Proper 16/Pentecost 14/Ordinary Time 21
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
(See Proper 21/Pentecost 19/Ordinary Time 26, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)
"Kids," as old-time television host, Art Linkletter, used to observe, "say the darndest things." That's what one mother found out, when her son turned to her one morning at the breakfast table and asked, "Mom, is it true that God's not only up in heaven, but also here with us on earth?"
"Why, yes," replied his mom.
"Then, is it also true that God is right here in this town?"
"It certainly is," replied Mom (beginning to get his drift).
"Then, is God even right here in our house -- I mean -- right here in this very room?"
"Why, of course; God is right here in this room!"
"Mom, is God even here at this table, while we're having breakfast -- is God in this food?"
"Of course," said Mom -- beginning to get a little nervous about where this was leading.
"Mom -- is God right here in this empty glass in front of me?"
"Yes," said Mom, cautiously, "God is right there in that glass!"
Quick as a flash, the boy placed his hand over the top of the glass. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed.
There are times in life when we wish we could capture God like that: to be sure, God is at our beck and call, under our command, like a genie in a bottle. There are times we wish we could be sure God is on our side.
The times when most of us wish most intently we could be certain of God's favor is the hour of greatest need: when we are suffering, when tragedy intrudes, when life tumbles in. In such an hour of need, we may find ourselves asking, "Whose side is God on?"
The author of Psalm 124 is asking that very same question. The heading of the psalm says it was written by David -- and that would certainly make sense, since it clearly belongs to a time of war. Yet the attempt to place God on the side of any human enterprise is always a risky business.
This psalm displays a three-part logical structure: first there is remembrance of historical deliverance (vv. 1-5), then praise for deliverance in the recent past (vv. 6-7), and finally a liturgical declaration of trust (v. 8). This logical movement is one that can be replicated in our own experiences of trouble or difficulty. Truly it helps, in such times, to remember that God has been faithful in the past: both in the collective memory of our people, and in our own personal experiences of deliverance. The Lord whom we recall in such a way surely can be trusted to be faithful again, even though the signs of that faithful response may be invisible at the moment.
God is on our side -- not because we are worthy, but because God is worthy.
-- C. W.
"Kids," as old-time television host, Art Linkletter, used to observe, "say the darndest things." That's what one mother found out, when her son turned to her one morning at the breakfast table and asked, "Mom, is it true that God's not only up in heaven, but also here with us on earth?"
"Why, yes," replied his mom.
"Then, is it also true that God is right here in this town?"
"It certainly is," replied Mom (beginning to get his drift).
"Then, is God even right here in our house -- I mean -- right here in this very room?"
"Why, of course; God is right here in this room!"
"Mom, is God even here at this table, while we're having breakfast -- is God in this food?"
"Of course," said Mom -- beginning to get a little nervous about where this was leading.
"Mom -- is God right here in this empty glass in front of me?"
"Yes," said Mom, cautiously, "God is right there in that glass!"
Quick as a flash, the boy placed his hand over the top of the glass. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed.
There are times in life when we wish we could capture God like that: to be sure, God is at our beck and call, under our command, like a genie in a bottle. There are times we wish we could be sure God is on our side.
The times when most of us wish most intently we could be certain of God's favor is the hour of greatest need: when we are suffering, when tragedy intrudes, when life tumbles in. In such an hour of need, we may find ourselves asking, "Whose side is God on?"
The author of Psalm 124 is asking that very same question. The heading of the psalm says it was written by David -- and that would certainly make sense, since it clearly belongs to a time of war. Yet the attempt to place God on the side of any human enterprise is always a risky business.
This psalm displays a three-part logical structure: first there is remembrance of historical deliverance (vv. 1-5), then praise for deliverance in the recent past (vv. 6-7), and finally a liturgical declaration of trust (v. 8). This logical movement is one that can be replicated in our own experiences of trouble or difficulty. Truly it helps, in such times, to remember that God has been faithful in the past: both in the collective memory of our people, and in our own personal experiences of deliverance. The Lord whom we recall in such a way surely can be trusted to be faithful again, even though the signs of that faithful response may be invisible at the moment.
God is on our side -- not because we are worthy, but because God is worthy.
-- C. W.
