Jesus ushered in the kingdom of God, incorporating the prophets’ insistence on justice and righteousness. And yet our world is still beset with danger, hatred, injustice and wrongdoing – particularly when you consider all the issues of global terrorism and responses to it. It is enough to make you despair! Psalm 90 is a lament for the troubles of life concluding in a prayer for God’s presence. That is where we find hope.

This week's news 

At the periphery of my world, there is stuff happening. Men accused of offences associated with terrorism are extradicted to the US of A. A cricketer is leading a demonstration against drone attacks in Pakistan arguing that they are morally wrong and counter-productive. Malala Yousafzai, a 14 year old girl who lives in north-west Pakistan, was shot in the head because she campaigns for education for girls. The Taliban have claimed responsibility. I know these things are important; I know the issues strike the heart of justice, mercy, righteousness and faith, but in the day to day struggle of life in Bensham (but it could just as well be Bexhill or Bournemouth or Burnley), they are very far away. 

There are layers of complexity beyond my grasp. What is justice here? I know that ‘my side’ cannot claim the moral high ground. I know there are murky morals and dastardly deeds done in my name, and that ,I too, am complicit. I hate that, but I don’t know the way out of this. 

Where is God’s truth, God’s righteousness and loving kindness? What are the evils condemned by a 21st century Amos (Amos 5.6-7, 10-15)? What is the truth that the Word of God is discerning in our politics and our understanding of the world (Hebrews 4.12)? In our world, whose wealth needs to be put aside for the sake of the Kingdom (Mark 10.23-27)? These issues do affect me, even though I struggle with that.

And for added drama, Homeland is back on Channel 4 for a second series with its climate of conspiracy and suspicion, challenging us not to judge too quickly.

Reflection

The early part of Psalm 90 contrasts God’s eternal time with our short come-and-go lives, God’s permanence with our transience, God’s moral perfection with our sinfulness. Life on earth is nothing but trouble, a hurried sojourn in the face of an angry God. This is not an individual lament, but a corporate one, on behalf of the whole nation, the whole people of God. Lament  is an important form of prayer, a way of putting our pain into words before God. The psalms do this really well and prevent us from avoiding the pain. Only when we address the way we feel, can we move on into confession and then into intercession, as happens in Psalm 90.

There is so much about global politics that I would lament just now, not least the way that the West has behaved in relation to issues of security and threat. In the end, the only security is in God. Only when we root our politics, morality and way of life in God, can we truly flourish. We can’t get there on our own; we cannot solve the world’s problems in our own might. 

And then the psalmist turns to God in prayer – this is the portion of the psalm set for today (vv.12-17). It is a prayer about how we, together as the people of God, might become right with God. The prayer asks variously for wisdom, for God to turn again, for compassion, loving kindness, gladness, insight into God’s works, glory and gracious favour, so that we might prosper and be glad. These are all attributes of God, the gifts that God gives that will help to make sense of the difficulties of life on earth. The psalmist prays for God to return to us, and you can almost hear God responding by asking us to return to God. In this prayer, pain is confronted by hope: there is a future, there is a way forward, and it lies in God. 

I am not entirely comfortable with the prayer in verse 15: ‘God, you have made us suffer, so reward us now with joy’ (paraphrase). Is there an element here of bargaining with God? In the end it is about recognising God’s grace; judgement and grace go hand in hand.

Prayer

This prayer is a personal lament. Use it as a way of praying from your own pain. If these words don’t ring true for you, substitute your own.

I put my trust

I look around me and I see
Everything crashing, everything I love
Is coming apart, crumbling,
Disintegrating, collapsing.

I put my trust
In moral values,
In ethical social systems.
And now, under pressure,
My world is coming apart.

I put my trust
In a church that would support me
And help me worship and serve.
And now, under pressure,
My church is falling apart.

Now where shall I go?
What can I trust any more?
I know what you will say to me, O God,
That I should trust in you, only you.
But how do I know that I can trust you?

Questions

• Where is wisdom to be found when it comes to prosecuting those who challenge our safety or attacking those we fear by remote control and possibly harming innocent civilians?
• What would God’s kingdom look like when we consider global terrorism? With God in charge, how would global politics be conducted?

Action

Spend some time learning a little more about the issues of global terrorism, perhaps by reading a newspaper or following a story online. Offer your research in prayer, asking for God’s wisdom. 

Young People

Write a lament about the difficulties you experience or see around you or read about. Tell God directly and honestly about these troubles. 

How do you feel in putting this lament together? How would you like God to respond?

Meg Gilley is a parish priest in Gateshead.

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