Ambiguity

Well, it's Maundy Thursday. I hope you will be able to visit a local congregation this evening!

Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Apr 8 Why was there so much fuss and commotion when the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar when they returned to their side of the Jordan River? (Josh 22)
Joshua 22:16 6 "The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? Joshua 22:29 29 "Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle." Joshua 22:34 34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.

And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Apr 9 Why was all that was written in the past recorded in Scripture? (Rom 15)


And here's the reflection of the day:
If I was going to choose one word to describe Psalm 39, I would choose "ambiguity." There is a blatant tension in this whole psalm--a tension between silence and speech and between hope and despair. The psalmist is worn down and desperate, yet clings to hope.

Taken all together, it might seem that the psalmist resigns himself to the futility of living. However, Psalm 39 should be read as a profession of faith; a statement of persevering in hope in what seems like a hopeless world.

Certainly we are each a finite creature, "a mere phantom" hustling and bustling about, seemingly living in vain. But our lowly status as "phantoms" does not mean that we are without significance in the grand scheme of things. This Psalmist continues to speak to God and for God; he is a partner WITH God in his mission and ministry.

And the psalmist speaks his way into hope. He doesn't just give up and throw in the towel when life becomes difficult. He persists in speaking to and for God and finds himself, amazing, still with hope to hold on to.

Psalm 39 is an excellent model for those who struggle, who may even feel ignored or abandoned by God. It is a model for clinging to the faith, as one walks through the valley of the shadow of death or job loss or divorce or debt or whatever the difficult circumstances might be for you.

It's not a Psalm I have considered in light of Holy Week, but could not the words of this psalm be the words of Jesus' disciples during those long three days?

"My hope is in you. . . . Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help. . . ."

Persevere in the faith!
Allison