Jerusalem Is God’s Throne

Synopsis     Psalms 46:10-49:5     10/6/2021 

According to the priest song, people should praise God with joyful shouts and clapping hands. For, God is the king over everything. Thus, even political leaders are subject to God’s rule and reign. 

Specifically, in Jerusalem, the people loudly and joyously praised God. In fact, historically his splendor there was so great that it had defeated many armies.

Accordingly , as a person comes to Jerusalem, they experience for themselves what they probably had heard about the city prior to coming. And once seen, each person tended to proclaim the glory of God in the city to future generations.  

Jerusalem is God’s Throne 

God is the King of the Universe. This understanding suggests He should have a seat of proximity and authority, just like an earthly king. And from the time of Moses, he actually dwelt with the Chosen People. In fact, this is what made them “chosen”. They were distinct from all other people in that God chose them to live with.  

First, He did this in the Tent of Meeting. And later He dwelt in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.  

God’s Throne 

But now, God’s presence is manifest in the Eucharist. And somewhat counterintuitively, this sacred presence is universally available. Anyone who believes has access. God prevents no one. 

And this presence is consumed. So, the presence is not only proximate, it is intimate. And, as as I consumed it, God integrates it. The presence becomes a part of me. 

So now, the faithful follower is God’s Holy. And in this way, He reaches through His temple to a desperate world.  

“Do you not know that your body is a temple^* of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1Cor 6:19-20 

Presence in God’s Temple

Synopsis     Psalms 44:27-46:9     10/5/2021 

On the occasion of a royal wedding, the priests sang a song. This song addressed both the king-groom and the princess-bride.  

For the king, the priest’s song celebrates his beauty and his stateliness. In the midst of this, the priests acknowledge God’s desire for justice. And then they celebrate the king’s commitment to justice. In this way, they anticipate the success of the king’s reign and his family legacy.  

Similarly, the priest’s song encourages the princess-bride to separate from every affection other service to the king. In this way, she is reminded to remain faithful so that both she and the king will find ultimate success. Together, they will assure their legacy as their children rule in their place.  

In another song, the priests appealed to God for protection and success for the nation. In this song, they remember how the streams of water that enter into Jerusalem bring joy to the to its inhabitants. This metaphor describes the faithfulness of God’s ever presence in the lives of His chosen people.  

Enduring Presence of God in Temple 

Water coming into the city meant that no one had to leave the city in order to have their essential needs met. From the perspective of Temple Priests, this metaphor grasps the exact situation of God’s enduring presence. The temple in Jerusalem meant that all Israelites always had access to relationship with the God of all Creation.   

Enduring Presence of God 

Since the time of Christ, God has instituted the sacraments. And these graces have performed even more perfectly the role of the historic Jerusalem Temple. They have assured access to God for the people of God.  

The sacraments are like a river inside the city that continuously provide every essential need. 

“…but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 

God is Historically Faithful

Synopsis     Psalms 43:5-44:26     10/4/2021 

As priests, the Korahites ministered before God on behalf of the people. And so, their songs reflected the needs of the nation. When God did not respond to the prayers of the nation, the priests wondered aloud what was wrong.  

In this way, they remembered with the community God’s glorious past action to establish and save the nation. Similarly, they acknowledged that God was the God over all things, including warfare. So, they wondered why God was not with his people in their current fight. And they despaired at the national of defeat. 

Because of this situation, they examined their conscience. But they found that the nation had remained faithful to God. And so, they appealed for God to act even though He had not acted in their favor up to that point.  

God is Historically Faithful 

When God doesn’t answer my prayers in the way I desire, it strikes fear in my heart. My anxiety isn’t just that God hasn’t done what I wanted Him to do, but that He has rejected me. But not just the fear of rejection, instead the fear that this rejection is permanent.  

So, just as the Korahites, remember God’s past. God has been faithful in love. And He will remain faithful in love. I am beloved. And, if I remain faithful, I will be redeemed for eternity.   

“At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.” Heb 12:11-13 

David’s Enemy Never Triumphed

Synopsis     Psalms 41:8-43:4     10/1/2021 

King David how the Lord takes care of the faithful. Specifically, God preserves the lives of those people who help the destitute.  

In contrast, David reflected on the number of people who actually enjoyed his misfortunes. When David experienced difficulties, his envious adversaries rejoiced. But even in this, David experienced God’s faithfulness. In fact, God reassured David of His love by never allowing his enemies to triumph over him.  

In a similar way, the Korahite maskil song that followed, describes how deeply human beings need God. The song describes this need in the same terms as an animal desperately seeking water. In this way, the song expresses hope. But in keeping with the priestly author, the hope was to meet God in His Holy Temple.  

David’s Enemy Never Triumphed 

Although David lost a few battles, he never knew the tragedy of defeat. 

Never Defeated 

When I love, I am beyond defeat. There is no triumphing over love. 

“Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.” 1Cor 13:8 

David Lived a Life of Witness

Synopsis     Psalms 40:3-41:7     9/30/2021 

When King David first came to God, God saved him from the forces working to destroy his life. And so, David realized that God had an amazing plan for him.  

In this way, David came to realize that there is a trick to living with God. Basically, the only thing God really wants is a relationship based on trust and obedience. And so, even sacrifices at the tabernacle didn’t matter as much as a relationship based on trust and obedience.  

Having realized this, David also became aware that this way of thinking produced adversaries. As a result, he realized that evil men were almost always lurking around him.   

However, instead of collapsing in fear, he cried out to God for help. And he prayed that all faithful people would rejoice when they saw how God had saved the king.  

David Lived a Life of Witness 

King David learned that obedience was better than sacrifice. And he learned that when he obeyed, his life became a testimony of God’s faithfulness.  

Life of Witness 

God’s desire for relationship hasn’t changed since David’s time. If anything, through the coming of Jesus Christ, God has made it even more clear that he remains intent on building relationship with His people. And that the basis of this relationship is trust and obedience.  

But part and parcel of relationship with God is a willingness to be held up as an example. He called me to bear witness by the way I live my life.  

The challenge for me is shame. Even though I say I trust in God’s forgiveness, I feel shame for the things of my past. I feel shame for the evil, self-serving motivations that drove the behavior of my youth. In truth, I feel shame for the evil, self-serving motivations that drove my behavior fifteen minutes ago.  

So, in my shame, I openly wonder what witness my life could realistically offer. My truth: I’d rather be out of the limelight and sit quietly in the corner with my bible and my prayers. I don’t want to risk exposure.  

And yet, God speaks a word that demands obedience.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matt 5:14-16 

David Looked to God

Synopsis     Psalms 38:10-40:2     9/29/2021 

Over the course of his life, King David expressed a wide range of emotions. During moments of affliction, he felt remorse for his sins. And he cried out for forgiveness and healing. In this way, he recognized the sovereignty of God over all the affairs of the world. 

At the same time, David had moments where he recognized the vanity of life. So, he puzzled over the shortness of life. And he openly wondered what might be the meaning of life as he knew it. 

In the midst of this reflection, he asked God to reveal the number of his days. He wanted to be cognizant of how few days remained for him so that he might not take any of them for granted. Finally, because of the shortness of life, he prayed to be released from his chastening. 

David Looked to God 

For David, nothing happpend by chance. Instead, everything that came his way, he interpreted as coming from God.  

For this reason, he took all of his needs directly to God. He looked to God to interpret and solve his problems. And, in his best days, he went to God first. In other words, he didn’t wait to use God as a last resort.  

Looking to God 

I came out of the womb looking to bend the world to my will. And one way or another, I quickly learned how to get want I wanted.  

All of this happened before I even knew to look to God.  

As a result, a mental battle has ensued ever since I was first introduced to Jesus. My challenge: Will I trust God in any given circumstance. Or, do I have to take matters into my own hands and solve them through hustle and manipulation? This is what it means to be “caught between two opinions”. 

“Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him.” 1Kings 18:21 

David & The Evil Empire

Synopsis     Psalms 37:23-39:10     9/28/2021 

According to King David, there is a tension that exists between evil and righteousness people. And this tension often breaks out into enmity. The evil attack the righteous because they want to destroy them.  

But it is not the same for the righteous. They are defended by God. For this reason, they do not seek out confrontation with evildoers. Instead, they hope for their rehabilitation.  

David further explained that when he sinned, God punished him. He understood this punishment to be corrective.

But the curious thing about David’s sin is how other sinners reacted. When he sinned, other sinners attacked him. Instead of celebrating his failure and sinfulness, they saw his failure as an opportunity to attack. The evil condemned evil. 

David and the Evil Empire 

This is one essential mark of evil. Ultimately, because evil motivations are driven by personal envy and pride, evil lacks basis for community. Thus, evil is even against itself. For evildoers, the only shared motivation is hatred of God.

The Evil Empire 

The devil brought pride and envy to the garden. But, this destructive force created more than enmity with God. In fact, envy brought enmity between brothers. Thus, Cain killed Abel. In this way, God has destined people who do evil to ultimate failure and destruction.  

From this perspective, my awareness that God has destroyed the power of evil brings a mixture of joy and sadness.  Truly, victory always belongs to the Lord in the unity of goodness and love.  

However, the redeemed rightly feel pity for a world trapped in the tragic cycle of pride and destruction with no natural hope of reconciliation and freedom.  

“But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.’” Matt 12:25 

David Committed His Ways

Synopsis     Psalms 36:6-37:22     9/27/2021 

King David lifted his voice directly to God. In this way, he expressed to God how delightful it was to experience God’s infinitely, expansive love. Likewise, he compared following God to the fountain of life. And proclaimed that in experiencing God’s light, human begins see light. 

David followed by contrasting the fate of sinners with the rewards of righteousness. In this portion, he admonished his people to remain unprovoked by evildoers. Instead, he encouraged the people to always trust in the Lord.  

Give up your anger and wrath. And do not be provoked by evil. Wait a little and the wicked will be no more.  

David Committed His Ways 

David believed that God responded to those who were committed to doing what was right. Specifically, he claimed that the integrity of righteous people would “shine like the dawn”. In this way, he anticipated that God exalts the witness of faithful people.  

Commit Your Way 

Sometimes it seems like everyone has something to say. But, I live in a world that demands evidence. It perhaps follows that I am naturally skeptical of claims that lack evidence.  

Of course, God isn’t afraid of my world. In fact, he created it. And oddly enough, He’s even willing to work with me, and my need for evidence.  

But His challenge, such as He might be challenged, is whether or not I will persevere to gain the evidence necessary to offer a legitimate testimony.  

In other words, will I commit my way? That’s the question. And in a manner of speaking, it’s the only meaningful question. It’s the narrow gate.  

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in my house. Put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, And see if I do not open the floodgates of heaven for you, and pour down upon you blessing without measure!” Mal 3:10 

King David’s View on Justice

Synopsis     Psalms 35:7-36:5     9/24/2021 

King David asked God to ruin the plans of the unrighteous. He knew that God could rescue the weak from the power of the strong. So, he looked forward to praising God for bringing justice.

David went on to describe the unrighteousness of a malicious witnesses. These were people who used the legal system as a weapon. David specifically experienced this. David had occasion to do good to his adversary. But, in a moment when David was weak, his adversary became his enemy. In this way, they returned evil for good.  

In this moment of vulnerability, David cried out to God. He sought justice. Specifically, he asked God to shame the people who wished for his misfortune. Likewise, he asked God to bless those people who supported David’s cause.  

David’s View on Justice 

David recognized that all legal systems have a natural disadvantage. That is, no legal code can enforce goodwill. As a result, unrighteousness people do not perceive their legal system as an arbiter of justice. Instead, for them, the legal system is a mere mechanism. With it, powerful people can lawfully abuse the weak.   

Competition and Justice 

This never seems to change. In our time, the legal system remains an arena where legal outcomes largely depend on who can hire the craftiest attorney.  

Historically, no synthetic community has ever overcome this limitation. As a result, systematic injustice tends to slowly fray the fabric of every culture. It wears away the goodwill that each person owes other people and the community at large.  

Thus, this is the strange irony of all synthetic communities. The system of laws that was originally intended to promote the common good, is usually the main cause of cultural failure.  

“You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your neighbor justly.” Lev 19:15 

King David the Teacher

Synopsis     Psalms 33:19-35:6     9/23/2021 

As King David reflected on God. He exclaimed; My soul waits for the Lord because He helps me. 

Although he was king, David taught the people.

Specifically, David praised God publicly. He did this so the poor might hear and be encouraged. David believed that each person should look to God in order to be filled with joy. Therefore, he instructed his people to learn to savor God’s goodness. 

In this way, David challenged the people. And his challenge remains true today. Basically he said, “If you listen, then I will teach you the fear of God. Seek to do what is right and keep away from evil. If you do, then the Lord will hear you in times of distress.” 

And he continued in this vein of teaching. Accordingly he taught, “Keep in mind that even a just man will experience trouble. But if you’re faithful, God will deliver you.

However, things are different for evildoers. The evil they do ultimately destroys people deliberately do evil. Therefore, God condemns no one who trusts in Him.”  

King David the Teacher 

In today’s passage, David taught the people. Rather than simply proclaiming God’s goodness in praise, or pouring out his heart of affection, he instructed. David’s teaching made clear a few important points. First, God called David to abide in Him. But second, and perhaps more importantly, He called David to teach others how to abide.  

Teacher 

The goodness of God has revolutionized your life. If you find this to be true, then God has called you to share this good news. So, go share the good news! 

“A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant, correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, and that they may return to their senses out of the devil’s snare, where they are entrapped by him, for his will.” 2Tim 2:24-26