Читать книгу Reflections on the Psalms - Steven Croft - Страница 28

Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint;listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.

‘Hide me under the shadow of your wings’ (v.8)

The psalmist is under siege here and convinced of his own righteousness. Do we perhaps feel a little uncomfortable with the author’s conviction that he is unquestionably in the right? If we do, it may be because his experience finds some resonance with our own. Like the author, we long for justice in the world. We, too, struggle when the ‘unrighteous’ appear to prosper, their greed and wickedness seeming to go unpunished. We, too, may be tempted to thank God that we ‘are not like other people’ (Luke 18.11), seeing ourselves as ‘righteous’ in comparison. Where, on such occasions, do we take our pride, our anger and our fear?

Despite his inner turmoil, the psalmist here continues to reach out to God in hope and trust (v.8). Other psalms use the image of the shadow of God’s wings as both a place of safety (Psalms 57.2; 91.4) and of rejoicing (Psalm 63.8). There is an ancient Celtic morning prayer that uses the same imagery when seeking God’s protective power: ‘Even as I clothe my body… Cover Thou my soul with the shadow of Thy wing’ (Carmina Gadelica).

We need to learn – and learn again – that whatever turbulence we encounter in our lives, it is only by the side of our heavenly Father – ‘under the shadow of [God’s] wings’ – that we can know sanctuary and peace.

Reflection by Barbara Mosse

Refrain:

Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand.

Prayer:

Generous Lord,

deliver us from

all envious thoughts,

and when we are tempted by the desire for wealth,

let us see your face;

for your abundance is enough to clothe our lack;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.