Meditate on it

So I'm back to meditate on this psalm for the second time in writing. The words of the first line have staying power--"Vindicate me, O Lord," and I've found myself praying them multiple times this week over a variety of personal, relational, community, and global circumstances. David seemed to master at least this--he knew judgement was in God's realm and respected that.  After cutting the hem of Saul's garment he seeks to move Saul with this truth: "May the LORD judge between me and you; and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you. As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you." -1 Samuel 24:12-13 If we are able to trust in God's perfect judgement, then there can be nothing better, more freeing, or higher.  Though in the moment, we long to cut off the head of the Sauls in our world, this psalm models where to go for justice--and it's not to

 "Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity."   -King David, Psalm 26:1  Really, Lord?  The word vindicate is a strong way to start an already off Monday morning.  But, in my desire to keep it on the text, and keep the context in the text, and meditate upon that, here we are with "vindicate." To vindicate is to absolve from false accusation---that's my Monday morning on my second cup of coffee definition. Now for Merriam-Webster's: Hmmmm.  The #2 definition feels aggressive, jugular, confrontational--throw it down and slay it; an eye for an eye. In contrast, all of the nuances of 1--a, b1, b2, and c feel protective, defensive, a coming alongside. #3 feels cold and legal, neither here nor there #4 feels healing, loose--too bad it's termed obsolete.  Deliverance is a step beyond protection and defense, and certainly a different and better thing than to avenge. The language of deliverance is a common theme of David's in the psalms. It'

The psalms, especially David's, anchor me. When my mind threatens to pull and dart away to dark places, David's focus pulls me back.  It's as if he said to his soul---"lets get a few things straight"--tough love from David. "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul." Psalm 25:1 To me this means not giving preference or firsts to other events, news, ideologies, perceptions, people, desires, gods in their many faces... first take your soul to God. "Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. "  -Psalm 25:5 What is the difference between "Your truth" and truth? A matter of perception?  I've witnessed many false truths, some of my own making.  My understanding of the scriptures, of God, and of His truth shifts through study of the scriptures, experiences, conversations, and time.  His truth is not inherently my truth--Lord, close the gap.  I love that we can be lead in His truth, tha

 For some months now I've been in-between things... In between Bible plans. In between different understandings of the Christian faith with regard to social issues, political issues, my understanding of the functioning of the local church. In between churches. I don't know if we are even in-between churches, or if this will usher in a different way of living out our Christian faith---apart from traditional local congregations. In between home plans--cleaning out old things from when our children were younger, preparing to renovate parts of our home, but not sure what we exactly want to do, how much it will cost, how it should be. In between professional roles--no longer teaching, doing some volunteer work and finding out things about myself and others through that too. In between balancing the needs of my body and mind better--some days making better choices, moving my body, meditating, focusing my mind, learning to take time for these things and view them as positive. Other da