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Psalm 37:1-9 About this time last week, the United States began bombing strategic sites in Afghanistan. Since those initial attacks, continued bombing and cruise missile attacks have occurred at sites believed to support the Taliban and Osuma bin Laden. The purpose of the attacks was to bring justice to those responsible for the September 11 th terrorist attacks. And, while there have been reports of Taliban deaths in the bombing attacks, justice seems to have eluded us.Osuma bin Laden is still at large. His supporters have staged rallies of support in Pakistan and other countries. And the terrorist network has pledged to continue to work toward the destruction of the United States. The reaction in other countries has been startling and disconcerting. On the day of the attacks, we saw pictures of Palestinians celebrating in the streets of Jerusalem. 60 Minutes aired a segment from Egypt in which many ordinary Egyptians said they thought the United States "deserved it." The New York Times recently reported that a Chinese man was unable to sleep after the attacks because he was so happy about what had happened to America. In the meantime, fear continues to grow here in the United States. The discovery of anthrax contamination in Florida, New York, and Nevada has brought a new concern to our everyday lives. The simple act of opening the mail now holds the specter of disease and death. Offices around the country are now taking special steps to protect their workers who handle letters and packages. President Bush has pledged a lengthy struggle to bring about justice in this situation. He has asked for our perseverance and patience as the nation responds to the continued threat of terrorist attacks. We have been asked to be courageous and to wait for justice. How does that strike you? Are you patient? Are you comfortable waiting for justice? I have to admit that it's difficult for me. I'd like to see the situation resolved, the quicker the better. So, how do we find the patience to wait for justice? Today's scripture is from Psalm 37. In this passage, the psalmist brings us a very simple theme. The author was writing to devout Jews who were having a difficult time in the midst of economic uncertainty and attacks from outsiders. Faced with these problems, the psalmist doesn't offer a solution. Instead, an affirmation is provided. The scripture tells us that God is with us. That means that evil cannot last. Every person will receive, in their own time, the measure of their actions. Therefore, we should wait and hope. The purpose of the psalm was to bring comfort to a people who were threatened and unsure of their future. What better scripture passage for us today? As we stand at the threshold of war, with the prospect of additional terrorism in the United States, what does the psalmist have to say to us? First, we are reminded that:
If you've ever spent time in the Caribbean, you know that the people exhibit a carefree lifestyle. Last summer, Karen and I visited the Cayman Islands where we enjoyed the beautiful beaches and sparkling turquoise waters. One afternoon Karen called a nearby restaurant to make reservations for dinner. After providing our name and the time of the reservation, the man on the other end of the phone said, "OK, don't worry." Isn't that a great message for us everyday? Don't worry. So much of what God has to say to us is about doing away with fear in our lives. Whether it's the psalmist, or the angels announcing the birth of Jesus, or Jesus himself, we are reminded over and over again that we don't need to be afraid. Today's scripture reminds us not to worry because of evil. We are reminded that those who work evil will wither away like grass or green plants. Writing to people of the desert, they understood this imagery. So do we. After the winter rains, we see a profusion of grasses and plants spring up in the desert. But they can't last without continued water, so they soon wither up and blow away. The psalmist is saying the same thing about the evil that we see around us. The terrorists have gained a foothold because they capitalize on hate, envy, and jealousy. Just like all unjust regimes based on hate, they will also fade away. The Hebrew word for "fret" has a root that means to be heated. The word "fret" appears three times in the psalm and it seems that the author wanted to drive home a point. He seems to be advising us not to become "hot and bothered" about the evildoers, or "burning with jealousy" of the evil. These words indicate states of mind that are familiar to our current mood. The unfortunate recent attacks against Arabs and Muslims (or those who some think look like them) in our country are motivated by becoming overheated. Today's scripture calls for us to calm our minds and our hearts. To set aside worry. And to remember that all of this is temporary. Today's scripture also reminds us to:
The next few verses may be a little difficult for us to hear. The psalmist suggests that we trust in the Lord, dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture, and delight ourselves in the Lord. How, you might ask, can we do this? How can we feel safety and delight when so many threats are upon us? For those of us with family or friends in military service, how can we feel safety and delight? When we're dealing with the possibility of further attacks, bombings, or bacterial warfare, how can we enjoy safe pasture? With a world poised on the brink of war, with new threats afoot here in our own country, it can be difficult for us to feel the safety and delight the psalmist describes. But the experiences of others in much more difficult circumstances suggest that such peace is possible. In his book,
Just as Frankl learned in his experience, we can choose to allow the present circumstances to shape us into fearful and frozen humans. Or, we can choose to trust in God, to delight in God's love, and to savor the beauty of our lives. Today's scripture is also a call to action. We are encouraged to:
Some might criticize this scripture passage for encouraging us to be too passive. After all, they might say, you can't just stand by and let evil overrun you. This advice to turn away from anger and wrath is just a recipe for defeat. But history reminds us that the most powerful forces are those that don't rely on threats, or weapons, or assaults. Look at the life of Christ, for example. His teachings, including a love of enemies, and a commitment to find the way of love, have revolutionized the world. In the present conflict, I believe that we should think about conflict resolution in new ways. Violence is not an evolved response. It is nothing more than a continuation of the old ways - ways that have failed to provide us with safety and security and that leave us morally empty and spiritually bereft. Martin Luther King once said, "As you press for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline...for if you succumb to the temptation of using violence in your struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of long and desolate nights of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos." Nonviolence does not mean a failure to respond. On the contrary, nonviolence is active. It has energy, seriousness and purposeful intent. Nonviolence is a bold yet humane strategy for achieving peace. Over 50 years ago, a man faced terrible evil and contempt for human life in his own country. A German, Eric Schindler was horrified by the way in which his nation was treating the Jews. He could have acted out in violence against the perpetrators. He could have waged his own personal war against those who were perpetrating evil and death. Instead, Eric Schindler chose to work peacefully to bring safety in a terrible situation. The film, Schindler's List, chronicled his efforts to save the lives of Jews in the Nazi death camps. Let's take a look... [VIDEOTAPE] Schindler's actions weren't hateful or based on wrath. He simply went to work doing what he could, peacefully, to bring justice and safety to an evil situation. How can you do that today? You can begin by choosing God's path... a path of love and justice. A path on which we are called to love God and others and to wait patiently for the justice of God.
I believe that our biggest challenge during these days is to continually remind ourselves that our safety, our strength, and our justice lies in God. The psalmist reminds us that evil in our world is temporary and will soon wither. In the meantime, let us choose to delight in the presence and love of God. And let us not become lazy, but be empowered to work fervently for the cause of justice.
Amen. |