Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 83.
I invite you to find a comfortable position,
Maybe with your feet on the floor,
Feeling that sense of rootedness,
Of being grounded and supported.
As you become aware of the inhale and the exhale,
Notice your body and see if there are places where you can let go,
You can release tension,
You can sink and relax.
Know that as we come to these words you are found,
You are deeply seen and known and that you are loved immeasurably.
Spend a few moments welcoming the love and goodness that sees you so beautifully and with such compassion.
I'm going to read the whole psalm once and then read a section of it twice more.
Psalm 83,
O great Creator do not keep silence.
Do not withhold your peace or be still,
O giver of life.
For fear is rampant in the world.
Those who rule by oppression rise up with power.
They lay deceptive plans against the people.
They consult together against freedom and justice.
Crafty words belie intent as thousands reap dire consequence.
Nations go to war and the innocent suffer.
Yes,
They conspire with one accord.
Against love they make a covenant.
No institution is free from the insidious arm of corruption.
At home and in fields afar.
Who will succor the homeless,
The orphans,
The starving,
Those cast aside by decisions based on greed?
Who will speak up on their behalf?
Let all with faith-filled hearts rise up with love.
Clothe us in the dress of your peace and the stronghold of your mercy,
That we might bear the power of love.
Let us walk in shoes of integrity and don the mantle of truth.
Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear,
The rags of anger and greed,
And say we shall seek only the truth which will set us free.
O beloved,
Let all that is unholy within us be cleansed,
Erased as chalk from a slate,
As fire consumes the forest,
As the flame reaches up to the heavens.
Let the refining fire of your love reach into the hidden places within open hearts.
Forgive us and let the deep regret of our souls rise up as contrite offerings.
Let the people seek your word.
Let the nations turn from violence and destruction.
Let them know that you alone,
You who reign with love,
Are the most high over all the earth.
On this second reading I'm going to focus in on a few verses.
Notice any of these words or phrases that capture your attention.
Clothe us in the dress of your peace and the stronghold of your mercy,
That we might bear the power of love.
Let us walk in shoes of integrity and don the mantle of truth.
Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear,
The rags of anger and greed,
And say we shall seek only the truth which will set us free.
I'm going to read those words one more time.
Let them bring their gift.
Let them arrive into your being.
Draw them in as grace and mercy.
Let those that have captured your attention bring the fullness of their offering.
Clothe us in the dress of your peace and the stronghold of your mercy,
That we might bear the power of love.
Let us walk in shoes of integrity and don the mantle of truth.
Let us shed the tatters of envy and fear,
The rags of anger and greed,
And say we shall seek only the truth which will set us free.
Friends this psalm seems so applicable in this moment of global history where there is so much pain and suffering and maybe we feel overwhelmed,
Maybe we feel helpless to know what to do and how to respond.
So I invite you to return to this psalm as a prayer.
Let it become a prayer for the world and for all that it's going through at this time.
And may you know grace.
May you continue to know yourself held and loved.
Amen.
