September 1, 2021
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. – Psalm 43:3
The often used phrase “light at the end of the tunnel” indicates that as we move through times of darkness, if we can see the flickers of light, we know that the darkness will soon be over, and we will again feel secure.
The notion of this phrase perhaps predates the phrase itself. For the ancient Israelites, especially for those who endured exile in Babylon, they longed for a time when they would return to Jerusalem, the shining city on a hill. Those who saw Jerusalem fall, and the temple destroyed mourned how God could let such a tragedy occur. They were God’s people after all. Though if we were to read Jeremiah’s Lamentations we would soon realize that God warned the people that their lack of faithfulness would cause this dark time.
Yet, we are reminded again and again that though we often are not faithful to God, God’s steadfast love and faithfulness to us remains. We may have to deal the consequences of our actions and choices, but when we choose to turn back and seek God, God is ready and willing to answer. It is in this turn we find the substance of Psalm 43.
The Psalm reminds us that in the midst of the experience of exile and divine absence, sometimes it is reminding ourselves through the liturgical movements of worship that make it possible to move from exile to dialogue with God. God is in the midst of worship, and even when we simply move through those motions of worship we may find hope in the experience.
So often in times of crises our culture suggest that we need to depend upon ourselves rather than upon God. Yet, the result of such action is isolation and fear. Instead we need to be reminded again, and again that the true hope is found as we engage in community worshipping God. It is in such communal worship that we can see the light that leads to God’s truth.
Grace & Peace,
Sam