Seeing the People

Psalm 138

Of David.

¹ I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
² I will bow down toward your holy temple
    and will praise your name
    for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
    that it surpasses your fame.
³ When I called, you answered me;
    you greatly emboldened me.

⁴ May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
    when they hear what you have decreed.
⁵ May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for the glory of the Lord is great.

⁶ Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
    though lofty, he sees them from afar.
⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
    with your right hand you save me.
⁸ The Lord will vindicate me;
    your love, Lord, endures forever—
    do not abandon the works of your hands.

I am reminded of an old “Peanuts” comic strip.  Lucy and Charlie Brown are talking to each other.

Lucy – “What do you think the purpose of life is?”

Charlie Brown – “I think we are here to do good things for other people.”

Lucy – “Then what are the others here for?”

It seems we either find ourselves trying to be the others for whom others are should be doing good things for, or we have just lost sight of what we are truly here for.  At least in the eyes of Charles Schulz.  And it is also not what we heard from the Gospel on Sunday, or what we hear in the Psalm from David.

The Gospel showed us that we are to be doing good for others without a thought of our reward or our own praise.  Davie shows that his works and his worship are not for his own glory, but for God.  God has acted and made good things happen for David and the people.  And any other actions, by David or the people, are to return glory and praise to God who looks kindly on the lowly. 

We heard as well on Sunday that opportunities would come up this week where we could be doing something good for another in need.  Opportunities where we can do good things with only God as the needed witness. 

I hope each of us will see the places where we can help another, or as Charlie Brown reminds us, the place to do good things for others.  And as we see it, take a step forward and be part of that moment of God at work in them and in us.