Psalm | Psalm 37:1-17 (with Nick Locke)

About this Episode

Opening Song:
Bring in the Year of Jubilee by various members of the Porter’s Gate collective

Lyrics:
The meek will inherit the earth
The meek will inherit the earth
The first will be last and the last will be first
The meek will inherit the earth

The wicked will lose what they stole
The wicked will lose what they stole
And all that they thought they could own and control
The wicked will lose what they stole

Jubilee
Now is the year of His favor
Jubilee
Rest for the weary creation
Now bring in the year of Jubilee

Turn now from evil to good
Turn now from evil to good
Then we will dwell in the land as we should
Turn now from evil to good

The earth it will sigh with relief
The earth’s gonna sigh with relief
There’s more than enough for the hungry to feed
The earth will sigh with relief

Passage:
1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.[b]
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.

12 The wicked plots against the righteous
and gnashes his teeth at him,
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he sees that his day is coming.

14 The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose way is upright;
15 their sword shall enter their own heart,
and their bows shall be broken.

16 Better is the little that the righteous has
than the abundance of many wicked.
17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
but the Lord upholds the righteous.

Musical Reflection:
Harp meditation No. 1 by Gretchen Kirby

Reflection Notes:
A repetitive pattern in the left hand provides a meditative foundation while the right hand experiments with ascending lines. The tune is meant to be joyful and evoke delight.

Prayer:
Most loving Father, whose will it is for us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing but the loss of you, and to cast all our care on you who care for us: Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which you have manifested to us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.