Flourishing in the House of God
Daily Reading: Exodus 2, Psalm 52, Acts 8, Proverbs 21
Two days back we looked at the challenge presented by the large quantities of False Witnesses in our society today. I have been amazed as I read the Bible this year at how closely scripture has been mirroring my own experience thousands of years later.
It can be incredibly disheartening when we are confronted by so many people seeking to bolster their own name and reputation by using Christianity as a tool for building their own platform, while behaving in ways that are completely counter to the gospel.
I have found myself really struggling with this over the last several years.
When I read today’s Psalm, it really spoke to me.
Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?
Why do you boast all day long,
you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
You who practice deceit,
your tongue plots destruction;
it is like a sharpened razor.
You love evil rather than good,
falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
You love every harmful word,
you deceitful tongue!
Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin:
He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous will see and fear;
they will laugh at you, saying,
“Here now is the man
who did not make God his stronghold
but trusted in his great wealth
and grew strong by destroying others!”
But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good.
Psalm 52
Psalm 52 starts out with our psalmist venting their frustration about those who practice deceit, boast all day long, and plot destruction.
Amen.
However, it closes with a sentiment that I believe God is calling all of us to.
God is ok with us venting our frustration.
I am sure he is frustrated too! We see over and over again in scripture Jesus’ righteous anger towards those who would claim to follow God, and yet don’t live it out.
It is fine to be angry, but do we choose to dwell in this anger?
Do we allow it to poison our hearts and make us less capable of showing up in the world the way God wants us to show up?
Or would we echo the tail end of Psalm 52:
But I am like an olive tree
flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
for ever and ever.
For what you have done I will always praise you
in the presence of your faithful people.
And I will hope in your name,
for your name is good.
I want to feel the emotions of Psalm 52 in equal measure. I never want to turn a blind eye towards injustice, manipulation, and corruption. I never want to grow numb and accept these things.
Simultaneously, I want to find rest in my Father’s love.
I want to trust in his divine will throughout the long arc of history.
I want to be like an olive tree, flourishing in the house of God.
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
When reading Psalm 52, do you think you need a little more of the first half or second half in your life? Have you grown numb to challenges in this world, and need to feel a bit of God’s righteous anger to spur you on to action that can make a difference? Or are you perhaps on the opposite side, and need to seek more peace in the midst of the storm while still working to see God’s will done here on earth?
