Psalm 27 (NRSV)
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for theLord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for theLord!
Here are some questions for reflection:
1. These verses of faith and hope follow some verses of danger and external threats. How does this reassurance of personal faith help us to see how we can also acknowledge the threats posed to us and still remain hopeful?
2. There is no promise of when, or where, or even to what degree we will experience the Lord’s goodness. The world is so full of despair and tribulations we often can’t see beyond the negativity presented. What steps can we take as believers to make sure that when the Lord’s goodness is present we recognize it?
3. In a world full of sinners (including us, to be honest!), the chaos and calamity often feels like punishment. Where can we find reassurance that our current state is not a punishment but a temporary happening in which we can still find God’s love around us?
4. While all around us some may choose to embrace the chaos and negativity, how can we realign our perspective so that the apparent punishment is an opportunity? How can we take the “Both And” to become better Christians and neighbors?
5. Have you ever experienced a time when waiting for God’s guidance or timing was difficult? How did you manage to find strength and courage during that waiting period? What characteristics about or promises by God helps sustain you during your trial?
6. Verse 14 calls us to “Wait for the Lord” and be strong. How can this idea of waiting be understood in the context of social justice? Is waiting passive or might it imply activity, endurance, or preparation for change?
7. Look around, where do you see the goodness of God in the land of the living in the middle of your present fires?
8. Considering both verses in context, how does the psalmist’s vision of waiting and trusting in God’s timing resonate with the concept of social transformation? Is there an alignment between spiritual waiting and the work of justice advocates or marginalized individuals who often work or live within systems of oppression but dream of a better future? How can they tap into the hope of God and not become discouraged?
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, consider the following:
1. Depending on the translation the words change slightly but the call for hope or waiting for the Lord is repeated twice. It is a choice to believe and our advice to do so is repeated. Lest we forget, while facing the challenges of the world, what active steps can you take to remind yourself (repeatedly) of the call to remain hopeful?
2. Look up the word “wait” from verse 14 in a concordance. How does the active nature of the Hebrew word quavah challenge the common perception of waiting as a passive act?