Psalm 41

It has been my experience that most people in the church hold to an idealistic world view of how things should be. They expect harmony, mutual love and respect within the church and society. When faced with discord, especially within the church, people are generally stymied and choose to live in denial rather than face the truth that disharmony is the norm for society. Society responds to challenges of their idealism by changing the norms. As an example, after spending the day with high school students, I was in a group discussion with other participants. I expressed concern about a student whose parents had divorced. The mother had left the child with her father, who was now living with another woman who cared little for the child. The school social worker responded that the problem was my expectation that the norm was a traditional family unit. If the child was not been taught that it was normal and right for parents to remain faithfully married and care for their children, the child would not feel sad, threatened or abandoned when the family broke apart. Seriously?

The Bible, especially the Book of Psalms, presents the reality of living in a world fractured and broken by sin. The psalms do not hide or deny sin, evil and a world hostile to God. Over and against the reality of this world, the Psalms present God the Father, who is ever seeking to repair the breech in His creation, whose mercies never come to an end and whose love and faithfulness is sufficient to meet our every need.

In Psalm 41, the psalmist is struggling with his own sin, his illness, the hostility of his enemies and the betrayal of his friends. Welcome to “Reality Psalms.” In the face of this crisis; the psalmist cries out to God with an expectation that God will be his deliverer, his healer, his protector. He goes to God expecting to receive forgiveness and the blessing of dwelling in the presence of God, eternally.

Choose this day how you want to live. You can choose to deny the sin and evil in this world. You can choose to change the norms so there are no dysfunctional families, churches and communities. You can choose to accept the reality of living in a broken world and live in despair. Or, you can choose God. You can choose to run to God with an expectation that God will be your deliverer, your healer, your protector. You can go to God expecting to receive forgiveness and the blessing of dwelling in the presence of God, eternally.

“. . . Choose today whom you will serve. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading of the Psalms

 attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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Reading for June 12, 2012                   Psalm 42