“Sets things to rights”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Psalm 97 (Forward, p. 54) CEV p. 615

Even though we might well cringe at the prospect, and even be a bit wary and intimidated at its prospect, I believe that most of us yearn inwardly for God’s reign of justice and righteousness. Yes, we probably realize fully well that we don’t quite ‘measure up’ and will be found wanting in various ways, and likewise realize that God’s standard of justice and righteousness might not always tally with our own, we still hanker for it to be established.

This prospect forms the basis of today’s psalm. It suggests that fairness and righteousness form that very foundation of God’s throne, that it is upon fairness and righteousness that it was established in the first place. Furthermore, it goes on to say that because God ultimately rules the earth He will bring about justice and establish it upon the earth. Part of that, the psalmist says, is that God protects His loyal people and rescues them from violence. And, if we obey Him and do what is right, He will show us the way and fill us with happiness.

And, in contrast to all this rule of justice and righteousness, are those who worship useless idols or false gods. This contrast is quite interesting, and, to my way of thinking, quite revealing. It seems to suggest that useless idols, false gods and such like, are not conducive to the establishment of justice and righteousness. And surely, does this not make sense? If we give ourselves, if we seek after things that are not of God and not part of His divinely ordained will, will not these efforts actively undermine what God wills and seeks for our world, namely His reign of righteousness and justice. We seldom think of it in this way, but perhaps our seeking of things outside of God’s will actually undermines and impedes the justice that we so earnestly seek and yearn for. Maybe we are working against our best interests, what we actually yearn for deep within ourselves. Maybe this frustrates our desire for God to ‘set everything to rights’. Maybe, then, we need to be more deliberate, more intentional, in seeking only His ways. Amen.

Forward notes: “A fire goes before him and burns up his enemies on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees it and is afraid” (verses 3-4).

“The Charles C. Deam Wilderness, outside of Bloomington, Indiana, has long been my go-to place for hiking, camping, and solitude. I was last there for a solo backpacking trip. After hiking in about five miles from the parking area without encountering another soul, I set up camp near the lakeshore, made dinner, said Evening Prayer, and went to bed.

“The forecast was for fine weather, but in the dark pre-dawn hours, a fierce thunderstorm blew in, with peals of thunder loud enough to take me back to stormy nights huddled in my parents’ bed. But I was outside and alone. I was belatedly learning that my old tent’s waterproofing had failed. My belongings and I were soaked.

“Eventually, the sun came up, and the rain stopped. I made some coffee, said Morning Prayer, and hiked back to the car. Driving home, I realized that the whole time, the only words I said aloud were Morning and Evening Prayer, a fitting reminder of my dependence on God alone.”

MOVING FORWARD: “When you are afraid, where do you turn? Spend some time writing down passages and prayers so that you might have them at hand the next time you need them.”