Psalm 112: Relationship

 In the first half of the season of Epiphany the Psalms have focused on Testimony, the relationship of Hope and Prayer, and Blameless Living. Today’s Psalm, and Lessons, focuses on our Relationship with God and each other.

Isaiah calls the Israelites to account. He says God doesn’t want fasts and sackcloth. Rather, Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke…to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? (Isaiah 58:6-7). Only then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. (Isaiah 58:9)

In the Letter to the Corinthians Paul states, your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God. (I Corinthians 2:5) Jesus continues the discourse after the Beatitudes by telling his listeners, You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

It’s all about Relationship to each other which must rest on and in God. Psalm 112 also calls us into Relationship. The Psalmist promises good things to those who fear God and delight in his commands. In fact, Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion (Verse 4). We might question whether all these promises are true. Just living a righteous life doesn’t guarantee a smooth road. The news is full of people trying to live a good life, only to be interrupted by disaster or tragedy.

Following the release of videos detailing Tyre Nichols beating, we are shaken to our individual and corporate hearts by the mob mentality and lack of humanity displayed by the police and EMTs present. Canon Stephanie Spellers writes a powerful and heartfelt response in the January Episcopal Racial Reconciliation, Healing and Justice Newsletter. Spellers says “Even if brutality like this has happened before and will happen again, we need to sit with this particular incident. We need to sit and wonder why traffic stops so quickly escalate into police brutalization and then to tragic loss of life. Sit and acknowledge the depravity human beings are capable of when mob mentality kicks in. Sit and feel our own broken, haggard spirits, still raw from deaths too numerous to count.”

Only as we can acknowledge our pain, and our part in the cycle of harm, can we hope to respond with Isaiah to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke. Spellers admits, “There is so much to sit and reckon with in a moment like this. I hope we will honor that calling and not just go numb or switch to the next crisis. I also hope we will get up and move.” Being the light [to] shine before others…and give glory to your Father in heaven as Jesus invites is so necessary now and always. It may feel like holding a flashlight in the darkness of night, or a candle in a tunnel, but we CAN be a light!

Psalm 112:1-9 (10) Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord *  and have great delight in his commandments! Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *  the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in their house, *  and their righteousness will last for ever. Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *  the righteous are merciful and full of compassion. It is good for them to be generous in lending *  and to manage their affairs with justice. For they will never be shaken; *  the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *  their heart is right; they put their trust in the Lord. Their heart is established and will not shrink, *  until they see their desire upon their enemies. They have given freely to the poor, *  and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honor. [The wicked will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *  the desires of the wicked will perish.] (Episcopal Book of Common Prayer)

Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere;  an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy,  and their good deeds will last forever. Light shines in the darkness for the godly.  They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news;  they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless  and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need.  Their good deeds will be remembered forever.  They will have influence and honor. [The wicked will see this and be infuriated.  They will grind their teeth in anger;  they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.] (New Living Translation)