To the Lord in the hour of my distress
I call and he answers me.
“O Lord, save my soul from lying lips,
from the tongue of the deceitful.”
What shall he repay you in return,
O treacherous tongue?
The warriors’ arrows sharpened
and coals, red-hot, blazing.
(Alas, that I abide a stranger in Meshech,
dwell among the tents of Kedar!)
Long enough have I been dwelling
with those who hate peace.
I am for peace, but when I speak,
they are for fighting.
Reflection
We read these ancient words and ponder contemporary realities. Lying lips and deceitful tongues plague our national life. Clever manipulators list justified grievances – the treatment of armed forces veterans, our shamefully low pensions, the ever present danger of male violence, the hollowing out of our public services, and the number of children still living in poverty – linking these wrongs with immigration and asylum seeking. The image of asylum seekers in hotels sounds luxurious until you think about how awful it is to live, with almost no cash and no right to work, in a basic hotel room with little choice about food and no meaningful activity. The trafficked and traumatised, the poor and persecuted are not given safety but subjected to more oppression – especially when their accommodation is surrounded by angry crowds waving flags as hot as red blazing coals; images taking us back 100 years or so.
The narrative spreading lies and hate is well planned, crafted by a rich elite seeking to displace both Conservative and Labour parties through foul means (and I’ve no great love for either of them!) Those who now lead this resurgence of hate dress nicely, speak articulately, cosy up to business, and offer simple solutions to complex problems. Many pay lip service to faith; praising the Christian heritage of the countries comprising the UK but do so in ways which should make those of no or other faiths shudder. Woke ideas of loving neighbours, faithful foreigners, or of a citizenship which transcends blood and soil don’t make it into their press releases.
We are left dealing with our anger and despair, reluctant to speak out, afraid of the social media attacks that will surely come. With the Psalmist we are for peace but “they are for fighting.” Yet perfect love drives out all fear and we follow the One we call the Way, the Truth and the Life. Truth telling is, now, our single most important missional imperative. It might just save the world.
Prayer
Help us O Maker,
to speak truth,
to our friends and neighbours,
to those who hate us,
to those in power
that, through truth telling,
You, O Spirit,
will give us the grace to follow our Saviour,
Jesus Christ,
the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Amen.