Psalm 147:7-11, 20a
“His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” vss. 10-11
In a few days the attention of the country will be focused on Minneapolis, not because it has beautiful lakes and pedestrian skyways, but because that’s where the Superbowl is being played. It’s the biggest single day sporting event of the year…and some say it deserves a place in the liturgical calendar. The psalmist would not have been impressed either by the grandeur of the setting or the skill of the athletes. He writes plainly that the Lord does not delight in the strength of a horse or the speed of a runner. The idolatrous things that entertain us…sports, competition, betting, Grammys, Oscars, the list goes on and on…are nothing to God. Instead the Lord takes pleasure in the faithful, those who hope in God’s steadfast love. We sense that what the psalmist says is true but the pull of those distractions is enormous and it’s hard to stay focused. Trusting God just doesn’t give the adrenaline rush that we get from watching our gladiators perform in our expensive coliseums. So…chances are we’ll succumb and, come Sunday, at least take a look at the commercials, even though we know in our hearts that next year we likely won’t even be able to remember that the Eagles won the game.
Thought for the Day: Why is sports such a big deal for us?
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