Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 37.
This is a long Psalm so I'm only going to read it once,
But do return to the words if you notice any that capture your attention.
And as we begin I invite you to come to stillness,
To allow yourself to come to rest.
Settling in,
Finding a comfortable position.
Maybe closing your eyes and becoming aware of your breath.
In this time to simply be,
Letting your shoulders drop.
Allowing any burdens to be lifted.
Letting go for now of the day so far and of what's to come.
Simply receive the gift of being here and now.
Notice how you come to this Lectio Divina.
Acknowledging your body,
Your feelings,
Your thoughts.
And then returning to your breath.
Reading from Nan Merrill's book,
Psalms for Praying and Invitation to Wholeness.
Psalm 37 Give no heed to those who are greedy.
Attend not to those who do wrong.
For like the green grass of spring,
They soon fade and wither away.
Trust in the Most High and seek goodness.
Live harmoniously upon the earth in peace and with assurance.
Take delight in the Beloved and enjoy the bountiful gifts of love.
Commit your life to the Beloved,
Confident that love will act on your behalf.
Making clear your pathway bright as the sun at midday.
Be still before the Beloved and wait quietly in the silence.
Pray for those who prosper by deceitful means and for those who live by their own devices.
Recognise your own anger as unfulfilled desire and lift your thoughts to higher planes.
For those who act out of anger,
Separate themselves from love.
While those who live in harmony shall know peace,
Assurance,
Gratitude and love.
In a little while,
Those who live with greed will prosper no more.
The darkness of ignorance will pass as a new dawn enlightens the world.
The lovers of darkness shall perish while the humble shall inherit the earth and find delight in sharing its abundance with all.
Those who are greedy plot against the weak.
Those without worldly power and rationalise their selfish deeds.
The Beloved watches patiently,
Knowing they will stumble and have to face their own downfall.
Those with power make war,
Despoiling nations,
Killing the poor and innocent,
Murdering in the name of peace.
Oh,
If they only knew that their greed will kill their own spirit,
Their hearts will be broken.
How much better is the little of those who know love than the abundance of the greedy ones.
For the spirit of the selfish will be broken,
While those who live in love shall dwell with love.
Love walks with the upright and their heritage is forever.
In difficult times they will be assured,
Even in times of famine their spirits will be filled.
But those who live by usurped power will perish.
Like a refining fire,
Their deeds will burn and vanish away in smoke.
Those who are greedy borrow,
Using the assets of others.
Money they cannot pay back.
The upright are generous and give.
Blessed by love they know inner peace.
But the selfish cut themselves off from love.
Our lives come from the Most High and love walks beside those with open hearts.
Those who know love are blessed and shall be filled with the spirit,
Though their lives may seem difficult,
Love raises them up.
From my birth to my elder years,
I have watched the upright blessed with inner strength and faith.
Living as beneficial presences in the world,
Their children come to know love.
Burn from ignorance and become all that you were born to be.
Thus will you fulfil your birthright.
The beloved loves justice and will enable all who call upon love to grow in love.
The upright of heart will know the fullness of life.
Their children will be blessed.
Those who give of avarice a home set their children on the path that leads to darkness.
The upright of heart know silence.
When they speak it,
It is with wisdom and justice.
For love abides in their hearts.
Their way is made sure.
Those who do wrong look to justify themselves.
They seek to subdue the upright.
Their greed begets fear and guilt.
They condemn themselves.
Closing their hearts to love,
They live unaware of their own deep poverty of heart.
Desire only love and walk your days with the beloved.
You will radiate with joy,
Blessing others with love's presence.
You will know not loneliness with love's companioning presence.
I have seen the greedy ones.
Their ways are overbearing.
They puff themselves up with pride.
When I pass them,
I see only an inflated balloon.
Even so,
I take time to honour the divine spark hidden within them.
Look at the innocent.
Consider those honest of heart.
They leave a rich inheritance to their children.
But those who live with greed end their days empty.
They leave a legacy of hollow vanity to their children.
The saving grace of the upright comes from the beloved.
Love is their refuge in times of trouble.
Love leads the way and they arrive home safely.
Delivered from those who tempt them with power.
Love invites all to open their hearts.
Blessings,
Grace and great love to you.
Now,
Friends,
Enough of us.
You
