Living Psalm 22:19-28 – Pentecost 2C

Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

But you, O LORD, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid! ²⁰ Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog! ²¹ Save me from the mouth of the lion!	O God, come and see about me. I know your timing is impeccable, but I need you to hurry. Deliver me from pandemics and plagues. Save me from gun violence and white supremacy. O God, come and see about me.
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me. ²² I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: ²³ You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! ²⁴ For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me but heard when I cried to him.	You have rescued us from slavery and Jim Crow, from injustice and genocide. Your track record speaks for itself. So, I will praise you everywhere I go. I will boast of your goodness and sing of your love! O God, come and see about me. To those who love justice, to those who seek peace, let us not forget the works of our God. From Seneca Falls to Selma, from Stonewall to this very moment, God has never forgotten us. Abba God has never turned a blind eye to the suffering of the people. When we pray, God hears us. O God, come and see about me.
From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. ²⁶ The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever!	All praises belong to God and all power belongs to the people. We will live in peace and prosperity. The poor will sing of God’s abundance and God’s favor will be given to all those searching for truth. O God, come and see about me.
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. ²⁸ For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.	One day soon, all will recognize the goodness of God. All families of the earth will live in harmony and every tribe and tongue will offer praise to the God of Peace, the God of Compassion, the God of Justice, the God of peace! Until that day, we cry: O God, come and see about me.

Living Psalm for the Season of Pentecost 2C: Psalm 22:19-28 was written by Rev. Ray Jordan.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.