Tuesday prior to Proper 25

 Psalm 5—Psalm 5 may also be from the time of Absalom’s rebellion when David’s enemies spread vicious lies to discredit him. The first half of the psalm declares that the godly have access to the LORD in prayer, but the wicked are excluded from His presence. How is it that we are reckoned godly in the sight of the Lord? By trusting in His promises, especially the promise of redemption through Christ Jesus. The second half of the psalm contrasts the lying tongues of the wicked with the praising tongues of God’s people.

Notice David’s complaint. The wicked are using their words to destroy the righteous. Words used for malice are motivated by spite. Phyllis McGinley put it this way:

Sticks and stones are hard on bones
Aimed with angry art
Words can sting like anything
But silence breaks the heart.

When confronted by malicious silence how might you respond?

Collect for Psalm 5: Holy LORD, all justice and all goodness come from you; you hate evil and abhor lies. Lead us in the path of justice. So that all who hope in you may with the church rejoice in your Son, Jesus Christ our LORD. [1]

Collect for Tuesday of the week of Pentecost 20: LORD, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ, our LORD, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.[2] -18 October 2022

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[1] Collect for Tuesday of the week of Pentecost 20, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 

[2] ibid