Psalms for a Pandemic Summer 2: Psalm 13

Walter Brueggemann in his book Praying the Psalms suggests that life is usually fairly routine, predictable and manageable.  Yet that ‘normal’ life can be disrupted by all kinds of small and not so small occurrences.  A common cold or a global pandemic, a disparaging word or a mass protest can throw us into turmoil and uncertainty, fear and resolution.  It is from and for these times of disruption that the Psalms were written.

The Psalmist is brutally honest about his or her anger, frustration, and despair but rarely ends there.  After the rant has been spent, they always return to God and affirm their hope and trust.  What is your rant?  Can you move onto trust? 

photo by Anh Nguyen (unsplash)

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I bear pain in my soul,
    and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
    Give light to my eyes, 

or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
    my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
    because he has dealt bountifully with me.



How long will this go on, God?

Have you forgotten all about me?

 

I am weary with case counts and deaths,

Physical distancing and hand hygiene,

CERB, CESB, CEWS, CECRA,

Canada Emergency this and that,

None of which helps me!!

 

How long do I have to wait and worry?

Will this ever be over?

 

Help me O God, I can’t stand much more,

I will become a statistic, a victim, a case.

 

But I trust in you, O God.

You have not let me down completely.

I will hold on to your steadfast love

And hope for a better tomorrow. 

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