49B*
A Call to Worship
After Pentecost 10B [Ordinary 17B] or [Proper 12B] 2018
Psalm 14

We come to worship our God amidst our world’s dysfunction and chaos.
Today, we pray for clarity: “God be in my head and in my understanding...”¹

We come to pray and sing praises to our God, amidst all our challenges.
Today, we pray for a new vision “…God be in my eyes and in my looking…”¹

We come to our healing and renewing God, requesting that we be given
a new vision of the world and its people as God sees, loves and liberates it.
Today, we pray for more trust “….God be in my mouth and in my speaking;
God be in my heart and in my thinking: God be at my end and at my departing.”¹ Amen.

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Psalm 14
For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!

2 The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone
is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.
3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt.
No one does good, not a single one!
4 Will those who do evil never learn?
hey eat up my people like bread and
wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.

5 Terror will grip them, for God is with those who obey him.
6 The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD will protect his people.
7 Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice.

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Prayers of Petition and Trust
After Pentecost 10B [Ordinary 17B] or [Proper 12B] 2018
Psalm 14

God of presence and trust: we come to worship our God, amidst our world’s chaos
and dysfunctional relationships at local, national and international levels. We come,
because we can turn to no other Power or Majesty that daily demonstrates love, care,
compassion, and the ability to hear and answer our prayers. There are times when
we despair of the foolishness of people – whether they are our own leaders or our
neighbours! We despair of our own foolishness; our lack of trust; and our desire to
have our own way – because we always know best! Forgive us, we pray and we ask;
for wisdom and for God’s presence: “God be in my head and in my understanding...”¹

God of presence and vision: we come to pray and sing praises to our God, amidst all
our challenges in relationships, employment, retirement and ageing. Loving God, we
come to you, because we realise that we only ever see one side of any situations; that
our views and opinions may be irrelevant in this our present age; even as we look to
the past through rose-coloured glasses! There are times when we despair of the short-
sightedness of people – especially of our leaders; and of the failure of people to trust
in God’s guidance. Forgive us when we fail to seek God’s blessings on our activities;
and when we assume that we have the answers life’s challenges. Forgive us, we pray;
and we ask for understanding and tolerance: “…God be in my eyes and in my looking…”¹

God of presence and healing: we come requesting that we be given a new vision of the
world and its people as God sees, loves and seeks to liberate them. We come to worship
and praise our God today, especially because we are in need of God’s guidance to help
us to be a positive influence for good in our community and in our world. So often we hear
those ancient words repeated even now: “…There is no God…”; and so people act as if
there were never any God of love and mercy; or ever any God who sets limits on behaviour;
and who requires us to reject evil, suspicion, selfishness, corruption, cheating and anger.
Instead, God calls us to live in hope, trust, sharing, listening, integrity and caring compassion.
Forgive us, and we pray for renewed trust and blessing: “….God be in my mouth and in my
speaking; God be in my heart and in my thinking: God be at my end and at my departing.”¹ Amen.

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A Personal Meditation
After Pentecost 10B [Ordinary 17B] or [Proper 12B] 2018
Psalm 14

Have you ever imagined living a life where God was not present? Have you ever
imagined a world and universe that just happened by accident? Have you ever really
imagined a world where goodness, trust, sharing, listening, personal integrity and
caring did not exist; and instead there was only evil, doubt, suspicion, selfishness,
disinterest, corruption, cheating, anger and irritation amongst people who do not
matter to anyone? And have you ever imagined there not being a Creating, Guiding,
and Compassionate God who was committed to loving and caring about you and all
humanity; and not only that, but who hears and answers prayers? What hope would
we have, if those situations were the daily experiences of people who were created
with capacity for spiritual insights and who worship their Maker? None whatsoever!
We would be without hope, and it would not matter - as no one would care anyway!



In several of his books on the Psalms, Professor Walter Brueggemann links Psalm 14
with Psalm 88, whose inscription includes these words: “A song to be sung to the tune
“The Suffering of Affliction.” This psalm is a lament from people who suffer at the hands
of people who do not recognise or pay any attention to God – and who were the poor and
desolate victims of their greed, selfishness and the exploitation of power, gained through
their evil actions and collaborations. The author in Psalm 88 cries out to God: “…Are
your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Can
those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the
place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone
in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O LORD, I cry out to you. I
will keep on pleading day by day…”² Is God silent or uninterested in meeting the needs
of the people who are brutalised and poor; or will the God of steadfast and unfailing love
respond in God’s own time and way? That is when our faith, trust and hope must live on!



Psalm 14 is a rather strange and reflective psalm that the author seemed to want to
commence with a challenging statement! “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no
God. They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good..!” The
psalmist imagined God surveying all humanity to see if anyone was wise or good; or if
there is even one person praying to God for mercy and forgiveness. Just as the people
of Israel were blessed by God so that they could bless everyone else; so humanity
was created to be inter-dependent and responsible for each other’s well-being; but
when that fails to eventuate – there are disastrous consequences. Their self-inflicted
judgement only brings with it isolation, grief and loss. But, this is God’s world, and God
is still in charge; and the God of promises has always discovered a faithful remnant!



1 From “Together in Song” #549
“God be in my head and in my understanding”
Words from “Book of Hours” 1514
Words are in the Public Domain

2 Psalm 88: 10-13 (NLT)

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Acknowledgements:
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

*Revised Indexing Scheme from 'Consultation on Church Union' (COCU).

I acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks for the theological help and inspiration so frequently available from the writings of Professor Walter Brueggemann and Professorial brothers Rolf and Karl Jacobson; and the resources from "The Text this Week" (Textweek).

If the Prayers and/or Meditation are used in shared worship, please provide this acknowledgement:
© 2018 Joan Stott –‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year B. Based on verses from Psalm 14.
Used with permission.

joanstott16@gmail.com
www.thetimelesspsalms.net

Download/view a pdf file of this document here: pentecost10[17]b_2018.pdf