Thanks for Shalom – Psalm 119

A text – Psalm 119:33-40

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
    and I will observe it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
³⁶ Turn my heart to your decrees
    and not to selfish gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
    give me life according to your word.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise,
    which is for those who fear you.
³⁹ Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
    for your ordinances are good.
⁴⁰ See, I have longed for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life.

A reflection:

Here is a prayer in psalm form for us to pray every day, even when we are not feeling it. It’s a prayer you would love to hear coming out of the mouth of your child, or a prayer your parents would love to hear coming from you to God’s ear. What are the action verbs here that we hope God will perform upon us? teach me, give me understanding, lead me, turn my heart (“repent me,” because repentance is given to us by God; we can’t do it all by ourselves), turn my eyes from vanities, give me life according to your word, confirm to me your promise, turn away disgrace, and again give me life. Eight pleas to God for this challenging life we live.

And how does the asker say she will behave in response? I will do your teaching, I will keep your law, I delight in your commandments; I have longed for your precepts. The pray-er of this psalm is asking God to repeatedly keep her on track, living a full life within God’s bounds for her, bounds that allow her to be creative and giving and rich in the blessings that flow from God through her to her family and friends and neighbors. This richness of life within God’s watching and teaching eyes is a life of shalom – the Jewish word for peace. But not just peace as the absence of strife, because we won’t get that until we rest in God’s loving arms when this life is over for us. Shalom means fullness of life knowing we have lived each day using God’s abundant gifts to us in service of others, taking part in God’s mission in the world, helping others to fullness of life.

In this week when I and my colleagues are in mourning for our friend Patrick Keifert and when it seems the whole world is in mourning for Dolly Parton, let us emulate those two humans and their thorough giving of themselves to their friends, family, and the world so that everyone’s life is fuller and richer. These whom we have lost and we ourselves can say together, “See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.”

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for the richness you bestow upon us each day. Help us to continue to be taught, be turned, and to receivers of the life and shalom you send to us. Help us to share that fullness of life with those around us. Amen.