being honest to god - psalm 85 - 16th week tuesday

Today we reflect on the Book of Psalms, the book of prayer par excellence.  We have read today the first part of Psalm 85.  It is a prayer of a person in crisis who feels confuse and, perplexed by what is happening in his life, and he brings this to the attention of God in prayer. 

In a not so distant past, the years of exile, of living in a foreign land was finally ended and they were restored back to their own land.  People were full of hope then, there was happiness in anticipating a brighter future – God has forgiven us, God has restored us, he has covered all our sins.  But then going back and rebuilding the city destroyed by war and ravaged by time proved to be more difficult and the people are disheartened - Restore us, O God our savior.  Will you be ever angry with us, prolonging your anger to all generations? 

The psalmist seems to say in all honesty to God, "you know God, you were a lot nicer before, daw kaayo man sa imo sang una." You favored the land, you restored the fortune of Jacob, you forgave the sins of your people, you pardoned their offenses, and because of this we were raring to go full of anticipation of the better life ahead of us.  But now it seems that this is no longer happening.  Life is becoming difficult and we could no longer feel your kindness as of old.

Psalm 85 teaches us two important attitudes in prayer. 

First, in our relationship with God in prayer it is important to be honest to him, to pour out our feelings before him. Lord this is what I feel today, Lord I could not sleep last night because I worry too much.  Be truthful even when you feel you are unjustly treated by God or when you feel doubt because God does not seem to care.  When you come face to face with God stop pretending, speak to him as a Father, as to somebody familiar.

Then the second attitude, to be familiar with God, this familiarity includes a good memory about what God has done for you in the past.  In prayer it is important to remind God what he has done for you in the past.  Remind God of the goodness he has done for you – you were born, you received a good education, you have caring parents – Remind God of all his goodness to you as the psalmist did in our psalm today.  It is not as if God is forgetful.  However, when you remind God you also remind yourself – you actually remember his goodness.  And then you remind yourself that if God can do good things in the past, he will do the same even now.  That way you will remain trustful and hopeful in prayer.  So pray this beautiful psalm:

You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger.
Restore us, O God our savior,
and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations?
Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.