Like a mother hen, You shelter them from temptations of the world; You hold them safe under your wings from the enemy…fear.
A Lectio Divina meditation on Psalm 29 from Nan Merrill’s book Psalms for Praying
Experience stillness and in the quiet hear what God is offering from these rich and hope-filled words.
In You, Beloved, I would make my home;
Though, I be humiliated with guilt,
Your mercy and forgiveness will
deliver me!
Hear me and hasten to my assistance!
For You are my strength and have the power
To raise me up!
Yes, You are strength and truth to me;
You are my teacher, my guide;
the Fore of your abiding Love
cleanses my heart;
Loosen the webs that entangle me,
that veil my love for You.
Into your Heart I commend my soul.
You have redeemed me, O Love,
O ever Faithful One.
Those who put their focus and trust
in false idols
separate themselves from You, O Love,
Though You have seen my guilt
and have noted my wrongdoings,
You have not left me alone with my fears;
Rather, You have forgiven my folly
And set my feet on Love’s path.
My heartfelt gratitude knows no bounds,
O Gracious Mender of Souls!
Be a comfort to me, Beloved, for I am
in distress;
my eyes are dim from weeping,
my soul is deep with grief.
For my life is worn away with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
My body has weakened and my bones
waste away with misery.
All my fears rise up to mock me,
my neighbours turn away,
My fronds dread to see me and
flee from my sickness of soul.
My mind, too, has left me
like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
Yes, I hear the voices around me
whispering of my plight –
fears rise up on every side!
Isolation, rejection, fear surround me
and conspire to overwhelm me.
Still, I trust in You, O Beloved,
I repeat, “You are my Life.”
My life is in your hands;
deliver me from the fears which
separate me!
Let your face shine on me;
hold me in your steadfast love!
Let me know your forgiveness.
O Love
for I call upon you;
let my fears be cast out,
Let them be transformed.
Let me speak only truth, Beloved,
that I might live with integrity,
offering my work and praise to You.
O, how abundant is your goodness,
which is ever-present to those
who reverence You,
and available to all who make
Your Heart their home,
openly for all to see!
Like a mother hen, You shelter them
from temptations of the world;
You hold them safe under your wings
from the enemy…fear.
Blessed be the eternal Beloved,
who wondrously showered me
with steadfast Love
when I was overwhelmed
By fear.
I had cried out, “Where are You?
Have you let me alone forever?”
You heard my fear-filled pleas
And enveloped me in Love.
Listen in the silence, all you saints!
For Wisdom makes her home there.
The Beloved upholds the faith-filled,
those who embrace goodness
and walk in the Light.
Those who choose to remain in illusion
separate themselves from truth
and know not Love.
Be strong, let your heart take courage
and be encouraged,
all you who would serve
with Love
in the Oneness of Light.