DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Psalm
101 HTMT (02/20 -
03/05) A
Psalm Read at Great Compline during Great Lent
Man Implores; God
Abides: Psalm 101 HTMT, The Psalter
According to the Seventy: Holy Trinity Monastery Translation, especially vss.
25, “In the beginning, O
Lord, Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works
of Thy hands. They shall perish,
but Thou abidest....” The high plains of Western Kansas,
How can we pray when overwhelmed by forces we
cannot manage, when all our vigor and capabilities do not suffice against
demands that assault us? The
God-fearing person implores the Lord, joins the Psalmist, cries
out from the pain. “O Lord,
hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto Thee....I am smitten like grass, and
withered is my heart, for I forgot to eat my bread” (vss. 1,5). Being
overpowered happens, at least, if by nothing else, when death comes. And there are other events in the course
of things that hit, stagger, and leave us in a state of quandary. As all our medicines and therapies
cannot halt the mortal juggernaut, neither can insurance policies, saving
accounts, hard work, jobs, nor friendships enable us to weather other storms
and gales that come in the economy, society, associations, and our human
relationships.
But heed the whole of this psalm and its
words, for they teach us how to understand Christ our God and how to speak
directly to Him. The Lord Jesus is
the true God. He travels this life
with us, having already woven Himself to the human
fabric. He never deserts us, but
ever carries us to shelter, pours on the oil and wine of the Holy Spirit,
extends the ministry of His healing Body, the Church so that we may have our
wounds cleansed and restored to health.
Christ is among us! Thus,
the Psalmist, after expressing his defeat and portraying desolation by images
of three birds (vss. 7,8) admits, “I like grass
am withered” (vs. 11).
Then, in the bulk of the Psalm (vss. 12-28), he faces God Who ever abidest
(vs. 12) and finds strength.
In every generation, as need arises, the Lord
does “...rise up and have pity upon Sion (vs.
13) - on His People. As His
servants gather and worship, nations have come to fear His name and kings of
the earth to bow in reverence before His glory (vs. 15). The record of history affirms by hundred
of examples how the Lord “...hath regarded the prayer of the humble, and
hath not despised their supplication” (vs. 17). Our Savior still is creating a People
(vs. 18); and His direct actions are manifold through all the centuries,
“...to hear the groaning of them...in fetters, to loose the sons of the
slain....” that all may declare His name in Sion
(vss. 20,21).
In our moments of foundering, collapse, or
uncertainty, may we never cease to speak to Christ our God and to declare,
“O Lord, Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are
the works of Thy hands. They shall
perish, but Thou abidest....” (vss. 25,26). His
presence through the “...years shall not fail” (vs. 27), nor shall
He ever leave us comfortless. We
may, by His grace, live long enough to see our children and grandchildren
“...have their dwelling, and their seed for ever...guided aright”
(vs. 28) by the wisdom and truth of our life-giving God.
For Thou
art a merciful God, and lovest mankind, and unto Thee
we ascribe glory!
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