Today’s scripture: Psalm 140 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Don Clark):
Some folks are afraid to voice complaints to God! They may feel that it’s irreverent or disrespectful. They may feel that God may be angry with them for it. They may feel retribution from God will result.
But a closer look at scripture will confirm that many biblical characters really did complain, fight, argue, and otherwise be major whiners with God. Moses, Abraham, Lot, Jonah, and the list goes on! So, it’s a great relief to know that God does listen to us when we cry out of our darkest moments, even if it may sound whiny or angry!
The Psalms especially show us a really human side of our interactions (prayer!) with God. Sometimes we just can’t muster a proper liturgical sanctimonious prayer at all . . . sometimes we just want to yell at God! My Grandma died on Christmas day . . . in a Denney’s parking lot . . . in Bowling Green, Kentucky . . . in the front seat of my car! Oh yeah, I was pretty upset. I raised my fist in the air as I stood by the ambulance and screamed, “God, why have you done this to me . . . and on Christmas Day!?” Well thankfully, God gently reminded me in my spirit that indeed Grandma had told us she was “going home” . . . and she was from Kentucky . . . and Christmas was her favorite day. At the funeral I gathered with my cousins who had just visited with her; and she had in her own peculiar way told us all goodbye and given us parting instructions!
The Psalms contain some of the most human and some of the most heart wrenching dialogues with God. There are expressions of joy and ecstasy. There are words of deep repentance such as Psalm 51. There are words of comfort such as Psalm 23. And today’s scripture: “Hey God, go get ‘em! Kill ‘em all! Vindicate and protect me!” Psalm 140 follows a common format of David’s dialogues which he wrote down as songs. First there is complaint, then a plea or prayer to God, and finally a closing sense of hope and resolution which comes from God.
What continues to draw me back to the Psalms is the fact that I can find whatever emotion or feeling I am having in this great book of poetry, and it can be a guide in my darkest moments. Indeed we can complain and whine to God, come to God in prayer, and ultimately we can find hope and peace in our dialogue with God.
Psalm 140:12-13 (ESV) says, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.”
Thought for the day: In our darkest moments we can be assured of God’s justice and mercy and be present to God’s presence in our lives giving us ultimate fulfillment.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.