Sunday, August 14, 2022
/Proper 15
Isaiah 5: 1-7; Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-18; Hebrews 11: 29 – 12:2; Luke 12: 49-56
The Rev. James M.L. Grace
In the Name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
The reading I wish to reflect on for a few moments is today’s Psalm – Psalm 80. In the psalm the author writes about the people of Israel, and describes them, at least in verse 8 of the psalm, as a “vine” which the Lord has brought out of Egypt, and planted it in the Promised Land. The author of the psalm says that the Lord “prepared the ground for it,” and the vine did what vines typically do – grow, and it filled the land. This is author of the Psalm’s way of saying that the people of Israel were brought out of slavery in Egypt, by God, and led into Israel.
I would like to identify two problems with this story. The first problem with God’s chosen people settling into Israel was that in doing so, the Hebrews murdered and displaced numerous people who were living in Israel before they arrived. It is suggested by some that the Hebrews manner of treating the indigenous people of Canaan established a justification, and example, for how the United States government and settlers in America displaced indigenous native peoples who lived here before Europeans arrived. A second problem with this story is God’s apparent support of this murder and displacement on behalf of Israelite settlers. Violence always begets violence. This is true today, and it was true during Israel’s conquest of Canaan.
Once Israel settled into Canaan, problems occurred, and many of which were Israel’s own making. The violence they exhibited in the settling of Israel was returned upon them. The author of Psalm 80, says of the vine God has planted: “the wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, the beasts of the field have grazed upon it…they burn it with fire like rubbish.” The murder and displacement which Israel caused to the people whom they forced out of Canaan, is now revisited upon them, and they cry out to God for an answer: “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, stir up your strength to come and help us,” the author proclaims.
Israel finds itself amidst great calamity. Things have fallen apart. Cynicism and despair are rampant. And yet – they dare. They dare, as evidenced by this psalm, that amidst calamitous circumstances, they dare to proclaim that God is sovereign.
The other day, I heard a woman from California share that she was in Houston because her son had – tragically – taken his own life. As she shared this, my heart broke open for her, and I couldn’t imagine the pain she felt. But then she did something remarkable. She said, in so many words, that she would be okay, that she had faith that God was fully with her through this, and she expressed profound gratitude for the many people who care and love her. Her vine – her son – was ravaged by the wild boar of the forest – taken from her too soon. But like the author of this psalm has written in verse 17, she will never turn away from God. Not even after this.
Our human task is to meet calamity with serenity, and to trust God when the wild boars ravage our vines, and to say to God even when our vines are permitted to burn: “Restore us O Lord God of hosts, show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.” AMEN.