God Upholds My Life

God Upholds My Life

Generally speaking, most of the 150 psalms can be placed into one of three forms: lament, thanksgiving/praise, and hymns. This Sunday’s psalm, Psalm 54, is a lament psalm for an individual. The person cries out for help to God, for a godless action done against the individual. God saves, the perpetrator gets divine judgment and the individual praises God for being saved. When we pray to the Holy One, do we add thanksgiving or praise, even when the outcome is not what we wanted or expected? Let us be like today’s psalmist, humbly pointing to the Holy One who holds all life. Our life is in God’s hands.

O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
For the haughty have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life;
they set not God before their eyes.
Behold, God is my helper; sustains my life.
Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O God, for its goodness.