Difference between revisions of "Sermon for June 28th, 2020"

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There is a popular expression we often use for something we perceive is so bad that we say "I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy." So I got to thinking, what *would* I wish upon my worst enemy then?  Fortunately, there's a meme for that too.  Here are the top ten things, according to the all-knowing internet, that most of us actually would be okay with wishing upon our worst enemies.
 
There is a popular expression we often use for something we perceive is so bad that we say "I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy." So I got to thinking, what *would* I wish upon my worst enemy then?  Fortunately, there's a meme for that too.  Here are the top ten things, according to the all-knowing internet, that most of us actually would be okay with wishing upon our worst enemies.
  
10. A long life full of tables with uneven legs.
+
10. A long life full of tables with uneven legs.
9. Seat back, food on lap, drink in hand...remote control across the room.
+
9. Seat back, food on lap, drink in hand...remote control across the room.
8. The polite scorn of a Canadian.
+
8. The polite scorn of a Canadian.
7. A pre-disposition to accidentally hitting "reply-all" on emails.
+
7. A pre-disposition to accidentally hitting "reply-all" on emails.
6. Bountiful amounts of stray legos on the living room floor at midnight.
+
6. Bountiful amounts of stray legos on the living room floor at midnight.
5. Clamshell packaging on everything.
+
5. Clamshell packaging on everything.
4. The world's smallest water heater.
+
4. The world's smallest water heater.
3. Open parking spaces that turn out to have tiny cars in them.
+
3. Open parking spaces that turn out to have tiny cars in them.
2. A fork that always lands in the syrup, and a spoon that always falls in to the bowl.
+
2. A fork that always lands in the syrup, and a spoon that always falls in to the bowl.
1. Lots and lots of videos with incorrectly synchronized audio.
+
1. Lots and lots of videos with incorrectly synchronized audio.
 +
 
 +
Our scripture reading today, Psalm 5, is a prayer of complaint against one's enemies.  The instructions at the beginning of the Psalm tell us that it's a Psalm of David--who had plenty of enemies during his lifetime.  The instructions also address this Psalm "to the leader." Presumably this is the leader of worship in the temple in ancient Jerusalem.  I can identify with that--as a worship leader for First Presbyterian Church, I get a lot of complaints addressed to me; they're not usually quite as poetic as this psalm, but once someone told me that my sermon reminded her of the peace and love of God. Like God's peace, it was beyond all understanding, and like God's love, it endured forever.
 +
 
 +
There's one more instruction at the beginning of Psalm 5, which indicates that it was written to be accompanied by flutes.  That strikes me as a little bit strange in a prayer of complaint, but I want to come back to that point later.

Revision as of 20:13, 26 June 2020

Psalm 5:1-12

To the leader: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
    give heed to my sighing.
2 Listen to the sound of my cry,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
    evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
    you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
    the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house,
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in awe of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouths;
    their hearts are destruction;
their throats are open graves;
    they flatter with their tongues.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
    let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
    for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
    let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
    so that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
    you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Psummer of Psalms - Psalm 5

There is a popular expression we often use for something we perceive is so bad that we say "I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy." So I got to thinking, what *would* I wish upon my worst enemy then? Fortunately, there's a meme for that too. Here are the top ten things, according to the all-knowing internet, that most of us actually would be okay with wishing upon our worst enemies.

10. A long life full of tables with uneven legs.
9. Seat back, food on lap, drink in hand...remote control across the room.
8. The polite scorn of a Canadian.
7. A pre-disposition to accidentally hitting "reply-all" on emails.
6. Bountiful amounts of stray legos on the living room floor at midnight.
5. Clamshell packaging on everything.
4. The world's smallest water heater.
3. Open parking spaces that turn out to have tiny cars in them.
2. A fork that always lands in the syrup, and a spoon that always falls in to the bowl.
1. Lots and lots of videos with incorrectly synchronized audio.

Our scripture reading today, Psalm 5, is a prayer of complaint against one's enemies. The instructions at the beginning of the Psalm tell us that it's a Psalm of David--who had plenty of enemies during his lifetime. The instructions also address this Psalm "to the leader." Presumably this is the leader of worship in the temple in ancient Jerusalem. I can identify with that--as a worship leader for First Presbyterian Church, I get a lot of complaints addressed to me; they're not usually quite as poetic as this psalm, but once someone told me that my sermon reminded her of the peace and love of God. Like God's peace, it was beyond all understanding, and like God's love, it endured forever.

There's one more instruction at the beginning of Psalm 5, which indicates that it was written to be accompanied by flutes. That strikes me as a little bit strange in a prayer of complaint, but I want to come back to that point later.