Sunday, January 19, 2020
Psalm 91: Clinging to God – Part I
NPR Morning Edition – Losing Our Religion: The Growth of the “Nones” Jan 14, 2013
This week we spent time with the opening chapters of Deuteronomy reflecting on what it means to be in relationship with God. This may have generated questions that still linger. Do we need scientific evidence in order to believe that God is with us and that God exists? Do we keep the new word that God loves and protects us to ourselves or do we teach this story to our children and to our children’s children? What does God’s guidance look like? How are we to respond to God’s assistance? Do we owe something in return for God’s protection and mercy? Do we deserve the unmerited successes we are given at no cost?
Psalm 91, a hymn of thanksgiving and remembrance, describes the meaning of God’s presence. Psalm 91, an anthem of hope and petition, expresses our basic human want to be protected from evil. Psalm 91, a song of call and response, is an intimate conversation with God.
You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see. Looking at the negatives in life it appears that the wicked always win; remembering the many small times when we somehow did not fall into the path of the wicked, we give thanks for God’s enduring wisdom.
You have the Lord for your refuge; you have made the Most High your stronghold. Knowing that God chooses to love us no matter our faith, no matter our hope, no matter our love, we give thanks for God’s enduring persistence.
No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. Choosing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, God among us, we give thanks for God’s enduring power
For God commands the angels to guard you in all his ways. Giving ourselves over to the Spirit who abides within each of us, we give thanks for God’s enduring love.
With their hands they shall support you; lest you strike your foot upon a stone. Accepting the guidance and protection freely given to us, we give thanks for God’s enduring presence.
For a reflection on our Unmerited Success, enter those words into the blog search bar and explore.
On U.S. National Public Radio (NPR) the Morning Edition journalists have explored religion and spirituality in the series Losing Our Religion. Today if we take time to listen to even a small portion of these broadcasts we may gauge our own awareness – and gratitude – for God’s presence in our lives. Click on the image above or go to: http://www.npr.org/series/169065270/losing-our-religion
A re-post from January 19, 2013.
The Noontimes 
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