The single word God occurs only twice in the psalm (120), but it is the clue to the whole. God, once admitted to the consciousness, fills the entire horizon. God, revealed in his creative and redemptive work, exposes all the lies. The moment the word God is uttered, the world's towering falsehood is exposed - we we the truth. The truth about me is that God made and loves me. The truth about those sitting beside me is that God made them and loves them, and each one is therefore my neighbor. The truth about the world is that God rules and provides for it. The truth about what is wrong with the world is that I and the neighbor sitting beside me have sinned in refusing to let God be for us, over us and in us. The truth about what is at the center of our lives and of our history is that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins and raised from the tomb for our salvation and that we can participate in new life as we believe in him, accept his mercy, respond to his love, attend to his commands.
I've read and re-read this passage. Honestly, probably I have read this quote 50 times. And I'm still sitting here reading it. There is great truth/depth of knowledge (wisdom) in it.Reading, Reflecting, Responding, and Resting. (Lectio Divina - holy reading of scripture)
Read, Meditate, Pray, Listen - RMPL... This is my translation. First read the passage. Then think about other passages which are similar - Brainstorm. Then pray about whatever you were thinking about. Then sit back and listen to what the Lord of the universe is trying to teach you. By doing these steps when reading your Bible, you can begin to see a relationship of Jesus Christ develop. It's not just about following what is in the Bible. It's not about being a good person. It's not about doing what is expecting of you. It's about the heart of Christ - knowing and communicating with the Creator of the universe.
There's something which is weighing on my heart. A few days ago, Osama Bin Laden was assassinated. My heart hurts for him. My heart hurts for his family. Especially after reading this passage about the person sitting beside me is my neighbor and that they need grace just as much I as do. I don't want the pictures of this fallen person to be published. I believe that his family deserves to have that dignity. If I were in his wife's shoes, which I bullet wound in my leg, I would not want my husband's photos released to the world. How about his daughter? She witnessed her dad's death. I honestly can't imagine what that poor girl is going through right about now. Somehow, in God's justice, He is the one who also is pained through all this. Mr. Laden was a creation of the Most High God. Sure God is not rejoicing in the death of this person. I'm not saying that Mr. Laden didn't deserve to be punished, nor am I saying that he was a good person. His actions were evil. He killed many innocent people. He was guilty of heinous crimes. Those are the facts. But where is the heart of our Christian country in all this? Where do we allow our faith to override our hatred? When do Christians get to step up and say that God will deal with this man, be it ever so severely? It is hard for me to rejoice in someone being killed.
Then again, this is coming from someone who knows where death sting lies.
Most Gracious Father,
Break my stony heart. Let the power of your words fall on me. Come in close and speak. Come closer to me. Let me not gloat over the death of a man who was led astray, but let me rejoice that You lead me into Your truth. Over the Bin Laden's I pray for you to open their eyes to Your truth. May somehow, You use this death for good. May Your unfailing love embrace this broken family. May Your peace rest easy on their hearts. I pray Your blood to penetrate their calloused souls, and for Your forgiveness to gently invade their bitterness. In Your name, oh Jesus, I bind satan and his minions from this Bin Laden family. Let Your light flood their darkness. Open their mind's eye to see Your grace.
In Jesus' Name ~ Amina
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