Living Psalm 33:12-22

Living Psalms Book

Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Living Psalm 33_Dilley

It is God choosing a nation, not a nation co-opting God,
That brings true joy.
Those people’s hearts are filled with hope and courage,
Those people’s lives are marked by compassion and justice.

And of these others? Well.
Those who try to force God’s love are seldom wise.
The psalmist warns that “a warhorse is a bad bet for victory.”
We gamble away our lives, certain that might makes right,
That in our hands, power would not corrupt.

“Imagine all the good I could do,” we say to ourselves,
“If only I had more.”
Yet all our idle wonderings never yield to all the good
Our meager offerings could provide,
If only we moved from “could” to “do.”

God would choose all of us if She could,
If we could turn our hearts away from war and corruption,
If we could turn our lives away from the pursuit of wealth and power.

Yet all is not lost! For God’s love is faithful.
God gambles on us still, knowing that the House
of the Lord always comes out ahead.

So we hope in the Lord, seeking protection and care.
In our hope, God roots in, so that promised joy begins to sprout.
Water this joy, faithful people, with tears of lamentation and cries for justice.
Water this joy, faithful people, not with power but with love.
See what power truly is, divorced from war.

God would choose all of us if She could,
And how blessed we are that She does!

#Living Psalm 33_Dilley,A Warhorse is a Bad Bet Download

iving Psalm 33 was written by Elizabeth Dilley.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.