Psalms 31, 43, 143, 149; Deuteronomy 7:17-26 (NRSV)
“If you say to yourself, ‘These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?’ do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the Lord your God brought you out. The Lordyour God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. Moreover, the Lordyour God will send swarms of hornets against them until even the survivors and the fugitives are destroyed. Have no dread of them, for the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God. The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to make a quick end of them, otherwise the wild animals would become too numerous for you. But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great panic until they are destroyed. He will hand their kings over to you, and you shall blot out their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. The images of their gods you shall burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them and take it for yourself, because you could be ensnared by it, for it is abhorrent to the Lord your God.
Our Lenten Devotionals this year are focused on the theme of “Live Simply: Making Room for God.” In recent times, our world has seemed to have lost all sense of control, changing so rapidly, and often so destructively, that we are overwhelmed. All our energy is consumed by “just keeping up” and we seem to have lost any sight of God’s presence in it at all.
The passages from the Old Testament in the lectionary for today focus on our constant human vulnerability to uncertainty, tragedy, and distress in life. But the passages also remind us ofGod’s continued faithfulness to provide hope and support to His people as we go through the human experience of the chaos in the world. It is up to us to remember this and make room for God to act in our lives.
The four Psalms are all entitled as a Prayer and Praise for Deliverance from Enemies or Distress. In each, the psalmist describes the chaos and distress of his life, asking God to intervene. But each also contains the praise, recognizing and expressing gratitude for the faithfulness and support God has given to His people throughout the past. Despite all the distress, each Psalm ends with the positive hope that God is there and will respond.
The passage from Deuteronomy tells of the time just before the Israelites move into the Promised Land. They have received the Ten Commandments and guidance on obedience through Moses. They have been told that God will bring them into the new land, but they are afraid that the people already there are more numerous and stronger than they are. God, through Moses,reminds them of what occurred with the even stronger Egyptians, that God safely led them out of bondage and would continue to do the same to the others, as well. But God also says the time will not be easy. His view and plans are bigger and more comprehensive than our limited knowledge. The conquest of the land will be done “little by little” over years so that the wild animals will not be too much for them. He warns them not to covet the gold and silver of these peoples lest the Israelites be ensnared by it. But they are human, and history proceeds through the trials and distress we continue to experience.
The challenge remains for us to recognize the opportunities to make room for God.
Prayer
Dear God, in these times of stress and uncertainty, grant us the ability to see your continued presence in the turmoil and recognize the opportunities to more effectively serve your intentions for our common good. Amen.
Bob Gaugler