The Week of February 18, 2008

Psalm 10,11,12

Psalm 10 - Where is God?

This psalm represents an individual prayer of help during oppression and difficulty. The psalm begins with the pivotal question - why does God "hide" or stay silent as trouble mounts around the faithful? This is not just an ancient question, but one that resonates with us as well. The wicked, the greedy, the godless seem to be prosper, while the meek, the poor and the needy are helpless to do anything about it. The psalmist declares that the wicked believe God to be absent from human affairs, but he knows better. He believes that God does care, and he challenges God to rise up and do something!

Psalm 11 - God Sees and Acts from the Holy Throne

This psalm presents trust in God as refuge and as moral judge, active in human affairs. From the heavenly throne, God can see the actions of the just and unjust. The wicked will receive punishment, and the righteous will "behold his face." Notice that "beholding God's face" is the direct opposite of God being "hidden" or "absent" as in Psalm 10.

Psalm 12 - God, Save Us from Vile and Damaging Speech

The psalmist laments the sin and corruption around him, and links human speech to the oppression and mistreatment of the poor and needy. In the middle of this psalm a divine oracle (God's speech) declares "I will rise up." Most likely this oracle was declared by the priests in the Temple as the faithful prayed to God. It gave hope to the faithful, focusing their attention upon God's desire for good for the people. It reminded the faithful of God's promises, and the security of God's mercy and love.

My Thoughts:

"I will place them in the safety for which they long."
The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure.
Psalm 12:5-6

In the last few weeks I have had opportunity to spend time with parents seeking a day-care center or pre-school for their young child. As they gather to ask questions about the new North Star Learning Center here at CCPC, you can feel their anxiety and concern. Will our center be warm, inviting, loving and safe? I remember those days - trying to give my precious babies into the care of others. I never believed ANYONE as qualified to care for my babies as I. I never believed ANYWHERE as safe and secure as my home. I always felt both guilty and anxious about my little ones, so I truly understand the young parents coming to our center.

After 21 years as a parent, my attitudes and priorities have changed! Those early decisions about day-care and preschool pale in comparison to the decisions my children make today. Today, I have only minimal input into the most crucial choices and verdicts of their lives. Today, I am passionately relying on the promises made at their baptisms. I have come to realize that their only true safety will be in God - the God who claims them and promises to be their God no matter what the future holds. We all long for safety; for ourselves, for our children, for all we love. The psalmist reminds us that God creates that safety, God promises that safety, and God's promises are pure and secure.

You, O Lord, will protect us;
You will guard us from this generation forever
Psalm 12:7

Blessings,
Pastor Stacy

back