Sermonette: March 16, 2020

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! — Psalm 95:1-2

In a democratic society, it appears to me that individualism reigns supreme. Each man and woman is trumpeted as master of his or her destiny and is free to pursue happiness as their hearts would lead them. It is this kind of cultural assumption that lies behind the question that gets asked of every six-year-old, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The answers that the children come up with are delightful, of course. Beaming parents hear answers like ballerina, firefighter, police officer and a hundred other options. But the underlying assumption in this ritual is that each of these six-year-old children has a better than even chance of becoming anything they desire.

Before the fall of the Soviet Union and the demise of its client states, a group of children in an elementary school in Dresden, Germany, were asked the same question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Instead of a response, there was a stony, mystified silence in the room. “What do I want to be? What’s that got to do with anything?”

As it turned out, such a question focusing on the fulfillment of individual desires or wants was so foreign that it never even occurred to these children. The question these children were asked was not what they wanted, but instead what did their nation need? In this society, to devote one’s life energy to pursuing a personal goal was thought to be selfish, even destructive.

These two poles of individualism and community might help inform a reading of Psalm 95. In this wonderful psalm there is a full-blown explosion of praise to the creator God! All stops are pulled out in favor of a glorious, passionate expression of praise. It doesn’t even matter if the choir is on key. Just make a joyful noise! Give glory and honor to God! Enter God’s presence with thanksgiving!

This powerful psalm makes a strong statement focusing on allegiance. In this psalm there are no individual desires staked out with prayer requests. Neither are there calls to community commitment, wondering what the community needs most. No, instead the psalmist simply lays out an ultimate commitment to God, an allegiance to God and God alone. The psalmist would have us pledge our allegiance to God only.

So in the psalmist’s view a person of faith, whether growing up in a society that lifts up individualism or one that promotes community, would not be concerned with either individual or collective needs. Instead, the person of faith who shouts out God’s praise and dances with a passion for the Lord asks quite another question altogether. Indeed it is formed more like a prayer than a question.

It’s not what I want, God, nor is it what the government expects. But in all things, Lord, let me be led by you. Glory be to God!