Thursday, February 28, 2013

Through the Bible in one year - Day 59





Psalm 59:12
For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.

This Psalm today reminds me of living in the city where the nights are fearful and people roam with ill intent, and God seems far away – or totally unknown.  This psalmist asks many times for the Lord to remember him and to come to the aid of those who are oppressed. Yet this line above strikes me today for its difference. This isn’t about retribution; it is about consequences. These are the consequences of our own actions, that we would be trapped in our pride. Pride can keep us from making amends or forgiving someone else – and this is indeed a trap; one in which we are stuck with these ill feelings; this trap, without God we could not escape.

In our reading today in Exodus we see this passage in the 2nd chapter that shows us we are heard – and known. Like the Psalmist, the people of Israel have been heard in their cries for help.
During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. (Exodus 2:23-25)

Then the rest of our reading today in Exodus is one of the most visually famous thanks to Cecil B. DeMill’s Ten Commandments. Moses sees a bush that is on fire but doesn’t burn (that would make barbeque so much easier). First thing Moses says is who-me? No I don’t think I have the authority, and God says I am giving you the authority. Moses asks who should I say sent me and God says tell them “I Am has sent me to you”. And God goes on to remind Moses and the people through him of all the things that God has done for them, and promises to be with them and bring them through to a new safe place that is their own. This is exactly what the psalmist was asking for – and trusted in. The psalmist knew this story already; and he knew the outcome of this encounter. We will just have to read more tomorrow (or watch the movie-or both).

Our story in 2 Chronicles continues with Hezekiah, and the Lord intervening on behalf of Israel. When Hezekiah is prideful – and trapped in his sin because of it, the Lord doesn’t leave him and the people in that place, rather he rescues them because Hezekiah turns from his pride and repents – he and his whole nation. This theme today seems to be a call to repent and leave our pride so that it doesn’t leave us stuck in terror and brokenness.

I may be putting too fine a point on this theme but it seems to me that part of the issue Paul was having with his brethren at that time was one of false pride; they knew nothing to commend what he had to say and since it wasn’t the way they had always done things they turned away...and yet, there were some who listened. I pray that I listen and am open to the Lord, and repent from my own pride so that I may hear, understand, turn and be healed. (Acts 28:31)

Today’s readings: Psalm 59, Exodus 2:23-3:22, 2 Chronicles 32, Acts 28:16-31

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