A Voice, Without Words--Sept. 13, 2020

 

Sovereign God, and God of our inmost being,

you have not spoken to me out of a whirlwind,

nor have my ears heard you speak to me alone,

 

but many times in distress I have called to you,

 and very often I believe you answered my call.

 

You also speak to me when I glorify myself,

when I am ignoring the sufferings of others,

 

or when I have tried to worship you

before necessary reconciliation.

 

Without words, your voice

goes out.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113

Job 38:1, 18-41

Rev. 18:1-8

Matt. 5:21-26

 

Selected Verses

Ps. 19:3-4

There is no speech, nor are there words;
          their voice is not heard;
yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
          and their words to the end of the world.

 

Ps. 81:7

“…In distress you called, and I rescued you;
          I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
          I tested you at the waters of Meribah.  …”   Selah

[“A voice I had not known”]

 

Job 38:1, 18

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind… “Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?  Declare, if you know all this.  …”

 

Rev. 18:7

“…As [Babylon] glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give her a like measure of torment and grief.  Since in her heart she says, ‘I rule as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief…’…” [Another voice from heaven]

 

Matt. 5:24

“…leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  …” [Jesus, to the crowds on the mountain]