Tag: faithful servant

• Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part II

  
  

  Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part II

  Wednesday, January 22, 2025

  

  The next several posts were published in 2018, and they seem appropriate this year in a time when nations around the globe struggle to find effective, authentic, life-giving governance. 

  Finding the Servant

  Samuel anoints Saul Israel’s leader and the new ruler is successful in battle as he enters into a close relationship with God; but later in this story, Saul begins to think of himself as the ultimate power. We can predict what happens as his life unravels. In 1 Samuel 16, the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you go on grieving over Saul? I have rejected him as king of Israel. But now get some olive oil and go to Bethlehem, to a man named Jesse, because I have chosen one of his sons to be king”. And so we consider, are we flexible; are we able to see two sides of an argument; are we willing to admit that there is always more than a single story?

  Relationships ebb and flow; conflicts rise and wane. Samuel and Eli. David and Goliath. David and Jonathan. David and Saul. Corrupt priests raise prophets. Arrogant leaders kill the innocent. A nation rejects the ideals the people so ardently espoused such a short time before. The world seems to stand on its head. Yet through all of this, the Lord is constant. Through all of this, the message is consistent. God finds servants and remains open to their dialog. God asks servants to follow, as they trust that God’s plan is better than any they might devise themselves. God abides and remains, coaxes and consoles, supports and guides, hopes and loves. Today we consider, are we willing to be the faithful servants God finds? And are we willing to be sent into the world?

  We hear this story . . . we take it in . . . and then we reply . . . O Lord, I will always sing of your constant love; I will proclaim your faithfulness forever.

  

  When we spend time with this psalm and this story, we find new openness to God’s fidelity, even when the word of the Lord is rare and visions are scarce.  

  Tomorrow, God always hopes. 

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  Images from: http://www.canvasreplicas.com/Tissot291.htm and https://www.art-prints-on-demand.com/a/preti-mattia/samuel-anoints-david.html

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  January 22, 2025

  1 Samuel, David-Saul-Samuel, faithful servant, God’s fidelity, Goliath

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• Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part I

  
  

  Psalm 89: A Hymn in Time of National Struggle – Part I 

  

  Tuesday, January 21, 2025

  The next several posts were published in 2018, and they seem appropriate this year in a time when nations around the globe struggle to find effective, authentic, life-giving governance. 

  Finding the Servant

  The Old Testament readings in last week’s liturgies reminded us of the story of Samuel, Saul and David. There is so much to ponder that we are easily lost in the story. Samuel is born of a woman thought barren and then lives his childhood at the Temple with the priest Eli. In 1 Samuel 3, when The word of the Lord was rare in those days, visions were not widespread, we read the familiar words in the familiar story, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. If we can make time today, we will want to linger with this chapter as we consider Psalm 89 and all it might mean to us. How and when do we hear God’s voice?

  

  In the following chapters of 1 Samuel, the Philistines capture the Ark of the Covenant; panic and conflict ensue. The Ark returns, Samuel begins a ceremony of gratitude, and when the Philistines attack again, the Lord intervenes on Israel’s behalf. The people are grateful and so Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. Again, we consider our role as servants to God’s people. When and with whom do we share our gratitude that God is present in our lives?

  In Chapter 8, Samuel prays to the Lord when the people demand a king of this world and God replies, Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them . . . Listen to their voice and set a king over them. In tenderness and compassion, the Lord assures Samuel that he has done nothing wrong. With authority and kindness, the Lord works with Samuel as he moves forward in service to both God and God’s people. And we consider, are we willing to do as God asks of us, even when the plan does not appear to make sense?

  Tomorrow, God always abides. 

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  When we use the scripture links and the drop-down menus to explore these verses, we discover that national turmoil when the word of the Lord is rare and visions are scarce is an ancient story. 

  Images from: http://www.scienceofcorrespondences.com/saul-anointed-king–1-samuel-9–10-.htm and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hannah_VICTORS,_Jan.jpg

   

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  January 21, 2025

  1 Samuel, Ark of the Covenant, David-Saul-Samuel, Eli, faithful servant, Goliath, Philistines

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• Isaiah 51 and 52: Servants

  
  

  Tuesday, August 18, 2020

  Isaiah 51 & 52

  Servants

  In Isaiah 51 we find a reason to rejoice when life overwhelms us. When we are fear-filled, we must remember to ask God’s grace, patience, and wisdom so that we might discern God’s hand in all that happens to and around us. We lean on our brother Jesus whose has broad and strong shoulders. And we abide in the Spirit who brings us comfort and understanding. Remembering that God knows all and keeps the promises made to us, we ask not only for God’s grace in our own lives but we also ask intercessory prayers for those who do us damage. Through all of our turmoil, God remains our servant, tending to our needs and sorting through our wishes to grant those that make us stronger in body, mind and soul.

  In Chapter 52 we find the fourth and final of Isaiah’s Servant Songs.  t begins . . . See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.  Even as many were amazed at him – so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals – so shall he startle nations.

  The true, faithful servant is perfect not in that he or she has escaped life unscathed, but in that they strive to reach the potential God has placed in them. Others are startled because the true, faithful servant wears the scars of existence and lives along the margins of life. God’s servant does not seek comfort in the physical world, nor does this one stay long in the heady turmoil of power, fame and wealth. The true, faithful servant meets God’s mercy and grace through the pain and suffering of life. The true, faithful servant knows that he or she finds serenity in God and not in the superficial satisfaction of grudges long held or of worldly battles soundly won. This is the mystery Isaiah lays out for us and it is the mystery we see in Christ. It is the mystery to which we are called for we are created to be servants to one another. We are created as a servant people.

  Mary Magdalene in the cemetery garden and the apostles on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Christ in the early moments of his return . . . so transformed was he . . . so momentous was the transition from one life to the next. So it is reasonable that we do not at first see Christ standing before us . . . calling us to service. Yet it is well worth our effort to discern the servant Jesus and to strive to serve as he does.

  This one who is in God comes to meet us through the woe of our living . . . and to convert this woe to joy.

  This one who is in God  comes to meet us through the miseries of our existence . . . and to transform them into songs of celebration.

  This one who is in God  graces us with a healing touch . . . and so God asks that we also serve.

  This one who is in God  knows the intimate detail of our suffering . . . and so God accompanies us as we learn to be faithful servants.

  This one who is in God loves us so much that God will go wherever we are . . . sit with us no matter who we are . . . walk with us no matter the burdens of the journey . . . in order to serve us even as we serve. This love knows no limit. This love leads us out of our sorrow. This love leads us to joy.

  Servant work is difficult, frustrating and humbling. Servant work is a gift. Servant work is the only work truly worth doing. Servant work is the work of Christ. Let us spend some time today with this Servant Song, and let us practice it so well that when we feel the weight of our load on our tired shoulders, we will know how to give full voice to the melody and words of the Servant Song.

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  Adapted from reflections written on February 13, 2007 and January 14, 2010. 

  Image from: http://lcos.org/WP/?p=374

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  August 18, 2020

  faithful servant, mystery, Servant Song

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