The psalmist looks to the Lord, gracious and full of compassion, in the
face of violent people intent on doing bodily harm. Maybe it’s not such a good
thing that God is slow to anger and full of kindness when the arrogant rise up
against you. One might be better served by a great God of might to smite the
evil doers. But then all that is needed is a sign of God’s favor that those who
hate will be put to shame, which truth to be told, is where redemption begins
for us as well. Not the kind of shame that leads to destructive behavior or
self loathing. No, it is the sign of God’s favor that exposes the self that is
less true than the self on the other side of shame. Arrogance is shamed by humility,
violence by peace, hatred by love so that the wicked forsake their ways and set
their eyes on the Lord. There is only one sign that can accomplish such things,
the sign upon which the child of the Lord’s handmaid was crucified.
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