Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
MONDAY, March 1 (David of Wales)
Psalm 57. I will confess you among the peoples, O LORD; I will sing praise to you among the nations.
Some of the idioms of the Psalter must be explained. "Peoples" and "nations" mean Gentiles, outsiders, uncircumcised, irreligious, pagan.
Those of us who are anxious over the increasing secularity of our society are more comfortable in a religious atmosphere, where the Bible is read in schools and God is honored in the fabric of our total society.
Another psalmist faces the fact that to live in a totally secular society is treachery to God: "How shall we sing the LORD'S song upon an alien soil?" (Psalm 137:4).
Today's psalmist, though, emphasizes the opposite side of the coin. In the midst of those who deny God, in the secular society and in the secular city, it is still possible to serve him. Our job is still to waken the dawn and to confess the Lord among the peoples, to sing to him among those who know him not. (1967)
In today's world, many feel threatened by secularization on the one hand and by an ascendant, confusing, and sometimes violent religious fervor on the other. How might we pray this psalm today? –Editor's Note
PRAY for the Diocese of
Ps 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65; Genesis 41:46-57; 1 Corinthians 4:8-20(21); Mark 3:7-19a
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
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