PSALM 135

 READ PSALM 135

TEXTS TO MEDITATE ON:

Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,

    in heaven and on earth,

    in the seas and all deeps.

                                        Psalm 135:6

Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

    your renown,[b] O Lord, throughout all ages.

For the Lord will vindicate his people

    and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

    the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;

    they have eyes, but do not see;

they have ears, but do not hear,

    nor is there any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them become like them,

    so do all who trust in them.

                                                Psalm 135:14 -18

REFLECT

Psalm 135 is a Psalm praising God for His power, and contrasting  His greatness with that of other gods. Unlike the other gods, Yahweh has the power to do whatever He pleases. The psalmist goes on to give examples of Yahweh's might in creation and in liberating the people of Israel, leading them to the promised land, while paving their way there by defeating all their enemies.

One proof of God's might that contrasts with the powerlessness of the idols is God's compassion for His people (v 14). The psalmist lists what these idols are unable to do: "They do not speak, they do not see, they do not hear, there is no breath (life) in their mouths." (v 15- 17). Compassion is a divine quality that belongs to and comes only from God. Idols that are made by humans lack this quality; largely because apart from God and unless they receive speech, sight, hearing and life from God, humans do not have these abilities.

We often associate God's power and might with the power He wielded in creation, or His might in destroying his enemies. We relish the thought that with God, we are able to trample over our foes, to crush those who oppose us. But have we considered that a deity with such power could easily overwhelm mere mortals? In His anger against the Egyptians, would not such a power wipe out the firstborn of both the Egyptians and the Hebrews? Or could not the use of such power tear down the walls of Jericho, kill all its inhabitants, including the prostitute Rahab and her family? Power is often blind. It destroys everything in its path. The truth is that it is hard to rein in destructive power. The atomic bomb that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed everyone in its path, the good along with the bad. Without compassion, the ability to see deeper, power is a very dangerous thing.

Compassion is the ability to accurately assess a situation by seeing and hearing hidden realities about individuals, and finding ways to give life. Many realities are hidden from observation, and unless God gives divine insights, these realities remain hidden. For example, a person may look joyful on the outside, yet be dying in the inside. Life is hardly ever what it appears to be. Sometimes an action which appears weak and foolish may be the most powerful answer to the dilemma. The stone that the builders rejected turns out to be the cornerstone. God's sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ and Jesus' surrender to the powers that be, seemed the most foolish and weak decision that God ever made. Yet it was the most powerful solution to the problem of sin and death. 

It is only with divine insight, a God-given ability to hear and see, and a desire to give life rather than to take away life, that we are able to do things that are significant to God, even when these acts appear weak and foolish to others.

RELATE

Compassion is counter-intuitive. It goes against what our normal senses and sensibilities tell us. We live largely out of fear and self-preservation. We constantly worry that others will take what is ours - our time, our money, our dignity, ourselves. And so, a large part of our lives is wasted protecting ourselves and fending off our enemies, real or perceived. In so doing, we lose opportunities to live or to give life. 

Compassion reveals truths that dispel our fears. It helps us to assess more accurately what is really happening, the realities that are hidden from sight. With compassion, we may notice that a disruptive person may be in great pain, that a person who appears aloof may be yearning to be reached, or that a 'dangerous' person may be a frightened child desperate for help. And we cannot perceive these realities unless we are given speech to ask the right questions and say the right words that will assure the frightened and the broken that we intend no harm; ears that will hear not just words but the yearnings of the heart; eyes that see beyond what is apparent; and a heart that seeks to give life.

What then can we do? First we acknowledge that unless God gives us compassion, we will not have it. We will continue to be blind and deaf and live in fear. Second, we ask God to teach us how to speak in ways that will allay fears and give life to others. Third, we develop the habit of listening and looking at situations carefully. James tells us to be eager to listen, to be hesitant in speaking, and to not rush to get angry. That is very wise counsel. By taking time to see and hear before making quick judgments, we allow the Holy Spirit to give us insights into the person or persons we are engaging with. I am confident that for everyone who seeks to be compassionate, God will pour out this divine quality to them.

REST

Father, we are too quick to react to the superficial, to react to our fears, and fail to truly understand the actual situation and the response that is needed. We pray that you will give us compassion, to see people as they really are and to give life to them. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Chiu Ming Li