Readings:
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10;
Psalm 19;
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a;
Luke 4:14-21

Collect:
Loving God,
through your Son you have called us to repent of our sin,
to believe the good news, and celebrate the coming of your kingdom.
Grant that we may hear the call to discipleship
and gladly proclaim the gospel to a waiting world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Reflection

Psalm 19 may originally have been two separate psalms, but whoever first realized they belong together – genius. Not obvious, but genius.

At first glance the two elements are quite different, almost like the chameleon’s eyes, looking in different directions. The first section is creation certainly declaring, perhaps revealing God’s glory. The psalmist is overwhelmed by the glory and wonder of creation and reaches for human attributes to describe what is happening – the day announces, the night declares, the sun has a home in the sky and is thrilled (as one translation puts it) to run its course across the sky like a trained athlete. Spectacular imagery with which we readily identify from personal experience.

There is, however, discord here too. The imagery is drawn from human experience, but no speech or words, no sound is heard. While we humans may from time to time sit quietly, the noise we make, just by being, is great. The psalmist would not have known the noise pollution we know today, but there are lots of references where people get together, partying, lamenting, working, even listening while others talk (Nehemiah’s reading today) and then we act, do things in order to survive and work out how to live together. People talk and work … and then make a noise as we get on with our life. The psalmist says that creation’s noise is different. Creation’s is the sound of announcing, proclaiming, revealing God’s glory.

The second element of the psalm is how we respond to God’s glory proclaimed by creation. Here the psalmist points to teaching, knowledge, precepts, law even governance as people live together in God’s world. The rest of creation already worships and praises God. That’s just what creation does. Human beings, however, need instruction and some assistance to appreciate our place in the world, individually and together, and how we too may join in the chorus of praise and worship to the creator of all.

There is a discordant note here too – we don’t see our own errors, and we can be wilful in our selfishness. This is not new to us. We know, as every generation has learned and known, we can be horrible to each other. Calculating and cunning, mean-spirited and selfish, seeking self-aggrandizement and quite willing to do the dirty on just about anyone. Sometimes unintentionally. Sometimes carefully planned. So, the psalmist seeks the courage, for it always takes personal courage, to admit our faults, to be free from the evil of sin, to be liberated.

The genius of the two elements together in the psalm? Creation recognizes the creator naturally and wonderfully. But we humans, even though we are made in the Creator’s image – perhaps because we   are made in the Creator’s image – we all too easily do not. While we rely entirely on God for our life and inspiration, yet we are asked to decide, invited to respond, and we’ll all be invited to respond again and to make clear our commitment at the Covenant service next week. The psalmist reflects that God is the author of all, and that we are responsible for our own actions. Just as nature immerses itself in giving glory to God, so we are invited to immerse ourselves in God’s presence – the teaching, ordinances, precepts, judgements and commands – all these are about giving reverence, about how we act and live together. Only now can we join with all creation in declaring, even revealing, God’s glory. As the psalmist prays: May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and redeemer.

Barry Lotz