Hello friends and welcome to this Lectio Divina on Psalm 94.
This psalm is fairly long and it is a lament.
It's like an intercessory prayerful psalm.
And I am going to read it all the way through once.
It didn't seem right to break it up into different sections.
Following the first reading,
I'm then going to focus in on the last few verses of the psalm twice more.
As we begin,
I invite you to become comfortable.
To settle into your space.
Noticing where you can soften and release.
Noticing if anything can fall away and be let go of.
And noticing anything that is asking for your attention and your acknowledgement.
Maybe you can receive the embrace of the beloved.
Maybe you can open to some softness and some tenderness.
Let yourself simply breathe and be here in this moment.
Psalm 94 O heart of pure fire,
You who cleanse and refine us.
Compassionate one,
Shine forth.
In your mercy,
Rise up and awaken those who still sleep in ignorance.
O heart of all hearts,
Break open the hearts of your people.
That we might hear your voice and heed your word.
Too often we spew forth arrogant words.
We boast with heads held high.
We oppress the weak in our blindness.
And turn a deaf ear to the fire of the poor.
We ignore the lonely and turn aside from the stranger.
Too many children go hungry to bed.
And we think,
This is not our concern.
Let them pray to God for help.
The beloved who created the ear hears us.
The beloved who formed the eye sees us.
Like the nations,
We are accountable for our actions.
Where does knowledge come from but the heart of our heart?
The beloved knows our thoughts and is the very breath of our breath.
Blessed are those who have confessed their erring ways.
Who have asked for forgiveness.
Blessed are those whose burdens have been lifted.
Who are able to respond with love.
For the beloved walks with them and speaks to them in the silence.
With mercy and compassion they are held in love's heart.
All who are at one with love will live in peace and harmony.
Who will stand with love and act with justice?
Who will speak out to silence the oppressors?
Had the beloved not come to my rescue,
My soul would still dwell in the land of darkness.
When I recognised my wrongdoings,
Your steadfast love renewed me,
O compassionate one.
When cares of my heart were many,
Your consolations comforted my soul.
Those who live separated from love do not know the peace and joy of walking with you.
They gather together to try those who walk in peace and with worldly power they condemn the innocent.
The statutes of truth are certain and the awakening a promise to be fulfilled.
Who will be ready for the new dawn?
I'm going to return to the last few verses two more times.
On the first reading of these verses notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Yet the beloved is a stronghold,
The comforter,
The refuge of my soul.
The statutes of truth are certain and the awakening a promise to be fulfilled.
Who will be ready for the new dawn?
Who will be ready for the new dawn?
On this final reading let those words or phrases be received more deeply into your being.
Let them offer their gift.
Let them bring you what you need and notice how you want to respond to them.
What are they inviting from you?
What are they bringing to you?
Yet the beloved is a stronghold,
The comforter,
The refuge of my soul.
The statutes of truth are certain and the awakening a promise to be fulfilled.
Who will be ready for the new dawn?
My friends may those words bring you hope.
Hope for a new dawn.
Hope for an awakening.
May you know the beloved is a stronghold,
A comforter and a refuge.
And may you go in peace.
Amen.
