A Lectio Divina meditation on Psalm 44 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.

We have heard with our ears,

O rock of ages,

All generations have proclaimed

The mighty deeds  You wrought

in their days,

in the days of old;

Of how You with your own hand

drove out the nations,

sowing seeds for new life;

Of how you led the peoples

into bondage,

and then You set them free;

For not by their own might did

they win the land,

nor did their own strength give

them victory,

But by your power and your might,

and the light of your countenance;

for You sought to awaken them!

O, You who know all hearts,

who are ever-present to your people, 

Through You we face our enemies;

through your Name we call froth

our fears.

For not in military powers do we trust,

nor can arms save us.

For only in You can we put

our fears to rest,

and transform them into peace. 

In you, O Gracious One, do we give thanks,

and forever will we offer You

our songs of praise. 

Yet at times You seem to abandon us

leaving us alone with our fears.

You have given us the freedom

to turn from You;

then does our ego seek to rule the day.

We become as sheep for slaughter, straying far from the fold.

You seem to require too little of us,

remaining remote as we wander 

on worldly highways. 

Without your saving grace, we come in

conflict with our neighbours,

We fear all who seem different from us.

We seek to better ourselves at the expense 

of other nations,

we become arrogant and greedy.

Our spirit weakens as we attack others,

we become deaf and blind

To the cries of those oppressed,

at the sight of those wronged.

As all this comes upon us, we finally

remember You, O infinite Love,

we pray for your strength in all

of our hopes and challenges. 

Our hearts recall your promises of old;

to be with us always. Yet,

Deep darkness overshadows the land. 

Until crises come, we forget the Name

of the Creator;

We spread forth our hands to

a world god. 

Yet, can we ever hide from You, O Beloved?

For You know the secrets, the will,

of our hearts and mind.

No, Love does not abandon us; 

we ourselves turn our faces

from the Light.

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep,

O foolish peoples?

Awaken! Do not stray in the darkness

forever!

Why do you cover your faces?

Why are you ashamed and cast down?

With your souls bowed down to the 

Dust,

call out to the Beloved for forgiveness.

Rise up, pray for a change of heart!

Then will the Indwelling Presence,

the Divine Guest,

awaken you with kindly Love!