I Can See Clearly Now the Rain is Gone

Up till now in the account of Noah, judgment and punishment have been theStory. Then chapter eight of today’s reading opens with the heart warming phrase, “But God remembered Noah…”

Yes, There IS Someone on my Side

Now hear Job’s descent into the misery of the very bottom of the pit of abandonment.

Listen, says Job to his “friends”, you may think that you’re the ones responsible for taking me down. But it’s not you; it’s God (vs 5-6).It is God who has stripped and broken me.

Enough Already, God! Enough!

These past months have been tough. Not just a little bit tough—but really tough. Trying to live up to others’ expectations of who I should be or what I should be doing. Tough enough for me to cry out to God for help at a deeper level than I have ever cried out before. “Enough already, God! Enough!”, I shout out.

The Tight-Rope Balance of Life

As the pilgrims’ song carries them closer to the city of their God, they begin to dream about what God’s blessings will look like when they reach Jerusalem and peace. I wonder if, right now, you were asked to describe what God’s blessings look like in our world—what you would say?

Crashing onto Sharp, Painful Crags

This pilgrim song runs head-on into reality—their harsh reality. God’s people have enemies! Enemies within and enemies without. Enemies that would crush and destroy them. Enemies that have kicked them around since they were birthed as God’s people. They are exhausted, beaten down, sore and shredded by tongue lashes as sharp as a flesh-ripping whip. Long, cruel, bloody scars down their backs.

An Impassioned Cry for Help

Suddenly, the focus of this next psalm changes from blasting oppressors with “Go, get ‘em God!” to a deep heart cry for mercy. What an amazing about-turn!

It is as if the psalmist has been caught by surprise and out of the depths there is a wrenching plea: Hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy.

Wealth is Not the Answer

The top of this psalm is an attention grabber. “Everyone on this earth, now listen to what I say!” (v1). In our upside-down culture which applauds and envies celebrities, the rich and famous, the psalmist delivers words of wisdom.

He had lived through enough to know that God has designed life to be a potent and convincing teacher.

The Day Death Died

According to German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, “God is dead.” According to God, “Nietzsche is dead!”

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, God’s not dead—he’s alive! Yes, some may think, as some of the disciples did, that it’s “all nonsense” and “not believe” (Luke 24:11). But it’s true, Christ “has been raised from death” Luke 24:6. So we celebrate, thanking God that this is the day death died!

Who is Jesus?

The Pharisees had peppered Jesus with questions. Now Jesus turned the focus to them. “What do you think of the Messiah?” he asked.

The Pharisees, despite their religious training and knowledge, believed the Messiah was a descendent of David. While correct, their answer fell short of the complete truth – that he was the son of God – and left them stuck in religious rules and traditions.

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Revelation

The writer of this psalm is desperate. His health is in ruins. He feels the passing of days. He doesn’t want to die even though he considers his life a worn-down ruin and likens it to the ruins of Zion. He’s getting old. Perhaps that’s why I resonate with honesty of this prayer. For two decades, I’ve offered up desperate prayers for my handicapped brothers, addicted sister, alcoholic father and toxic bosses. I’ve waited years for God’s answers. I still wait.