Words of Hope: The Lord
I continue my meditation of the first verse in Psalm 34. The beginning of the verse says, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” I consider the word “the” and how important this small word is in the English language. It’s not “a,” or “that,” or “this,” but “the,” which means one and only. I reflect on this question, “Is God, THE, one as Lord in my life?”
Next, I meditate on the word, “Lord.” Lord is a curious word to consider by itself. When I ponder this word “Lord,” a whole history of pain comes to mind. I remember how people have assumed the authority of God and become feudal lords, lords over others, lording it over people their wealth, power, or privilege. I would love to have a conversation with Dad about this. How tempting it becomes to be “a lord.”
I am listening to the book The Florentines, hearing with sorrow the barbarism of humanity in the name of God and power. “Christian” leaders embarking in the slave trade, “Christian” men genociding next door neighboring villages, all the while going to church and taking communion. How shockingly different this religiosity is to the God I find in scripture. Scripture has such beautiful verses about this phrase, “the Lord.”
Psalm 27: 1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear.” Psalm 18: 10 declares, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
