Psalm 144 - If Trump had a Favourite Psalm

If President Trump had a favourite psalm, I think it would be Psalm 144. If he was looking for a biblical text to defend his current stance on immigration and refugees, I believe this would be his go-to prooftext to bolster his base. 

I came across this psalm during my devotional readings and couldn't help but notice a parallel to Mr. Trump's agenda to "Make America Great Again". This psalm seems to touch on many of the major themes of his immigration and refugee platform: the fear of foreigners and their lies and deception;  the belief that things will be great again once the foreigners have been dealt with; a reference to a wall that can no longer be breached; and a "God bless America" kind of verse at the end.  

I say this to highlight the dangers of taking Holy Scriptures out of their original context and then seeking to apply them to a current situation without first interpreting the text within its biblical context, then the lens of God's new covenant established through Jesus Christ, and finally through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

This psalm reminds me that the emotions of fear, anger and the desire for vengeance or victory are a poor foundation upon which to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ's life, teachings, death and resurrection.

Psalm 144:10b-15 (NIV)  [bolded italics mine]

"From the deadly sword deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the LORD."

Psalm 131 - A Psalm of Contentment

"My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content." (Psalms 131:1–2)

I want what he's got! That experience of contentment in all things. That absence of worries and the presence of joy in all of life. Content like a weaned child with its mother; No longer bound to God for survival yet still content in her presence, empowered to venture beyond the breast into the world knowing that she is nearby.

However, the psalmist David cautions me, for contentment comes from recognizing that there are "things too wonderful for me" and I'm O.K. with that.  At some point we all need to learn to be content with what we have in Christ, no longer feeling the need to strive after that "next wonderful thing". We can't have everything we want, and contentment comes to those who are O.K. with that.  Embracing contentment is not an act of surrender but rather and act of humility and wisdom and maturity.  Contentment is not a consolation prize for those who have given up on their dreams, but rather the very gift we spend much of our lives searching for.

If I am indeed in Christ, then I already have everything I need or desire. Yes, some things are "too wonderful for me" and I'm O.K. with that. 

Psalm 130 - The Waiting Game

"I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." (Psalms 130:5–6)

When I served in the infantry on field training exercises, one of our tasks was on keep watch over the battlefield from our trenches, taking shifts through the night. Some undertook this responsibility rather lightly while others recognized the gravity of this task. Those who took it lightly often fell asleep on their watch, while the rest of us fought hard to stay awake and vigilant. Our "whole being" waited and watched in case the enemy took advance of the cover of darkness to mount an attack.  Now the thing about keeping watch at night is that you can become too attentive. I remember many occasions where I managed to convince myself that there was trouble lurking in the bushes within my arcs of fire. The more I looked the more I became convinced there must be someone there until, I realized there wasn't.  A drink of water, a self-inflicted slap on the face would wake me from my delusions as I realized that, maybe, I had been too attentive to the potential dangers.

While waiting with a zealous passion may be admirable and praiseworthy, it can also lead to tunnel vision, deluding us into seeing what we want to see. Expecting success at every turn can lead us to see success where failure lurks, and likewise expecting the worst can lead us to see problems where there are none.  

The psalmist invites us to wait with hope - a hope which is to be found not in the strategies of worldly success, but rather in wholeheartedly waiting upon the Lord with God's word and voice to guide us.

Oh LORD, teach me the skill of diligent, mindful, hopeful waiting upon you. Amen.

Psalm 128 - Grandparents Rejoice

The psalmist writes: "May you live to see your children's children." (Ps 128:6)

By the way, did I mention, I'm going to be a "grand-papa" in August (Lord willing)? I'm so excited at the thought that the psalmist's blessing might be addressing me. 

God has blessed me with a desire to "walk in obedience to him" (v. 1) wherever that may lead me.

God has blessed me with "the fruit of my labours" (v. 2), over 26 years of pastoral ministry.

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and two children I adore (v. 3).

And now, yet another blessing, "to see my children's children" (v. 6).

I want to say, "Today, I give thanks to God for the little things in life", but I can't say that for each of these are awesome, exquisite blessings. 

By the way, did I mention I'm going to be a "grand-papa"?

Psalm 127 - A Good Night's Sleep

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Ps 127:2)

What keeps you up at night? Household chores, kids, late night projects, homework, a crying baby, hot flashes, cold sweats, emails, Facebook, video games, worries ...?

For me it's usually church work and spiritual devotions. To tell you the truth, as a pastor, sometimes I can't tell the difference: morning devotions, evening prayers in bed for those on my mind, late night sermon preparation and early morning sermon amendments, evening church-related musings while watching TV, checking Facebook and reading blogs.

Lack of sleep can catch up to you overtime. The dedicated 16 hours of dreaming up goals, strategies and tactics, in addition to daily concerns for the well-being of my family and those whom I pastor, can leave me longing for the good night's sleep that never comes. 

And then the wise psalmist Solomon reminds me that all this busy work I value as devotion to my LORD might actually be in vain. 

"Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." 

As I get older I am beginning to realize that even great accomplishments for God will only last a season unless God builds it, watches over it, and sustains it.  If I could only embrace this divine reality I might indeed get a good night's sleep.

"LORD of Jacob, David, and Solomon, make me vulnerable and trusting enough to sleep soundly under your loving, watchful care. Amen."