Kimberly Gates Merrell ’07, Director, Metro-Urban Institute, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Scripture
Psalm 36:5-11
5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.
10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11 Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
Devotional
I will never forget my first night sleeping in the bush in northern Uganda. I was a five hour drive away from the nearest electrical grid. The stars appeared so close; it seemed I could reach out and touch them. In contrast, city dwellers are known for being at a disadvantage when it comes to stargazing. The lights within the city obscure one’s ability to see fully the stars within the night sky.
These contrasts are not the case with God; verse 9 in our passage states that within God’s light we see light. The exposure to God’s brilliance actually sensitizes us to recognize light around us all the more. It gives us hope in tragedy, food in famine, clean water in drought, unfailing love when abandoned, and refuge in times of despair.
In this world where we live and are destined to die, our God is a fountain of life. And when we put our hands out to touch the stars, God’s love reaches the heavens, God’s faithfulness to the skies. We need not be discouraged, for we are people of the Light.
Prayer
Lord, there are those who would delight to see us fall. There are circumstances which seem way beyond our reach. But you, oh Lord, have surpassed them all. We can rest in knowing that you take care of your people. As we enter the light of your presence, renew our minds so that we may see light in all around us. Amen.