The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19: 7-11)

There is a way. The way is discernable. Leaving the way has consequences. Keeping the way also has consequences.

Three Angels by Marc Chagall

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! (Psalm 150)

Today many churches recognize the feast day of Michael and all the Angels. In the scriptures and tradition angels are given various tasks. But the most common and constant is the singing of praise. The closer we attend to the source of creation, the more we are compelled to awe, thanksgiving, and praise.

To learn more about Michaelmas please visit the Satucket Lectionary.

Do not be silent, O God of my praise. For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They beset me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, even while I make prayer for them. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. (Psalm 109: 1-5)

The psalms are full of enemies. The psalmists, beginning with King David, were powerful or close to the powerful. While power and paranoia tend to travel together, the threats may have been entirely real. Power attracts or, perhaps, creates enemies.

I began reading the psalms each morning two or three years ago. Part of my attraction is the fear, weakness and uncertainty of the psalmists. One hundred generations ago - and more - people of faith were often as weak and afraid - or worse - as me.

The psalms were written to be sung outloud. Seems like decent therapy to unburden ourselves from our greatest fears by singing them outloud for all to hear.

Moses and the Burning Bush by Ernst Fuchs

The Lord is King; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne. A fire goes before him and burns up his enemies on every side. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees it and is afraid. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. (Psalm 97: 1-6)

Any direct encounter between God and myself will feature significant divine restraint. Even then my response is likely to be fearful. And in fear, I will probably not hear clearly or understand fully.

When God uses intermediaries - prophets, teachers, the holy spirit - I can hear better, but it is also easier to doubt, to argue, or just ignore.

I have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. I have exchanged innocent wisdom for knowledgable confusion. I am in desperate need of patience, forgiveness and love; all of which are offered if I will set aside my confusion just long enough to accept.

Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance; they exult in your name all day long and extol your righteousness. (Psalm 89: 14-16)

Psalm 89 begins with a celebration of God's blessing. The second half concludes, "Lord, where is your steadfast love of old?" When life is good we are sure God loves us. When troubles come we may perceive God's love has been withdrawn.

It is more likely that God's love is constant. Conditions change not because God's attitude varies, but because we make choices that are inconsistent with the paths of truth. God is righteous (tsedaq) which is true, consistent, and whole. Because we lack wise judgment (mishpat) we will make choices that are inconsistent with God's righteousness. There are consequences of such choices.

In my own experience, it is precisely when I have made a bad choice and am suffering the consequences, that I have found God's love to be strongest. I perceive that these times of undeniable need may be the only time I am sufficiently open to truly receive the love of God.

God is constant. We are not.

Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day. (Psalm 25: 3-4)

Shame has lost much of its power in American culture. It is almost as if the public response that once brought shame now delivers celebrity.

In the psalms shame is greatly feared. There are many different forms of shame: humiliation, depression, dishonor, and more. The word used in the 25th Psalm is buwsh which can also mean confused or confounded. The sense of public embarrassment is much weaker in this word than in other forms of shame that might have been used. Rather, it seems to refer to private uncertainty.

The psalmist is asking to be shown the destination of God's truth. By seeing where truth is on the map of life confusion can be avoided, impediments passed by, and the paths of "love and faithfulness" followed.

Human and Divine Handiwork Sharing a Purpose, from the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo.

Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 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! (Psalm 90: 16-17)

God's love is unconditional. But this love does not protect us from the consequences of our own choice. Achieving a positive outcome requires that we make choices consistent with God's purposes.

If we accurately perceive the purpose of God's work, choose to contribute to that work, and are effective in our contributions, then our work will prosper. If we make other choices God will still love us. But without observing the necessary preconditions, our choices will not prosper.

O Lord, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me? Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. Your wrath has swept over me, your dread assaults destroy me. (Psalm 88: 14-16)

We often fail to see that our own free choice has resulted in an unintended consequence. Instead of our own errors, we perceive betrayal, conspiracy, and even persecution. The psalmists often claim that God has foresaken them. Yet soon, the same psalmist is praising the everlasting love of God.

I can push away those whom I love and love me. In my fears and preoccupations I can isolate myself and then feel neglected. A loving question or concerned comment can be heard as an attack. I am adept at self-defeating behavior.

We are needy. It is good to admit our need. It is helpful to reach out, even if like the psalmist we do so with an unjust complaint. In sharing our vulnerability we open ourselves to the healing power of love.

Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. (Psalm 116: 5-7)

We experience disappointment, loss, and pain. We are brought low. But if we are simple (more literally "open") our relationship with God can transform suffering into insight. Another translation could read, "I was brought low and liberated."

Psalm Scroll from Qumran (Library of Congress)

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways. (Psalm 119: 33-37)

First we ask to know God's rules or choq. What does God prescribe for our lives?

Then we seek consideration and insight, the Hebrew is biyn. Without insight we may misunderstand the rules.

Third we undertake to walk, to actually go and do as the rules and insight lead us. The Hebrew is darak which can also mean to march.

Finally we pray that we may find ourselves by losing ourselves in the way of God.

Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant. Yet he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity; and did not destroy them; often he restrained his anger, and did not stir up all his wrath. He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not come again. (Psalm 78: 37-39)

God is compassionate. God is rachuwm in the original Hebrew. God loves deeply, fully, and empathetically. God loves us because God understands us much better than we understand ourselves.

God calls us to love one another as we are loved. We give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. God gives us the benefit of full understanding. We are asked to love others at least as well as we love ourselves. Even better is to love as God loves.

If we would accept this love, how might it change our life? If we allowed ourselves to be so completely loved, how might we love others? If we were able to love others as fully as we are loved, how might the world be changed?

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145: 1-3)

We are called to praise not for the sake of God, but for our own sake. Too often we are preoccupied by worry regarding the future. Too often we are in mourning for that which is past. Too seldom do we recognize the blessing of the here and now.

God is the ground of being, foundation of reality, and source of life. In praising God we may recall and claim the beauty and goodness that is present in the worst of times. In better times we may find the utter joy of living.