Psalm 62

Strands that Bind

Posted on by Betsy

I have been asked to officiate my best friend’s son’s wedding and I am thinking about the homily. Nobody wants a long homily (!) but most people expect the pastor to “say a few words.” And by few, they mean as few as possible. Pastors typically try to connect the Scripture to those few words when possible. The wedding Scripture selections are up to the preference of the bride and groom. The one that most couples automatically default to is 1 Corinthians 13, also known as the “love passage.” You know the one:” Love is patient, Love is kind…love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” One might say that this choice is “love-ly” for every occasion!

Certainly this is the gold standard classic, which was read at my own wedding. But I actually prefer a different Scripture now when I officiate a wedding. It comes from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 4 (New International Version (NIV)

9  Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

10  If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken

It is that last verse upon which a strong homily, and relationship, can be built. The way it applies to relationships is this: there are two people in a relationship who are bound together spiritually by adding the “third strand” of God. Couples who come to the altar to make a covenant with each other and with Christ are inviting and including the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to provide strength and beauty to their relationship. Think of a braid. Two strands alone are weak. Three strands woven together are ironclad.

Does this mean Christian relationships are impervious to disruption? Sadly, no. When one partner unbinds themself from the relationship, or from God through sin, the cord indeed can fall apart. In decades of marriage counseling I’ve heard the same story told with different characters. At some point of tiredness, ennui, boredom, or temptation, one pulls away from the braid and the relationship unravels. When “self-importance” overtakes the importance of “us,” that single strand elects to go wayward and the grip is loosened enough for the Enemy to pry in and pry it apart.

I think it is fair to say that the Enemy, whose job it is to “steal, kill, and destroy,” finds the breaking apart of relationships, marriages, and families a veritable playground for the havoc he comes to bring. Couples in jeopardy will spend years in the breaking-apart and putting-lives-back-together process. The grief, expense, overwhelming fatigue, anger, and debilitating soul-exhaustion that accompanies divorce can pull people away from their faith as they negotiate the troubled waters of permanent separation.

Keeping Christ at the center of your marriage, family, and relationships gives you the best weapon against this. When you turn your eyes upon Jesus and partner with him as a couple in your home, work, leisure time, finances, and focus, you stand a better chance of surviving the fiery darts that assault all marriages and relationships. And you’ll also find joy.

God invites us to find shelter our relationships in him:

Psalm 62 (New International Version (NIV)

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;

    my salvation comes from him.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?

    Would all of you throw me down—

    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

4 Surely they intend to topple me

    from my lofty place;

    they take delight in lies.

With their mouths they bless,

    but in their hearts they curse.

5  Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

    my hope comes from him.

6  Truly he is my rock and my salvation;

    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;

    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

8 Trust in him at all times, you people;

    pour out your hearts to him,

    for God is our refuge.

No matter where you find yourself today, whether it is in a strong and committed relationship or in the chaos of one that is breaking apart, pour out your heart to God and trust in him.

He is your rock, your salvation, and your refuge.

Strands of Flags and Lights, Grassington, England

Find Rest

Posted on by Betsy

Like the rest of the world, my family has dealt with the “crud” since before Christmas. It was a full blown assault on the sinuses, throat, and chest for a week, and when that passed, all that was left was the cough. The cough decided to extend its visit and take up residency in our lungs. For weeks, my husband and I have shared a nightcap of NyQuil at bedtime and laid our heads on our pillows and hoped it would work. Many nights, rest only came in between fits of coughing. I have, however, perfected the art of sleeping upright with my head elevated on two pillows and a cough drop lodged between my cheek and my gums. Oy!

David’s psalm really resonated with me this morning as the cough is finally waning and rest has returned. He speaks of finding rest in God only, and I can relate. Rest in this context is a complete cessation of the mental and emotional turmoil that agitates us to the point that it prevents any real rejuvenation of the mind and soul.

Have you ever had a night/week/month like that?

Psalm 62 (Common English Bible)

Oh, I must find rest in God only,
    because my hope comes from him!
6 Only God is my rock and my salvation—
    my stronghold!—I will not be shaken.
7 My deliverance and glory depend on God.
    God is my strong rock.
    My refuge is in God.
8 All you people: Trust in him at all times!
    Pour out your hearts before him!
    God is our refuge! Selah

Right off the bat we see a connection between rest and hope. I think that is important. In those middle of the night awakenings, when we mull over problems, offenses, despair, grief, and grievances, hope has remained asleep and does not assert itself to say, “Enough! We will sort this out tomorrow.”

Hope reminds us that God is our rock and salvation. Hope tells us we will not be shaken. Hope proclaims that God is our refuge, and we can trust that!

9 Human beings are nothing but a breath.
    Human beings are nothing but lies.
    They don’t even register on a scale;
    taken all together they are lighter than a breath!
10 Don’t trust in violence;
    don’t set false hopes in robbery.
When wealth bears fruit,
    don’t set your heart on it.

David reminds us that people do not deserve the trust that God does, and in the end, God is the only one we can count on. David rebukes his enemies and says that when we take matters into our own hands it often does not work out well. The only thing we should set our hearts on is God’s strength.

11 God has spoken one thing—
    make it two things—
    that I myself have heard:
    that strength belongs to God,
12     and faithful love comes from you, my Lord—
    and that you will repay
    everyone according to their deeds.

There is something charming and conversational in verse 11 where David says, “God has spoken one thing … make that two things…” That made me smile, as it sounds like a middle schooler urgently making a case on why they should be allowed to do something. There is a familiar humanity to that way of speaking. Indeed, David is trying to persuade us that God is our strength and faithful love. That deserves a second try!

Is God your rock? Do you have hope? Are you tired and need the kind of rest that can only be found in God? When you lay your head on the pillow tonight, give it all over to him and dwell in his hope. If you can do that, I bet you’ll find peace.

Refuge by Wende Pritchard

God ALONE

Posted on by Betsy

I hold my breath this morning as Inauguration Day is finally upon us. The horrific images of January 6th are seared in my mind and I am fearful of violence in my nation’s capital. The uncertainty of all of this overwhelms me, and I almost long for those days in 2020 when the most pressing concern was the pandemic. Who would have thought that something more frightening than the pandemic would come along? But here we are.

In God’s incredible prevenient grace, the assigned scripture for today is a timely reminder that God is our refuge. While we wait in silence to see how this day unfolds, the psalmist reminds us that we should be waiting for God ALONE. Our hope comes from him. Alone.

Psalm 62 (New Revised Standard Version)

5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.

Are you feeling shaken by the events of January 6th? Remember this:

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

It is normal for our trust in all things to be shaken right now. Politicians, the government, law enforcement, our future together…nothing seems certain. But we are reminded to trust in God AT ALL TIMES, not just on the easy days. Were there actually any easy days? I can’t remember.

9 Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

Verse 9 levels the playing field. Those of low estate and those of high estate don’t amount to much. There is no point in putting our trust in any one human, institution, or nation. God ALONE is our hope.

10 Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,

12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

No matter what happens today, tomorrow, or until Jesus returns, know this: God ALONE has the power. God ALONE offers his steadfast love. God is in control.

PRAY.

God Alone by Susie Fitch-Slater