Who is your stronghold? - Psalm 46

While praying the Daily Office this morning, Psalm 46 came up as the reading for this day of Epiphany. If ever there were words that we need to hear in anxious times, it would be Psalm 46, which begins: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." And, of course, we all are in "trouble" and "fear" at times in our life. Things in our life do cause the "earth to be moved" and trusted mountains "topple into the depths of the sea." Whether it is our present uneasiness with the current economic crisis, or our confusion and sadness about ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or the seemingly intractable conflict between Hamas and Israel, events seem beyond our control, and peace and security seem so far away. Where is our stronghold? Where do we go for strength? Psalm 46 makes the striking and audacious claim that we are to turn to the Lord, quite an amazing claim in the somewhat relativistic and atheistic (or at least agnostic) and secular age!

"The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold." This assertion is repeated three times in this psalm, are we ready to turn to prayer, are we willing to "turn aside" as Moses did when he passed the Burning Bush? Are we willing to recognize the great gift that God has given us, the gift of God's presence, the gift of God among us - Emanuel?

We move to the end of the Christmas Season, and into Ephiphany, but the miracle and the wondrous gift of the Incarnation is with us still, and abides with us always. God is our stronghold, and is a very present help in trouble! God has been through this with us, and we will get through it as well (whatever "it" may be).

God is our stronghold!

May we have the curiosity and courage to "turn aside" and see this very present help in trouble!

~ The Rev. Peter M. Carey


Psalm 46 Deus noster refugium

1	God is our refuge and strength, * a very present help in trouble.
2	Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, * and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3	Though its waters rage and foam, * and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4	The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5	There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, * the holy habitation of the Most High.
6	God is in the midst of her; she shall not be overthrown; * God shall help her at the break of day.
7	The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; * God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8	The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9	Come now and look upon the works of the LORD, * what awesome things he has done on earth.
10	It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; * he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.
11	"Be still, then, and know that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth."
12	The LORD of hosts is with us; * the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

Psalm 66 & 67, from today's Morning Prayer

Psalm 66 Jubilate Deo

1	Be joyful in God, all you lands; * sing the glory of his Name; sing the glory of his praise.
2	Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! * because of your great strength your enemies cringe before you.
3	All the earth bows down before you, * sings to you, sings out your Name."
4	Come now and see the works of God, * how wonderful he is in his doing toward all people.
5	He turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on foot, * and there we rejoiced in him.
6	In his might he rules for ever; his eyes keep watch over the nations; * let no rebel rise up against him.
7	Bless our God, you peoples; * make the voice of his praise to be heard;
8	Who holds our souls in life, * and will not allow our feet to slip.
9	For you, O God, have proved us; * you have tried us just as silver is tried.
10	You brought us into the snare; * you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
11	You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; * but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
12	I will enter your house with burnt-offerings and will pay you my vows, * which I promised with my lips and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
13	I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts with the smoke of rams; * I will give you oxen and goats.
14	Come and listen, all you who fear God, * and I will tell you what he has done for me.
15	I called out to him with my mouth, * and his praise was on my tongue.
16	If I had found evil in my heart, * the Lord would not have heard me;
17	But in truth God has heard me; * he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
18	Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, * nor withheld his love from me. Psalm 67 Deus misereatur 1 May God be merciful to us and bless us, * show us the light of his countenance and come to us. 2 Let your ways be known upon earth, * your saving health among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, * for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you. 6 The earth has brought forth her increase; * may God, our own God, give us his blessing. 7 May God give us his blessing, * and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

Scripture from today's Morning Prayer - Matthew 10:16-20

Matthew 10:16-20

I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

The Persistence of God: Prevenient Grace

I have long given thanks for God's persistence in calling people into action to bring about God's Kingdom. In my own life, God has time and again called me to worship, to follow, and to serve God. God's Grace is ever-present, and sticks to us like fly-paper, theologians call this "Prevenient Grace," (going back to Augustine of Hippo) ... God's action in our lives moves alongside us and is wrapped up in our lives. God's persistence in calling Samuel is clearly evident in this morning's reading from the Scriptures in the Daily Office:


1 Samuel 3:1-10
Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;
3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called, "Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!"
5 and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down.
6 The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."