Excerpt from Psalm 93

"The Lord rules! The world is set firmly in place; it won't be shaken... The floods raise up a roar! But mightier than the sound of much water, mightier than the sea's waves, mighty on high is the Lord!"  (CEB)

Reflection by William C. Green

A prominent news magazine recently featured a story entitled, "Do Americans Trust Anything Anymore?" We hear (again) of the decline of confidence in Washington, Wall Street, and many local institutions. But the authors call this a cliché oversimplifying "an existential problem." With few exceptions, they write, the nation's social pillars of civic and religious life are crumbling, leaving us ill-suited for life today.

This is similar to circumstances people of faith often faced. The psalms were written against a background of social collapse or with the memory of hard times endured in the wilderness or in exile with numbers of the faithful despairing. Through it all they found hope to build, or rebuild, for the future—just like survivors of the natural disasters that have ravaged many parts of the world.

Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of the great preachers of the last century, spoke amid religious upheaval and in the aftermath of the First World War with the Second on the way. He said, "When everything that can totter is staggering, then is the time to set our eyes on what stands firm."

Psalm 93 focuses on what stands firm. It speaks of the mighty providence that sustains us amid all that works to tear us apart. It's hard to see this when trouble is rampant. More than our faith and vision alone we need the insight and support of others. Together we can know and inspire confidence that works of love are backed up by power much greater than our own—and stronger than death itself.

Prayer

How firm a foundation you lay for us, O God. May we stand firm in the promise of your strength and support. Amen.

About the Author William C. Green is Vice-President for Strategy and Development, Moral Courage Project, NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and the author of 52 Ways to Ignite Your Congregation: Generous Giving.