Genesis 10
The story of God comes through relationships. The primary relationship we have is family. In this reading we see the blessing that comes through families as God’s faithfulness is shared from one generation to another. The good news is that any of us can participate in this blessing as we live according to the way Jesus showed us – to love God and to love people. I know that there is grief in many families as they wonder where the blessing of God has gone as they reflect on their own families. Again even here there is good news. Sin is overcome through repentence (humble turning) and forgiveness restores relationship. This is not an easy path to follow but it is a good one. I pray that I would know God’s grace to enable me to repent and forgive, and again know the blessing of God’s faithfulness through relationship.
Psalm 10 – A Prayer for help
vs 12…Do something LORD God, an duse your powerful arm to help those in need. The wicked don’t respect you. In their hearts they say, “God won’t punish us!” But you see the trouble and distress, and you will do something. The poor can count on you, and so can orphans…
I love the psalms – they are honest about our experiences and full of faith in the experience of God. There tell the story and sing the song of a wrestling that continues throughout life. A mix of tragedy and joy – what seems to be a never-ending story of injustice for so many but also a hope and a will to see peace and justice restored. Trouble does come, but thanks to God it doesn’t last forever. I guess that is the ultimate hope and relief that God does bring – that one day there will be no tears (the promise for those who die in Christ). The focus on this psalm is to pray/advocate for others – this seems to me to be the place I see the journey of Faith draws us to – a movement from self-focused hope to other-focused hope.
This psalm is a good reminder to me to keep growing in God and to do this through the realities of life. This allows me to join in with the psalmist and say ‘Do something God’ because I believe God is active in this world and in people’s lives.
