v. 11, “for the sake of your name LORD.” The
psalmist desires forgiveness not only as means of saving his own neck but for
the testimony and honor that it will provide for the LORD. The psalmist can
again join in the chorus of creation that will testify to the LORD’s goodness
to those who do not know the LORD.
In verses 12–21, the pattern repeats. The psalmist describes
God’s character and actions (vv. 12–14) and then the psalmist follows with a
longer list of petitions (vv. 15–21). Verses 12–14 describe the benefits of
being in proper relationship with the LORD (“those who fear the LORD”). God
will instruct them and give them prosperity. The assumption is that God’s
people desire and receive this guidance. Verse 14 mentions “covenant.” This
likely refers to the Sinai covenant. At Sinai, God offered God’s people a
relationship rooted in grace.
In vv. 15–21, the psalmist aligns himself and his hope for a
future with the LORD. He sees in the God the only means of release from his
bondage and affliction. The psalmist struggles both internally as a result of
his sins, but he also faces serious challenges and danger from numerous enemies
all around him. He releases all of his hurts and desires to God. This is a key
step in prayer. The pray-er relinquishes to God all concerns. Doing this allows
God’s people (including us) to live in the moment and free ourselves from the
affliction of worry. Verse 21 is a final proclamation of the psalmist’s
personal trust. The psalmist is direct and to the point: “my hope, LORD, is in
you.” The psalmist does not waffle between options. If there is a way out, it
will be through the help of the LORD.
The psalmist concludes Ps
25 with a general petition for God to act on behalf of God’s people as whole to
deliver them from all their troubles. This final verse reminds us that
true piety can never be confined to our experiences as individuals. We must be
mindful of our neighbor in our prayers too!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
What Kind of Person Do I need to Become to Abide in the LORD?: Learning to Pray Psalm 15
In the previous blog posts, we’ve explore two psalms of trust (Pss 11 and 14) and two laments (Pss 12–13). All four psalms explored the struggle of living for the LORD in a world that does not acknowledge God’s kingdom. God’s people can face oppression and injustice by persons who live by their own rules rather than embodying justice and righteousness.
These psalms testify to an unwavering trust in the LORD. Despite hardships, these prayers witness to a dogged and rich faith that can guide us on our journey as God’s missional people. Yet there is a subtle temptation when the wicked appear to prevail in the present. The temptation is lower our standards, maybe just a little, to perhaps lessen the cost of a life of faithfulness. Enter Psalm 15. Psalm 15 instructs God’s people in the habits of those committed to holy living in an unholy world.
Psalm 15 served originally as a liturgy for entering into the temple in Jerusalem. It connects love for God with love for neighbor. If the journey of faith ends in the praise and adoration of the LORD and his victory (Pss 146–150), this psalm reminds us of the importance of personal holiness and character as we live in anticipation of God’s future abundance.
Psalm 15 unpacks as a general question (verse 1) followed by a detailed answer (verses 2–5b). Verse 5b concludes with powerful promise.
Verse 1 opens the psalm by asking the LORD for the characteristics of a person who may enter into God’s presence. Psalm 15 does not set admissions requirements for a relationship with God. It is describing the lifestyle of a person who have received God’s grace. Psalm 15 invites us to answer a similar question today: What kind of person do I need to become in light of the grace and kindness that I’ve received from God in Jesus Christ?
The LORD’s answer to this question may seem surprising as it lacks any religious acts. For example, there are no references to sabbath or sacrifices. Instead, verses 2–5a focus on how we relate and treat others. In other words, it suggests that our love for God must manifest in our relationships with all people and especially with God’s people. Observe that there are ten lines of instruction in these verses. This is intentional. Just as there are Ten Commandments from Sinai (Exod 20:2–17 cf. Deut 5:6–21), Psalm 15 offers ten lines of ethical instruction to guide the godly in their walk with the
LORD.
These verses focus on practicing faithfulness in our relationships with others. This is the meaning of a blameless walk and right action. This involves speaking truthfully and not using our speech to injure others (2b–3). The holy life also means honoring God’s people rather than giving special privileges to those who reject God (4a). People also honor God by keeping their word (4b). The blameless life also is exemplified by blessing the poor with no interest loans and refusing bribes against someone who is innocent. Note that some of these practices may be costly in terms of money, loss of prestige in the eyes of the world, or crossing someone powerful.
God calls us to live this way counter-culturally as an abiding witness to God’s mission and kingdom. Verse 5b promises that faithfulness has its reward: security for all eternity.
What kind of person does this psalm invite you to become?
What is the most difficult challenging part of this psalm for you to live out?
What role does faithful service to your neighbors and to the poor play in your life as a follower of Jesus?
These psalms testify to an unwavering trust in the LORD. Despite hardships, these prayers witness to a dogged and rich faith that can guide us on our journey as God’s missional people. Yet there is a subtle temptation when the wicked appear to prevail in the present. The temptation is lower our standards, maybe just a little, to perhaps lessen the cost of a life of faithfulness. Enter Psalm 15. Psalm 15 instructs God’s people in the habits of those committed to holy living in an unholy world.
Psalm 15 served originally as a liturgy for entering into the temple in Jerusalem. It connects love for God with love for neighbor. If the journey of faith ends in the praise and adoration of the LORD and his victory (Pss 146–150), this psalm reminds us of the importance of personal holiness and character as we live in anticipation of God’s future abundance.
Psalm 15 unpacks as a general question (verse 1) followed by a detailed answer (verses 2–5b). Verse 5b concludes with powerful promise.
Verse 1 opens the psalm by asking the LORD for the characteristics of a person who may enter into God’s presence. Psalm 15 does not set admissions requirements for a relationship with God. It is describing the lifestyle of a person who have received God’s grace. Psalm 15 invites us to answer a similar question today: What kind of person do I need to become in light of the grace and kindness that I’ve received from God in Jesus Christ?
The LORD’s answer to this question may seem surprising as it lacks any religious acts. For example, there are no references to sabbath or sacrifices. Instead, verses 2–5a focus on how we relate and treat others. In other words, it suggests that our love for God must manifest in our relationships with all people and especially with God’s people. Observe that there are ten lines of instruction in these verses. This is intentional. Just as there are Ten Commandments from Sinai (Exod 20:2–17 cf. Deut 5:6–21), Psalm 15 offers ten lines of ethical instruction to guide the godly in their walk with the
LORD.
These verses focus on practicing faithfulness in our relationships with others. This is the meaning of a blameless walk and right action. This involves speaking truthfully and not using our speech to injure others (2b–3). The holy life also means honoring God’s people rather than giving special privileges to those who reject God (4a). People also honor God by keeping their word (4b). The blameless life also is exemplified by blessing the poor with no interest loans and refusing bribes against someone who is innocent. Note that some of these practices may be costly in terms of money, loss of prestige in the eyes of the world, or crossing someone powerful.
God calls us to live this way counter-culturally as an abiding witness to God’s mission and kingdom. Verse 5b promises that faithfulness has its reward: security for all eternity.
What kind of person does this psalm invite you to become?
What is the most difficult challenging part of this psalm for you to live out?
What role does faithful service to your neighbors and to the poor play in your life as a follower of Jesus?
Monday, August 31, 2015
Trusting God on the Journey of Faithfulness: Learning to Pray Psalm 12
The life of faithfulness is challenging. The world that we live in is complex. The issues of the day can be daunting. This psalm explores the isolation that God’s people can experience when they forget their foundation.
Psalm 12
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
Verse 1 opens with a cry for “help” directed to the LORD. This is the Hebrew word hosanna that readers may recognize from the Gospel story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Hosanna means “save.” Thus it is more than just calling for “help.” The psalmist recognizes that it is the LORD alone to whom he can turn.
What is the reason for this call? The psalmist feels as though he is utterly alone in attempting to walk faithfully with the LORD. In verses 1b–2 the psalmist exclaims his belief that all of the faithful have vanished. There is no one who remains loyally committed to the ways of God. In fact, the psalmist declares that everyone speaks deceptively and plots ill. Have you ever felt this way? How do we pray when it seems as though we are the only ones who trust the LORD and care about his mission?
Verses 3–4 add specifics to the psalmist’s plea for help. The psalmist feels oppressed. The psalmist asks the LORD to silence all who using their voices for deceitfulness and boasting about their own power. Life confronts us with choices and differing philosophies. One subtle temptation involves the myth of self-reliance. We can deny the existence of God and power of our own faith by acting as if it is our talents and strength alone that determine our destiny. The psalmist recognizes his true need for God and is overwhelmed by a society in which this truth is denied. When self-reliance is overemphasized, we find a society shaped by selfishness and injustice. We treat resources as limited and hoard them for our own use or for the use of those whom we love. This psalmist is on the short end of this type of world.
The psalmist then shares the LORD’s response. The LORD is not for the self-reliant, but for justice. The LORD rises up to protect the poor and needy against those who claim self-reliance and self-determinism as they philosophy of life.
Verses 6–8 affirm the psalmist’s trust and confidence in the LORD’s care and protection. Unlike the wicked whose words are fickle and deceptive, the words of the LORD is sure and secure. They are like the purest silver or gold. They are money in the bank. Therefore, the psalmist knows that his life is safe. Regardless of how desperate the situation appears in the moment, the LORD safeguards the those who truly recognize their need for God. This psalm reminds us that the LORD is present for those who are desperate for what only God can do. O that we would all live our lives out of this sort of dependence!
What is the problem that confronts the psalmist in Ps 12?
How does the LORD answer the psalmist?
What warning does this psalm offer to those who pray it?
Psalm 12
Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;
those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
they flatter with their lips
but harbor deception in their hearts.
3 May the Lord silence all flattering lips
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
and every boastful tongue—
4 those who say,
“By our tongues we will prevail;
our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.
I will now arise,” says the Lord.
“I will protect them from those who malign them.”
6 And the words of the Lord are flawless,
like silver purified in a crucible,
like gold[c] refined seven times.
7 You, Lord, will keep the needy safe
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
and will protect us forever from the wicked,
8 who freely strut about
when what is vile is honored by the human race.
Verse 1 opens with a cry for “help” directed to the LORD. This is the Hebrew word hosanna that readers may recognize from the Gospel story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Hosanna means “save.” Thus it is more than just calling for “help.” The psalmist recognizes that it is the LORD alone to whom he can turn.
What is the reason for this call? The psalmist feels as though he is utterly alone in attempting to walk faithfully with the LORD. In verses 1b–2 the psalmist exclaims his belief that all of the faithful have vanished. There is no one who remains loyally committed to the ways of God. In fact, the psalmist declares that everyone speaks deceptively and plots ill. Have you ever felt this way? How do we pray when it seems as though we are the only ones who trust the LORD and care about his mission?
Verses 3–4 add specifics to the psalmist’s plea for help. The psalmist feels oppressed. The psalmist asks the LORD to silence all who using their voices for deceitfulness and boasting about their own power. Life confronts us with choices and differing philosophies. One subtle temptation involves the myth of self-reliance. We can deny the existence of God and power of our own faith by acting as if it is our talents and strength alone that determine our destiny. The psalmist recognizes his true need for God and is overwhelmed by a society in which this truth is denied. When self-reliance is overemphasized, we find a society shaped by selfishness and injustice. We treat resources as limited and hoard them for our own use or for the use of those whom we love. This psalmist is on the short end of this type of world.
The psalmist then shares the LORD’s response. The LORD is not for the self-reliant, but for justice. The LORD rises up to protect the poor and needy against those who claim self-reliance and self-determinism as they philosophy of life.
Verses 6–8 affirm the psalmist’s trust and confidence in the LORD’s care and protection. Unlike the wicked whose words are fickle and deceptive, the words of the LORD is sure and secure. They are like the purest silver or gold. They are money in the bank. Therefore, the psalmist knows that his life is safe. Regardless of how desperate the situation appears in the moment, the LORD safeguards the those who truly recognize their need for God. This psalm reminds us that the LORD is present for those who are desperate for what only God can do. O that we would all live our lives out of this sort of dependence!
What is the problem that confronts the psalmist in Ps 12?
How does the LORD answer the psalmist?
What warning does this psalm offer to those who pray it?
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Trusting the LORD to Find True Security: Learning to Pray Psalm 11
1 In the Lord I take refuge.
Psalm 11 is a song of trust. It reminds God’s people of the true source of their security. This is a crucial word for us today. It is easy for us to misplace our security. Too often we rely on our owns strengths and resources. This may involve our wealth, our relationships, our network, our possessions, our intellect, or our talents. Psalm 11 assumes that the challenges facing God’s people are more than our own assets can overcome.
Psalm 11 divides into two parts. Verses 1–3 describes the challenges facing the faithful in the world as it exists today. Verses 4–7 proclaim a security that transcends the dangers of the present. It affirms the deep relationship between the LORD and the people of God.
Verse 1a opens with the psalmist declaring full trust in the LORD. It is in the LORD alone that the psalmist finds refuge. This is the grounding for the psalmist’s life. The psalmist can face the challenges and even dangers of the present because of the LORD.
Verses 1b–3 contain the problem that the psalmist’s trust and faithfulness answers. The psalmist addresses the real concern of the community. How can the righteous find security when people with wicked or evil intent threaten their lives and families? This is no mere hypothetical question for many believers around the world today. A life of faith and mission can be risky. The psalmist’s community ponders the need to flee from the dangers of the world by heading to the mountains. What are the people of God to do when it seems as if all of their assumptions and practices of how to live seem to crumble?
The psalmist knows the answer to his implied question. Security is found in the LORD. Verse 4 grounds this is the dynamic truth of the LORD’s presence in our world and transcendence over all Creation. As Christians, we can find comfort and peace in the reality that God is present with us in the now of our lives yet simultaneously able to rule with a view from all eternity.
On basis of this truth, the psalmist sketches out the implications for our lives. As we’ve seen in other psalms, there are two groups of people: the righteous and the wicked. The psalmist assumes that he is among the righteous. Whenever we find these divisions in Scripture, it is crucial for us to recognize that it is the LORD who makes these categories and it is the LORD who makes these judgments. As we read vv. 5–6, the righteous are not to rejoice at the downfall of the wicked. The backdrop of the psalm is that the righteous are suffering affliction and hardship. Vv. 5–6 describe the reversal that will ultimately occur if those who prefer and practice injustice and violence do not turn from their ways to abide in the LORD. Verse 7 reminds God’s people of their hope-filled future. The takeaway is that God’s people must stay on course in the present and model God’s holy character with the assurance that this is the right way to make it through the world.
What practices do you keep that ground you in God?
What kind of person does this psalm invite you to become to be able to live with integrity as one of the righteous?
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
5 The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (NIV)
he loves justice; the upright will see his face. (NIV)
Psalm 11 is a song of trust. It reminds God’s people of the true source of their security. This is a crucial word for us today. It is easy for us to misplace our security. Too often we rely on our owns strengths and resources. This may involve our wealth, our relationships, our network, our possessions, our intellect, or our talents. Psalm 11 assumes that the challenges facing God’s people are more than our own assets can overcome.
Psalm 11 divides into two parts. Verses 1–3 describes the challenges facing the faithful in the world as it exists today. Verses 4–7 proclaim a security that transcends the dangers of the present. It affirms the deep relationship between the LORD and the people of God.
Verse 1a opens with the psalmist declaring full trust in the LORD. It is in the LORD alone that the psalmist finds refuge. This is the grounding for the psalmist’s life. The psalmist can face the challenges and even dangers of the present because of the LORD.
Verses 1b–3 contain the problem that the psalmist’s trust and faithfulness answers. The psalmist addresses the real concern of the community. How can the righteous find security when people with wicked or evil intent threaten their lives and families? This is no mere hypothetical question for many believers around the world today. A life of faith and mission can be risky. The psalmist’s community ponders the need to flee from the dangers of the world by heading to the mountains. What are the people of God to do when it seems as if all of their assumptions and practices of how to live seem to crumble?
The psalmist knows the answer to his implied question. Security is found in the LORD. Verse 4 grounds this is the dynamic truth of the LORD’s presence in our world and transcendence over all Creation. As Christians, we can find comfort and peace in the reality that God is present with us in the now of our lives yet simultaneously able to rule with a view from all eternity.
On basis of this truth, the psalmist sketches out the implications for our lives. As we’ve seen in other psalms, there are two groups of people: the righteous and the wicked. The psalmist assumes that he is among the righteous. Whenever we find these divisions in Scripture, it is crucial for us to recognize that it is the LORD who makes these categories and it is the LORD who makes these judgments. As we read vv. 5–6, the righteous are not to rejoice at the downfall of the wicked. The backdrop of the psalm is that the righteous are suffering affliction and hardship. Vv. 5–6 describe the reversal that will ultimately occur if those who prefer and practice injustice and violence do not turn from their ways to abide in the LORD. Verse 7 reminds God’s people of their hope-filled future. The takeaway is that God’s people must stay on course in the present and model God’s holy character with the assurance that this is the right way to make it through the world.
What practices do you keep that ground you in God?
What kind of person does this psalm invite you to become to be able to live with integrity as one of the righteous?
Friday, July 17, 2015
Whom Do You Trust: Learning to Pray Psalm 146
Psalm 146 begins the Psalter’s final flurry of praise with the psalmist calling himself or herself to the act of praising the LORD. In verse 1, he twice repeats the exhortation “Praise the LORD!” In the second phrase, he calls upon his soul to join the praise. In other words, the psalmist invites the totality of all that he is to return praise to God: all of our gifts, talents, thoughts, and emotions. Verse 2 offers the response of the psalmist. He declares his intention to indeed praise the LORD all of his life. Notice that in verse 2, the psalmist personally identifies the LORD as “my God.” To praise God is to proclaim one’s loyalty and relationship to the LORD.
Ps 146 then turns to the main body of the Psalm in verses 3–10. The focus is on trust. We praise the LORD because the LORD alone can be trusted to sustain and carry us through the journey of life.
Verses 3–4 set up a contrast between trusting human authorities versus trusting the LORD. There is a problem with human leaders. No matter how great they may be, their power is temporary and there is no ultimate deliverance or salvation in them.
One of the key questions in life is this: Whom do you trust with your life and loved ones? Psalm 146 knows that there is only one being worthy of this trust: the LORD. Verses 5–10 tells us why this is true.
First, verse 5 boldly declares the happiness or state of blessedness of each person who finds help and hope in the LORD. We saw the word translated “blessed” in Ps 1:1 and 2:12. Now we encounter it here at the end of the Psalms. This is good news. Our journey through life has a happy ending.
Second, verses 6–10 give the specific reasons that demonstrate why trusting and hoping in the LORD is superior to trusting in human power. These verses celebrate God’s actions and character. We can trust God because he is the Creator of all that exists (v.6). The creator and savior of the world are one and the same.
We can trust God because of his eternal faithfulness. God is absolutely dependable to do the right thing at the right time every time. God has the track record to prove this. Verses 7-10 list tangible evidences of God’s faithfulness. The Creator does not sleep on the job but continues to act for justice and wholeness for all including in particular those desperate for what only God can do. This includes the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the humbled, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. In other words, God is radically for the marginalized. In fact, these states of need do not suggest that such persons deserved their condition, but rather Psalmist declares that “God loves the righteous.” The implication is that these very persons whom the powerful often overlook are part of God’s people regardless of circumstances. The Gospel is not simply good news for the powerful and connected; it is good news for everyone including the disenfranchised and disconnected.
Third, verse 9b announces that the LORD who sustains the righteous confounds the wicked. Their will be people who choose to thwart God’s mission and oppress God’s people, but their day will come to an end.
Last, Psalm 146 reminds us that the LORD reigns forever. Therefore, God’s people must praise and worship him.
What reasons does the psalmist give us for praising God?
Whom do you trust with your life and loved ones?
How does this psalm teach us to pray?
Ps 146 then turns to the main body of the Psalm in verses 3–10. The focus is on trust. We praise the LORD because the LORD alone can be trusted to sustain and carry us through the journey of life.
Verses 3–4 set up a contrast between trusting human authorities versus trusting the LORD. There is a problem with human leaders. No matter how great they may be, their power is temporary and there is no ultimate deliverance or salvation in them.
One of the key questions in life is this: Whom do you trust with your life and loved ones? Psalm 146 knows that there is only one being worthy of this trust: the LORD. Verses 5–10 tells us why this is true.
First, verse 5 boldly declares the happiness or state of blessedness of each person who finds help and hope in the LORD. We saw the word translated “blessed” in Ps 1:1 and 2:12. Now we encounter it here at the end of the Psalms. This is good news. Our journey through life has a happy ending.
Second, verses 6–10 give the specific reasons that demonstrate why trusting and hoping in the LORD is superior to trusting in human power. These verses celebrate God’s actions and character. We can trust God because he is the Creator of all that exists (v.6). The creator and savior of the world are one and the same.
We can trust God because of his eternal faithfulness. God is absolutely dependable to do the right thing at the right time every time. God has the track record to prove this. Verses 7-10 list tangible evidences of God’s faithfulness. The Creator does not sleep on the job but continues to act for justice and wholeness for all including in particular those desperate for what only God can do. This includes the oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the humbled, the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. In other words, God is radically for the marginalized. In fact, these states of need do not suggest that such persons deserved their condition, but rather Psalmist declares that “God loves the righteous.” The implication is that these very persons whom the powerful often overlook are part of God’s people regardless of circumstances. The Gospel is not simply good news for the powerful and connected; it is good news for everyone including the disenfranchised and disconnected.
Third, verse 9b announces that the LORD who sustains the righteous confounds the wicked. Their will be people who choose to thwart God’s mission and oppress God’s people, but their day will come to an end.
Last, Psalm 146 reminds us that the LORD reigns forever. Therefore, God’s people must praise and worship him.
What reasons does the psalmist give us for praising God?
Whom do you trust with your life and loved ones?
How does this psalm teach us to pray?
© 2015 Brian D. Russell
Thursday, July 2, 2015
The LORD is My Shepherd: Learning to Pray Psalm 23:1
Following the passionate lament and thanksgiving of Ps 22, Psalm 23 serves as a declaration of deep trust in the LORD. Psalm 23 is written from a first-person individual perspective. It serves as a prayer or meditation on one’s own faith in the LORD’s provision. Is there any better response to the reality of God’s presence in any circumstance than reflecting on the depths of our own trust in God’s faithfulness?
Verse 1 begins memorably with psalmist reflecting on his/her relationship with God. The psalmist choose the words carefully and they are ripe with meaning. The LORD is my shepherd. The psalmist knows his/her God personally and relationally. The Psalmist prays my shepherd and not our shepherd, his shepherd, her shepherd, your shepherd, or their shepherd. Don’t rush past this observation. Trust manifests in the individual. Ps 23 invites us to pray and proclaim our own individual faith in the LORD. Martin Luther once wrote, “Everyone must do his own believing just as everyone must do his own dying.” What does this mean if you are struggling in your faith? Again the Psalter provides words for us to offer to God in times of bounty and scarcity, on days of unshakeable faith and on days when we are closer to the words of the father out of whose son Jesus had cast a demon, “I believe LORD help me with my unbelief.” The faith expressed in Ps 23 can even inspire us in times when we find ourselves barely able to pray at all and teetering on unbelief. The power of Ps 23 is its ability to sustain us even in the darkest times.
The key is not the strength of my faith but its object. Ps 23 directs our faith onto the LORD. In Ps 23, the LORD is imaged as shepherd. What do shepherds do? They abide with, take care of, protect, and guide a flock of sheep. The sheep can live their lives as sheep safe from all harm because of the skill, power, care, compassion, and commitment of the shepherd. This is the metaphor that the psalmist offers us for contemplation as we pray. The assumption of course is a capable and faithful shepherd who has the best interests of the flock. In John 10:11, Jesus exclaims, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
What flows from an intimate trust in the care of the LORD as my shepherd? It is the realization of my own lack of need. If God is truly my shepherd, I am in need of nothing. The same God who invites us “Give us this day our daily bread” can be trusted with all aspects and areas of my life: financial, relational, physical, and spiritual. Praying “I lack nothing” also puts me in a position of generosity. As my needs are met, I can look outward to the needs of those around me as well.
Reflection Questions:
What does it mean for you to pray “The LORD is my shepherd”?
What does the imagery of “shepherd” tell us about God?
© 2015 Brian D. Russell
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