1 Have mercy on me, O God, for my enemies are hounding me; all day long they assault and oppress me.
2 They hound me all the day long; truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
3 Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
In God I trust and will not be afraid, for what can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they damage my cause; their only thought is to do me evil.
6 They band together; they lie in wait; they spy upon my footsteps,
because they seek my life.
7 Shall they escape despite their wickedness? O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.
8 You have noted my lamentation;
put my tears into your bottle; are they not recorded in your book?
9 Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; this I know, for God is on my side.
10 In God the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, for what can mortals do to me?
11 I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; I will present to you thank-offerings.
12 For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living. Psalm 56
There is much fear these days about the outcome of our national election and the expectations for violence. Many churches are offering prayer vigils and keeping their doors open so that people can pray and find comfort. Anxiety and fear are contagious, and when we give into them, we can affect the people round us. The psalmist knew all too well that fear and anxiety, as the possible attacks against him were all too real. Most of us will not be victims of the violence David was daily faced with. Our first world problems are real though. We must carry the light which we are given by God, carrying the joy and the hope in the face of great fear and anxiety. The Savior of the world has suffered and died for us, so we are free to rejoice and shine, even in the midst of pending doom and tangible fear. All of nature offers us wonders and delights, no matter how terribly people might behave.
Gracious Creator, source of all wonders
you fill our world with light and song
you give us hope in the deep darkness
and warm us in the depths of winter.
We have opened our hearts to great fear
letting darkness and anxiety move in
we do not trust our nearby neighbors
and we fear that everyone is an enemy.
Let us bask in the endless light of love
which you have given in every season
in every age you send us heralds of hope
help us to shine your love here and now. Amen.
