Voices Found: God rejoices!

 

Voices Found #95

Let everyone who suffers now

from guilt and deep despair

return unto the house of God,

for love awaits you there.

Good news! it's time to celebrate

with friends who gather round.

So God rejoices, Jesus said,

when-e'er the lost is found!

Words: Mary Nelson Keith

Music: Carl Haywood

                                                                      

Reflection:

2 Samuel 11:2-25 and Psalm 32:1-7 are appointed for Proper 26B (closest to November 2) in The Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church

 David  saw Bathsheba  from the roof; she was beautiful and she was bathing.  He sent slaves to fetch her.  He seduced her.   She became pregnant.  To cover his sin,  David invited Uriah, her husband, to eat and drink at his palace; he ordered Uriah to go home to his wife.  Uriah did not.  As a soldier, he had to to remain pure for battle.  David, clearly needed to get rid of him so he wrote to his generals, "Set Uriah at the frontline of the most intense battle and pull back from behind him, so he will be struck down and die." 2 Samuel 11:15, tr. Gafney

David married Bathsheba who gave birth to their child. The child died.  David was overcome with grief and anger toward God. Finally he repented of his sin and turned to God for forgiveness. The Holy One forgave  him and rejoiced in his return.

Psalm 32 is traditionally attributed to David, either composed by him or for him.

Psalm 32 

  

Happy is the woman or man whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Happy is the woman or man

to whom the Holy One does not reckon iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my bones wasted away

in my groaning all the day.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me,

my strength melted away as by th heat of summer.

My sin I made known to you.

and my iniquity I did not hide.

I said, "I will make known my transgressions to the Gracious One,"

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Therefore, let all who are faithful

offer prayer to you;

who are found at such a time,

for a rush of mighty waters

shall not touch them.

You are a hiding place for me;

you keep me from distress;

you surround me with cries of deliverance.

Meditation: 

Voices Found #96

Healing river of the Spirit,

bathe the wounds that living brings.

Plunge our pain, our sin, our sadness 

deep beneath your sacred springs.

Weary from the restless searching

 that has lured us from your side,

we discover in your presence

 peace the world cannot provide.

Words: Ruth C. Duck

Music: Beachspring, from The Sacred Harp, Philadelphia, 1844

Prayer:

Guide us waking,

guard us sleeping

that awake we walk with Christ

and asleep we may rest in peace.

Words: The Book of Common Prayer (1979)

Music: Ana Hernandez 

The Leader's Guide to Voices Found offers this prayer as a personal singing/breathing meditation or to sing with parts,  in a group.