Daily Lectio: Thursday Morning, May 28

“For God alone, my soul waits in

silence;

from him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my

salvation,

my fortress; I shall never be

shaken.” (Psalm 62:1-2 NRSV)

“My soul waits silently for you

From  you comes my deliverance

Only you are my rock and my redemption

My haven:  I shall not be moved.”

(Norman Fischer’s version).

I arrive this morning at one of my anchors….I have meditated with this psalm for so many years.  In every Bible or Psalter I have this one is marked up…

But I have to say that I read it differently after spending time with the Psalms of crying out, of seeking hope in times of trouble, of pleading for help in times of oppression.  After spending time in the 50’s and 60 and 61, when I arrive at 62, I read it much differently.  It takes on a deeper significance, to reflect on “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”

One could read these and see them as almost resignation after the texts of pleading and crying out…but they are not texts of resignation.  These are words of resolution… There is a recognition here of the grounding power of silence, of a greater perspective on life and what gives life its meaning and purpose…

It repeats itself later on in verse 5 and 6, with waiting in silence for God alone…of God being our rock and salvation.

And then there’s this marvelously challenging verse of greater perspective, in 9:

“Those of low estate are but a

breath,

those of high estate are a

delusion.”

We are offered a greater perspective on the proper orientation of our life, toward the Source that gives us life in the first place.  It is a challenging things to be called a delusion, to be referred to as “but a breathe.”  But then, that’s why we have Ash Wednesday and Lent…we need these times of proper orientation.

“For God alone my soul in silence waits.”  It’s the epitome of trust…

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