REMEMBER
15Let them be before the Lord continually, and may his memory be cut off from the earth.
16For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted to their death.
17He loved to curse; let curses come on him. He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.
18He clothed himself with cursing as his coat, may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones.
19May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself, like a belt that he wears every day.”
20May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, of those who speak evil against my life.
21But you, O Lord my Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.
Within this prayer of vindication against false accusations from the Psalmist’s enemies is this accusation that he did not ‘remember’ to show kindness to the poor and needy. A serious accusation indeed, as God calls the people in covenant to love the stranger as they themselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. Their ultimate salvation story and ours as well depends upon care for and love of the poor, the needy and as the Psalmist phrases it, the brokenhearted because we can just as quickly be counted among them, God’s grace alone, Christ alone is what delivers us, may the false accusations of the wicked continue to be just that, false.
Prayer
O Lord, my God, and my Savior, may we respond to such gifts of love and grace by responding and sharing love, grace, and kindness to the brokenhearted, the lost, the lonely, the poor and the needy this day and always. As Christ our Lord asks of all disciples, Amen.
