Reflections
Psalm 138: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8 (Read)
“Forsake not the work of your hands.”
Our psalmist David composed this
prayer with a grateful heart. “I will
give thanks to you, O Lord, with all
my heart.”
David is grateful because his
petitions are answered by the Lord.
“For you have heard the words of
my mouth.” The Lord's answers to
David's prayers have come at a
critical time, a time when our
psalmist is seeking to build up
his strength.
David speaks of a divine rescue --
“When I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit.”
Perhaps we’re all in need of a
spiritual rescue of the type David
describes. And it isn’t because of
any of the psalmist’s virtues that he
obtains salvation. It is a result of
God’s loving fidelity, “Lord, your
love is eternal.”
Our God does not forsake the work
of his hands, though who has given
the Lord anything that he may be repaid?
Unworthy as we are, and although the Lord
is exalted, He watches over us in our
lowly state. And thanks be to God, his
kindness endures forever. St Paul says
the same thing in today's 2nd reading,
“But by the grace of God I am what I am.”
(1 Corinthians 15:10)
Our psalmist reminds us: all God has
to do is stretch out his right hand, and
we will be saved. “You stretch out your
hand, your right hand saves me.”
In like manner, in today's Gospel our
Lord Jesus reaches out to Simon Peter,
who is empowered to become a true
apostle and a catcher of men by following
the Lord. (Luke 5:10)
Our psalm concludes with a grateful and
affirming theme, showing how Peter
probably felt, as he fell on his face
at the feet of the Lord that day by the Lake of Gennesaret ...
“The Lord is with me to the end,
Lord your love endures forever,
never forsake the work of your hands.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist affirms, 'When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.' Speak of your own experience
when you were in need of the Lord's help to build up your spiritual vigor.
2. David pleads with God, 'Forsake not the work of your hands.' As a child of God, tell of how you can expect the Lord to love you forever unconditionally.
"This time you have strayed too far..." My mother tearfully spoke these words over me in prayer one night, long ago, while I was in my late twenties. She had become increasingly concerned about my dating habits and was fervently pleading with God for me to come to my senses and stop meeting up with flashy playboys. I had appeared too steeped in folly and wrong priorities for her human understanding, but never too sinful for the Lord. (And praise be to God, my surrendered heart led me to meeting my husband-to-be soon after.)
ReplyDeleteThat night though, I remember feeling very much like the one sheep who lost its way and the faithful shepherd leaves the 99 who are fine, to go after the 1 meandering one. Christian memes and cartoons depict the Ultimate Shepherd, Jesus, as a superhero, climbing steep cliffs with hand outreached to save the one, with the caption "He left the 99 to find me..."
This faithful pursuit of God in his rescue of me, has been a recurring theme in my life. I have seasons of staying close and obedient to Him and seasons of straying. I can be weak, lukewarm, and distracted. And yet, God finds me in my mess -- through the tangle of soured relationships and wrong decisions I have made. He loves me unconditionally and reaches out for me again and again.
In these moments of heavenly outreach, I can only pray that like Isaiah, and Peter, I have the humility to be changed. I wish to be empowered to speak what God wants me to speak. To share the love he has shown me throughout my life.
As the Psalmist says in 138:7-8, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your mercy, O Lord, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."
Amen.