Excerpted from 2024 Lenten Guide: Terror and Amazement, a Lenten Guide for Lectionary Year B from the North Carolina Council of Churches.
Psalm 19
The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens
and its circuit to the end of them,
and nothing is hid from its heat.
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.
But who can detect one’s own errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Ask yourself: When was the last time I felt truly alive?
In a world filled with distractions, both those we seek and those that come unbidden, it’s easy to mistake over-stimulation for self-importance and productivity while we gradually lose touch with what really matters. The multiple distractions block the realization that we have lost touch with ourselves and the communities around us. When we allow this incessant noise into our lives, other words that might provide refuge and comfort are drowned out. “There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard…” (v. 3).
The problem may stem from our fear of the unknown. We attempt to drown out this fear by distraction or dissociation, often limiting our information sources to what is familiar and routine. In truth, the only way to overcome our fear of the unknown is to strengthen our relationships with others, especially others who may think differently than we do.
We can do this by trusting that God reconciles our differences even as God reconciles God’s self to humanity. When we pause the static and listen for God, we see “. . . the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;” (v. 8).
The Psalmist tells us that heavens are pouring forth God’s speech “their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (v. 4). By creating moments of silent reflection, we can reconnect with God’s speech and ultimately with ourselves. We can begin to drown out the deafening sounds of a busy life and hear God’s call for us and for the world. As our fear of the unknown slips away, we may find ourselves more willing to sit in stillness. We may become more at ease with ourselves and more open to new possibilities. Some of the most important times to welcome the stillness are when we least believe we have the time to do so. Making time to sit still and welcome the unknown builds the strength to live life to its fullest, no longer controlled by fear.
May our souls experience revival in this Lenten season as we discover God’s wisdom in the quiet spaces in between the busy times of our daily lives. In so doing, may we join the communion of saints who confess, “let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (v. 14).