"No Matter
What"
a condensed version of the
sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Union Congregational Church, United Church of
Christ, in Somonauk, Illinois.
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Backwards
It’s much easier to "give thanks in troubled times" after we’ve endured and passed through the troubled times. This week’s reading from Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 is a great example of praising God in troubled times . . . but doing it after the troubled times are over.
When things are rotten, I don’t feel like giving thanks. I feel, instead, like shouting out, "What are you thinking, God? Why in the world would you expect thanks for THIS?"
And I also notice how selfish I am. While I’m sputtering to God about something terrible happening to me, I rarely have any kind of compassion for all whom God loves. (Yes – everybody!)
I think going forward, I can look to God in hope during the troubled times. I can pray for and work for justice to all whom God loves.
And as I experience peace and justice in my life and in the whole world, I can give thanks to God for God’s steadfast love.
In most, if not every situation, that’s all I’ve got – whether or not it is somewhat backwards.
I wonder if that’s all the writer of this week’s Psalm had. This week’s reading is a celebration of deliverance from some awful situations. Again this week there are some parts edited out – yet this time there isn’t something more controversial or confusing that is edited – it’s more description of the situations the writer and the people have been delivered from.
Listen to more of the ‘delivered from’ stuff:
{4} Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; {5} hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. {6} Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; {7} he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. {8} Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. {9} For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things. {10} Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons, {11} for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. {12} Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help. {13} Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; {14} he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder. {15} Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. {16} For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.
There’s something interesting occurring here – folks were in bad situations:
And what did the people do?
God creates -- We mess up -- God redeems (heals, delivers)
But wait – I’ve said many times before that the Psalms aren’t good places in the Bible to look for ‘promise verses.’ The Psalms are the raw emotions of people in all kinds of different situations and with different experiences and views.
Today however, the Psalm shows a celebration coming from a writer and a people who have experienced the theme!
God’s steadfast love endures forever
God’s steadfast love is for everyone – no matter what.
Close with prayer
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