Diving Deep
"The scriptures are shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning and deep enough for a theologian to swim without ever touching the bottom." St. Jerome
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, “When will you comfort me? (Psalm 119:81-88)
What have you learned recently?
Gentlemen, I was today year's old when I learned that the readings for the week center around the gospel. I posed the question last week about Genesis 15 coming after Genesis 18 in the readings. Pastor Eric noted that it depends on the Gospel reading which determines the psalm, Old Testament and Epistle.
Well, mind significantly blown.
That makes me wonder if I should begin with gospel or continue in the order of how we read the liturgy on Sunday, starting with the Old Testament and/or a psalm, then the Epistle, then the Gospel reading? Oh well, this internal debate will continue until my eventual demise which, mind you, I don't foresee coming anytime soon, but you and I are given a number of days on this earth. At 65, I've come this far which narrows the field greatly in my mind compared to my teens or early adult years when old age and death seemed like a distant planet.
If you are younger than me, you'll understand one day. It took me a diagnosis of prostate cancer at 62 and Parkinson's recently to say to God, "Oh, you really meant our days are numbered didn't you?" Your mortality becomes clearer as you get older. Parkinson's won't kill me though, and I can slow its progress with diet, exercise and medicine, so as I tell my kids, "The inheritance isn't coming yet."
Pain and suffering can be clarifiers for us. "Hallelujah Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life," is sung on Sundays in church based on John 6 from Peter. What pain is our psalmist suffering I wonder? He longs for God's salvation and has for a while in the longest psalm in Psalms. God's Word is his hope and ours.
We don't need PhD's or degrees in theology to find comfort in God's Word. St. Jerome didn't live to see wading pools (boy, have we advanced or what?), but that is my level and ability. Swimming in the shallow end is a remote possibility for me. I do enjoy discussions on the depth of scripture led by someone who knows it, but I need floaties when I try to wade out. God gave us his Word which gives us comfort as we go through life.
Until we join Christ in heaven, God's Word is where we find comfort. This earthly life provides joys and pain and all points in between, physical and emotional, but God's Word is our salvation.
Pray with me: Gracious and merciful Father, Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Help me to turn to you through prayer and to you in your Word daily. Send your Spirit to help me understand the depths of your Word to make meaning to my life. Help me to find comfort there. In your Son's Name, Amen.