(Paraphrase)
September 18, 2025
When I was in seminary, we were taught to dig into a text not only for its meaning in its time but also for its meaning and importance in our own day. What does a particular text have to say to our congregation on a given Sunday?
One way we were taught to do this was by paraphrasing the passage. Putting it in our own words. When we did so, it helped us understand how the text was still speaking to us.
This month, I have paraphrased four different psalms, one for each Thursday. These are paraphrases more than exact translations. They are closer to an impressionist painting than a polaroid picture. I encourage you to read the original text and then my paraphrase. Where do you think I got it right? Where have I strayed from the usual meaning of the text?
Then, I invite you paraphrase the psalm yourself. How close do you think you got to the original intention of the psalmist? How much did you have to change it before it spoke to your heart?
Today’s psalm is one of the Songs of Ascent. It is one of a number of hymns of praise that pilgrims would sing to each other as they approached Jersualem for one of the sacred festivals. What kind of song would you sing if you were at the end of an arduous journey to worship God? Can you appreciate why the pilgrims would have sung this one?)
Out of the deep darkness of my misery I cry out to you, Lord. Lord, hear my sorrow and suffering. Open your ears, pay attention, to my incessant wailing and begging for mercy.
We know, Lord, that if you kept a running tally of our sins, no one would be pure enough to even be in your presence. But we know that forgiveness is your nature; it’s who you are.
And with that forgiveness we can gratefully live the kind of lives you want us to live.
I yearn for God’s presence more than sentries yearn for the first lights of dawn.
I yearn for God’s loving forgiveness more than a weary traveler yearns to be home.
Children of God, trust the Lord before all else. The Lord’s love never fails, dries up, runs out or falls short. God is filled up and overflowing with forgiveness.
Believe in this, for it is true: God will forgive all persons for their sins.
