19 November 2023: Pentecost 25

/ Rykken
Faithful Conversations #38

Introduction to Readers:

Plato (428/427 or 424/423 – 348 BC)
Greek Philosopher

One of my favorite passages from Scripture is 1 Corinthians 13:12:  “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” It’s my go-to when I’m struggling to understand God’s word (and is widely applicable in many aspects of our lives, including our understanding of history, by the way!). It gives me great hope — one day things will be clearer! Paul’s Greek heritage is coming through here, particularly the influence of Plato, the philosopher who lived four centuries before Christ’s birth. It was Plato who suggested in his cave analogy that what we perceive to be reality is merely a shadow-like reflection on the walls of the cave, and that truth is outside the cave in splashing sunlight — and that truth is only available to a select few. Forgive the drifty metaphor, but 1 Corinthians 13:12 has been on my mind all week, especially as I try to decipher and process the news of our day. I have had several conversations with friends in the past week who are voicing much anxiety about our world. The readings for Pentecost 25 feel especially modern (or timeless) to me in that regard. And since I have been trying to dig into the Psalms more of late, my focus will be on Psalm 90 and especially the fascinating connection between it and one of the great hymns of the Christian church. As always, thanks for your continuing interest in the Lectionary and I hope your reading is going well. Relax, breathe, and take time to listen as one with a “wise heart” (Psalm 90:12).

(Note: I do highlight phrases, and also offer hyperlinks that offer background — those are of a different color, italicized, and bolded). 

Readings for Pentecost 25
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Psalm 90: 1-8 (9-11) 12 (focus passage)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (prayer inspiration)
Matthew 25:14-30

This Week’s Reflection: “Crisis, Lament, and Hope” 

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
This is a photograph from 5 days before he was assassinated.

In October of 1863, amidst a raging Civil War, President Lincoln issued a Proclamation designating the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. Lincoln served the nation in an incredibly difficult time and, like all Presidents, had his flaws. The same man who ultimately brought an end to slavery, for example, pursued policies that meant death and removal to Indigenous people. That said, Lincoln’s humility intrigues me. For example, he penned the following passage as part of his Thanksgiving Proclamation:  “And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him (God) for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.” Would such words be said by a President in the modern era? Lincoln, in essence, asked the American people to seek penance for our national sins as part of their observance of Thanksgiving. Imagine that.  

 
Though Lincoln’s spiritual life remains a mystery, it is clear that he was well versed in the scriptures, and perhaps this explains his language in the Proclamation. The ancient Israelites responded to crises (such as the Babylonian Captivity) by gathering in holy places and offering laments to their God. Sins of the nation were taken seriously. Psalm 90 provides an example. The fragility of life, divine wrath, and divine grace — these are the themes imbedded in the Psalm. Note also that the Psalmist asks God for a “wise heart” (verse 12), the only time (according to my Lutheran Study Bible commentary) that particular phrase appears in scripture. I will be adding that request to my prayers in the days ahead!
 

Isaac Watts
(1674-1748)

And, permit me to draw one more connection regarding Psalm 90 (and late November). As you may or may not be aware (we don’t emphasize them much), the ELCA has many days of commemoration throughout the church year. On November 25th, we honor the life of Isaac Watts. Among other things, Watts was an English Congregational Minister and prolific hymn writer. Reading his biography leaves me feeling completely inadequate — hard to imagine everything he did in his lifetime. He is credited, for example, with producing more than 750 hymns! (“Joy to the World,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and “O God Our Help in Ages Past” are his most famous). Psalm 90 provided Watts with the inspiration for the last hymn of the three mentioned, and provides a wonderful example of the power of the Psalms. Take some time and see how the language of the Psalm worked its way into the hymn. Also, I have linked two versions of this glorious hymn below for your listening pleasure. One is a majestic version from England and the other is from an Anglican church in Nigeria. (Note: In our hymnal, the ELW, this is hymn 632 and we have six verses: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9).
 
Psalm 90
Oh God Our Help in Ages Past
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

2 Before the mountains were brought forth or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn us back to dust and say, “Turn back, you mortals.”

4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;

6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.

8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh.

10 The days of our life are seventy years or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

13 Turn, O Lord! How long? Have compassion on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us and as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be manifest to your servants and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!

1. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

2. Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.

4. Thy Word commands our flesh to dust, “Return, ye sons of men”: All nations rose from earth at first, And turn to earth again.

5. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone; Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun.

6. The busy tribes of flesh and blood, With all their lives and cares, Are carried downwards by the flood, And lost in foll’wing years.

7. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly, forgotten, as a dream Dies at the op’ning day.

8. Like flow’ry fields the nations stand Pleased with the morning light; The flow’rs beneath the mower’s hand Lie with’ring ere ’tis night.

9. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home.
Soli Deo Gloria!  

Prayer (Inspired by Thessalonians 5:1-11): Lord, help us to walk as children of the light. Grant us a sense of urgency, but also calm, as we confront our daily challenges — our lives are brief, but you assure us of eternity in the Kingdom. As we worship you, both publicly and privately, help us to encourage each other in the faith. Amen.

Enjoy this powerful hymn!

The English version, complete with brass and organ!

And, from an Anglican church in Nigeria!

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