Tag: perspective

Some Perspective: Pray Like You Mean It (Psalm 61)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you,
    when my heart is faint.

Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
for you are my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.

Let me abide in your tent forever,
    find refuge under the shelter of your wings.
For you, O God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Prolong the life of the king;
    may his years endure to all generations!
May he be enthroned forever before God;
    appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!

So I will always sing praises to your name,
    as I pay my vows day after day. (New Revised Standard Version)

Some Historical Perspective

Historically, the book of Psalms has been the Church’s prayer book. Yet, over the centuries, the biblical psalms have tended to lose this understanding of being a written expression of one’s inner response to God.

Protestant Evangelicalism, in particular, has tended to disdain anything written, rote, and repetitive. Instead, the Evangelical understanding of true spirituality tends toward a strong bent of extemporaneous prayers.

Some Personal Perspective

I still remember years ago, when I was a young Pastor, a parishioner happened to see that I had a written prayer in my notes for the worship service. This person ended up “reporting” me to the church elders, questioning my relationship to God – simply because I read a prayer, instead of improvising it for the congregation.

The church elders had a discussion with me and “dressed me down” for the practice of using written prayers. What’s more, they didn’t like the content of the prayer – charging that I must be emotionally and spiritually unstable for having crafted such a prayer (assuming that I wrote the prayer myself).

After they were all done (and having not asked me why I “read” my prayer) I responded to them calmly, stating, “Yes, I read a prayer on Sunday. And the prayer I read was Psalm 61. By the way, that’s in the Bible. And I apologize that I didn’t have it memorized.”

Some Logical Perspective

Aside from my sarcastic and passive-aggressive statements at the end, it is a sad affair whenever we are unable to take advantage of Holy Scripture for it’s intended use in the life of the believer.

To be sure, the condemnation of written prayers originally came about because of clergy and lay persons alike reading prayers without any sincerity or heart behind it – sometimes not even understanding what they were reading.

Yet, it’s illogical and unreasonable to simply throw out the baby with the bath water. The problem was never with the prayers themselves, or the act of reading them; the issue always has been with the person praying.

Some Existential Perspective

All of this is to say that I am inviting you to read today’s psalm, out loud and several times; and to adopt it as your own and express it as your own offering to God in prayer.

Because it is truly possible (and I would argue necessary and important) to read biblical prayers with personal flavor, resonating with their content and intent.

Furthermore, I also invite you to restate the psalm in your own words, to write out your understanding of the text (with actual pen and paper) so that the concepts and ideas of the psalm are expressed from the heart. This is just one way of embracing both the written and personal aspects of praying to God.

Some Biblical Perspective

Psalm 61 is a personal lament of King David, concerned with having the reassurance of God’s protective presence. David found security in the Lord as his refuge and strength. Whatever particular circumstances prompted the prayer, it seems David was facing an adversity out and away from the worship center of Jerusalem.

David longed to be in that center, to be in the place where God dwells. He pictured himself under the shelter of angelic wings, as if he were there inside the Ark of God itself, as close to the Lord as he could possibly get.

Because it is in the presence of God that there is perfect steadfast love and faithfulness. There’s no better place in all the world than to be in that spot, enjoying the peace and protection of the sovereign almighty God of the universe.

Ultimately, deliverance from threatening situations, fearful circumstances, and dire straits, comes from the Deliverer, the Savior, the God who sees all, knows all, and has the power to do something about it!

Some Prayerful Perspective

So, having said all that, here is my own expression/translation/transliteration of Psalm 61 – and may the Lord’s blessing and peace rest upon you this day, and every day, as you pray for yourself and for those who are good and godly leaders:

God, listen to my loud echoing shout,
    and bend your ear to respond to my heartfelt prayer.
When I am experiencing a disappointed heart and at my last breath,
    from a place that seems the very end of the earth,
I cry out and call to You from the highest lonely mountain,
    so that You may hear me above all else that’s going on in the world.

You’ve always given me plenty of space and grace to be myself,
    and provided for me a place to get away from it all on this messed-up planet,
You have always taken me seriously, God,
    welcoming me under the shadow of your wings, letting me reside permanently in Your tent.

I know that You will let the days of the benevolent ruler add up,
    and that there will be years and years of good and just leadership.
Make this good leader’s chair last forever, in the full light of God.
    Post the sentries of Steadfast Love and Faithful Truth as ever-watching lookouts.
Then, it will be me who makes a grand musical fuss to You forever and ever,
    and I shall make good on that promise every single day.

Amen.

Take Responsibility (Deuteronomy 3:23-29)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

It was also at that same time that I begged the Lord: Please, Lord God! You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. What god in heaven or on earth can act as you do or can perform your deeds and powerful acts? Please let me cross over the Jordan River so I can see the wonderful land that lies beyond it: those beautiful highlands, even the Lebanon region.

But the Lord was angry with me because of you! He wouldn’t listen to me. He said to me: That’s enough from you! Don’t ever ask me about this again! Go up to the top of Mount Pisgah. Look west, north, south, and east. Have a good look, but you will not cross the Jordan River. Instead, command Joshua, strengthen him, and encourage him because he’s the one who will cross the river before this people. He’s the one who will make sure they inherit the land you will see.

After that, we stayed in the valley across from Beth-peor. (Common English Bible)

I wonder if God ever feels like the parents of elementary aged children. “Please, please, puh-leeeze let me have it!” It’s a good thing God is spirit, because there may be some divine eye rolling happening with certain people’s requests.

When Moses pleaded God to allow him to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the Lord forbade him to do so. The reason God gave is that Moses had to bear the brunt of the Lord’s anger on behalf of the community.

But you [Israel] had no faith in the Lord your God about this matter, even though he went ahead of you, scouting places where you should camp, in fire by night, so you could see the road you were taking, and in cloud during the daytime.

The Lord heard what you said. He was angry and he swore: Not even one of these people—this wicked generation!—will see the wonderful land that I promised to give to your ancestors… (The Lord was even angry with me [Moses] because of what you did. “You won’t enter the land either,” God said. “But Nun’s son Joshua, your assistant, will enter it. Strengthen him because he’s the one who will help Israel inherit the land.”) (Deuteronomy 1:32-38, CEB)

Not allowing Moses to enter the land may seem strange to us whose culture prizes individualism and self-reliance. But that was not the culture of ancient Israel. There was a common core belief in corporate responsibility. The leader acted as the representative of the people, and so, Moses was answerable for the community’s sins.

Fresco of Moses and water from the rock, by Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Raphael), 1519

Lest we still don’t like what’s going on here, elsewhere in scripture we get a perspective that it was also the lack of faith by Moses that caused him to lose privilege in entering the land:

Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. He said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Should we produce water from the rock for you?” Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice. Out flooded water so that the community and their animals could drink.

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you didn’t trust me to show my holiness before the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I am giving them.” These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites confronted the Lord with controversy and he showed his holiness to them. (Numbers 20:10-13, CEB)

The fact of the matter is that we are responsible for both our personal selves and the entire community of people we are a part of. Indeed, we truly are our brother’s and sister’s keeper.

It’s important that everyone considers what the Lord’s will is – not only personally – but for the common good of all the people. Perhaps this idea is captured best in the fictitious Star Trek adage of the alien Vulcans who would logically examine a decision and say, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one).”

What’s more, believers in God are meant to consider what is pleasing to the Lord, and not only to one’s personal or communal pleasure. The Lord is God and we are not. Sovereignty belongs to God. Servanthood belongs to us; and our ultimate service is to the Lord.

The bottom line for me is believing that the Lord God is good, all the time, and truly has our best interests at mind and at heart. Since God did not allow Moses into the land, I reason that it was for a greater good that transcended the individual request of Moses to enter.

Maybe that’s a difficult perspective to find whenever we are in the middle of strong desires for something, but it is one that we must struggle to find. Since the Lord is high and holy above everyone and everything, God is able to see the big picture and every angle of a situation.

We, however, only see a very small slice of the total view. So, it only makes sound spiritual sense that we learn to entrust ourselves to the One who sees all and acts according to what is right, just, and good.

Gracious and generous God, Creator and Giver of all that is good, we thank you for our many blessings. We acknowledge that all that we have is from you. We offer you thanks and praise for the beauty of the earth, our work, our family, our loved ones, and all the gifts we have been given.

You are with us always. In each dark hour, you are here. In each bright hour, you are here. Blessed by your grace, may we show gratitude by sharing what we have been given. For by serving our brothers and sisters, we serve you.

We remain ever grateful for your constant love, the gift of your Son Jesus, and the presence of your Holy Spirit with us. Protect and guide us on our personal and collective journeys, as we seek to be your faithful stewards. Amen.

Our Dwelling Place (Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn us back to dust
    and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”
For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past
    or like a watch in the night.

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers…

Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us
    and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants
    and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands! (New Revised Standard Version)

Out of the 150 psalms we have in the biblical psalter, only this one is attributed to Moses. At Mount Sinai, when God was entering into covenant with the Israelites, the Lord had Moses come up the mountain to receive the Law. Meanwhile, the people began to rebel and became idolatrous.

And God was angry with them – so angry that the Lord was ready to do away with them all, and start from scratch with Moses. Yet, at that time, Moses interceded for the people and implored God saying:

“O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” (Exodus 32:11-13, NRSV)

Moses prayed for God to turn and change his mind. And, amazingly, God did.

In a terrible event of the golden calf experience, Moses had the wherewithal to step back and see the larger perspective.

And it is this view of time which governs the prayer of Psalm 90. This psalm sees the transience of human life and the permanence of an eternal God.  From this perspective, we gain wisdom in order to pray as we ought. The center of Moses’ prayer states:

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    our years come to an end like a sigh.
The days of our life are seventy years
    or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.
So teach us to count our days
    that we may gain a wise heart. (Psalm 90:9-12, NRSV)

Today’s psalm lesson is a genuine prayer that begs for divine wisdom so that we may live with an eternal perspective. Armed with such a view, the psalmist prays for divine mercy so that our lives may be redeemed and we might know joy. And from wisdom and mercy, prayer is offered for divine blessing upon the work of our hands.

God’s presence ought to cause the people’s acknowledgment and obedience. If it doesn’t, then that presence can turn to wrath. This is precisely why we need wisdom to live rightly – to seek the Lord and know the spiritual laws of the universe. Ignorance leads to death, but wisdom to life.

We do not always live as we ought – which is why we need to seek grace and mercy from God. The psalmist trusts that God can redeem times of evil and the darkness of the human heart. The Lord is able to overcome for us what we cannot overcome for ourselves. God can (and will, in God’s own good time) deliver us from our unhealthy spiritual condition.

Moses led the people out of Egyptian slavery. But it was God who delivered the Israelites and was present with them always. Eventually, Moses died because God took him (Deuteronomy 34:5). And, at that time, the people had not yet entered the Promised Land; they were landless and homeless.

God, however, was their true dwelling place; the presence of God was there and continues to be there. The Lord has not taken a vacation. The Lord’s presence and power is still operative in this world. It’s the perspective of eternity.

Home, for the believer, is God. The Lord is our dwelling place, with us no matter where we go. God is the One who keeps redeeming our time, blessing us with joy, and prospering our work.

“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” by Isaac Watts, 1719, verses 1-3

O God, our Help in ages past,
our Hope for years to come,
our Shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal Home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is Thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting Thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A New Outlook on Life (2 Corinthians 5:17-22)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (New International Version)

Everyone sees things (and people) only in part. We all have our own unique perspective and take on life. And we interpret life from that particular angle.

God has brought us new life, and with it, a new outlook on life, made possible by the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul gained a new orientation on his life because he encountered God’s love through Jesus Christ. And his experience of love caused Paul to live for Christ and not for himself. He gained a new perspective.

Conversion to Christ and following Jesus brings a new outlook on life that enables us to live a good and beautiful existence on this earth for the sake of the church and the world.

God brings a new outlook to us in three major ways. The way we look at ourselves, others, and God:

  • No longer do we need to compulsively demean ourselves, nor think of ourselves as better than we really are. Instead, encountering a new life in Christ, we see that we are truly loved by God and worthy of giving and receiving love. See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!… This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:1, 16, NIV)
  • No longer do we view others as tools to take advantage of; and neither do we look merely at one’s outward appearance. Instead, experiencing new life helps us to see other people as spiritual persons, important to God and needing divine love, just like us. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. (1 John 4:10-12, NIV)
  • No longer do we view Christ as merely a good teacher or a moral man. Instead, our new life gives us the lenses of seeing Jesus as Savior and Lord. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:13-18, NIV)

With new life comes a new perspective that results in a new way of life. I was once walking with my late mother-in-law through an art museum. We came upon a piece of art that didn’t necessarily speak to me; and I really didn’t understand it. But my mother-in-law happened to know the artist who painted the picture. And she told me about the person, why she painted it, and what she was trying to convey with her art. This information completely changed the way I saw the painting.

As we progressively get to know God, it really ought to transform how we view the Lord and look at Holy Scripture. And when we discover God in Christ, we see a caring Lord who went out of the way to become one of us, become the pioneer of our salvation, and bring about redemption and reconciliation through an ignominious death on a cross.

God has deliberately sought us and brought us back into the divine dance through Christ – which is why we celebrate. And the highest form of celebration is imitation, that is, becoming ambassadors representing who Jesus is by being just like him.

We imitate Christ through our relationships. Whenever we act with humility, mourn over the world’s sin, deal with others according to grace and gentleness, seek right relationships and keep everything above board, are pure, merciful, and peacemaking in all our dealings, and love and pray for our enemies – then we are encountering God, imitating Christ, and living a new life from a new vantagepoint.

Because Christians have been reconciled to God through Jesus, it transforms how we see people and our desires in our relationships with them; and it changes our stance and perspective on the God who initiated and brought salvation and reconciliation to us. I want to:

  • Grow in a relationship with God through worship, prayer, and scripture reading
  • Grow in relationships with other Christians in fellowship, service, and love
  • Grow in relationships with my neighbors and everyone I encounter, to be an ambassador for Jesus, as if God were working through me to accomplish the compassionate loving of the world and demonstrating how to live a blessed and peaceful life.

In finding our true spiritual home, we find life. There’s nothing quite like being able to live a peaceful existence because of God’s reconciling work in Christ on our behalf.

Lord God, bring us together as one, reconciled with you and reconciled with each other. You made us in your likeness, and you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ. Enable us to know you and one another in the spirit of grace and love. Amen.