Dear one,
In my reading of the Psalms, irrespective their authors, “How long, O’ Lord?” seems to be a recurring plea; and in fact, it seems to be a recurring theme throughout much of Hebrew/ Israelite/ Jewish history and culture. Thus a cursory surveillance of the Psalms indicates that of 150 psalms, only 11 utter the cry, “How long, O’ Lord, how long?” However, if within the Psalms I trace the frequency of the verbs “to cry out” or “cry aloud”(29 occurrences), and these, in combination with the words “rock,” “refuge,” and “fortress” (at least 22 occurrences), then our general impression remains: the psalmists often cry (or scream?) for help, believing that, if the Lord is not their “safe place,” their fortress or refuge, then they are undone.
No doubt, you have already anticipated my thinking: given that the anniversary (?) of covid draws nigh; given that virulent, mutant strains are now in the offing; and given that within our Western world, abnormal, if not life-changing or -threatening weather conditions seem to assault, surely we too are asking: “How long?” Of course, with you, I too do not know the answer to this question: Until April? or October? or March 2022?
And yet, in raising this question, I have been reminded of its “reciprocating echo.” When He descended from the Mount of Transfiguration to the valleys below, Jesus was greeted by the impotent wrangling of His disciples and the religious leaders: they could not care for a needy father and son, whereby Jesus exclaimed: “How long will I be with you?! How long must I endure you?”! (Mark 9:19). He then proceeded to care for the hurting father and son.
If I may, it seems to me that, utterly exasperated, Jesus was asking: When will you learn? When will you understand? When will you recognize your human, created limits? Why do you think you’re in control? What must I do to gain your attention?
For some years I have observed, as so many have, that the Old Testament writers regularly allude to famines and floods, diseases and devastations as “acts of God,” inviting the people of Israel to return to their true Source, their true Rock. Of course, my “Western” mind will assert: These are simply natural, causal phenomena. However, if I use my “Eastern” mind, I will ponder: In the midst of these phenomena, might our Creator be intervening, in order to ask: Will you not return to me … your home?
Hmm …?
Stan