Psalm 17:1-9

1 Hear my plea of innocence, O Lord; give heed to my cry; listen to my prayer, which does not come from lying lips.

2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence; let your eyes be fixed on justice.

3 Weigh my heart, summon me by night, melt me down; you will find no impurity in me.

4 I give no offense with my mouth as others do; I have heeded the words of your lips.

5 My footsteps hold fast to the ways of your law; in your paths my feet shall not stumble.

6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me; incline your ear to me and hear my words.

7 Show me your marvelous loving-kindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at your right hand from those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the wicked who assault me, from my deadly enemies who surround me.

(This year, Monday Matters will focus on wisdom conveyed in the treasures of the book of Psalms. We'll look at the psalms read in church before Monday Matters comes to your screen. Please note that these days in the church, there are two tracks of readings in the lectionary, offering a choice of psalms. Your church may or may not have read the psalm included in this email.)

A while ago, my adorably, occasionally snarky sister gave me this bumper sticker: Jesus loves you, but I’m his favorite. I’m pretty sure she was kidding. I didn’t put it on my car. But the bumper sticker came to mind when I read the psalm you may have heard in church yesterday (reprinted in this email). The psalmist prays to be kept as the apple of God’s eye. That phrase appears a few times in scripture, and over the years has popped up outside of scripture. It has come to mean that someone is especially favored. It got me wondering if God has favorites.

The notion of God’s favorites can get messy. When I was a kid, I walked with my best friend to elementary school. He was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family. I was raised in a devout conservative evangelical family. He would always make the sign of the cross when we passed by his church, so that got us talking about religion. We really liked each other, but even at that young age, we were sure that our take on the affections of the Holy One tilted in our favor. Along with that came the notion that the other was wrong, at peril to their eternal destiny.

From an early age, it was clearly a zero sum game. If my spiritual community is the apple of God’s eye, then yours can’t be. If I win, you lose. That game can get messy not only among young friends, but within a family, within a church, between denominations, in interfaith discussion, in politics as it mixes with religion. It’s a game that has led to religious wars. I’m wondering where you’ve seen that game in action.

So does “the apple of God’s eye” suggest election? How does it relate to the notion of being a chosen people? We’re getting into risky territory because election and chosenness carry the implication that others are not chosen. Others are not God’s favorites. My guess is that when it comes to thinking about who God favors, maybe we’re just thinking too small (as in J.B.Phillip’s classic, Your God Is Too Small). The text of Hymn 469/470 (first line: There’s a wideness in God’s mercy) has come to mind. There’s that one intriguing and mystical stanza: For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind. And the heart of the eternal is most wonderfully kind.

That means that it’s not a zero sum game. We’re not dealing with a scarce, limited amount of favor. There’s enough for everyone. There’s enough.

So what then does the notion of holy favor mean? I’m thinking of the Nunc Dimittis, a canticle sung in Evensong, which talks about people chosen for a purpose: to be a light to the nations. To the extent any of us are chosen, or elected, it is a matter of being chosen to be of service. Jesus called for that as he talked to those he chose to be his disciples. He said: Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify God in heaven. Here’s where I land: Perhaps with human affection, having a favorite diminishes someone else. In the divine economy, there is more than enough love to go around. Enough to share.

Thinking a bit more about how God regards us, I’m remembering a story from one of Brennan Manning’s books, which are all about grace and the love of God. Couldn’t find the story to quote exactly, so relying on my failing memory. The gist is that someone asked a mother of about a dozen children if she had a favorite. The mother said “Oh, yes.” And she started by naming one child who was facing an illness. That child in need was her favorite. But then she mentioned the child having trouble in school. That one was her favorite. Then there was a child whose heart had been broken in a relationship. That was really her favorite. She went through all of her twelve children. Each in his or her own way was a favorite. Brennan Manning recounted it with more style, but you get the idea. I’m suspecting, I'm hoping, I'm trusting that the God we worship, a God of compassion, views us all the same way.

When theologians speak about God’s preferential option for the poor, maybe it’s a reflection of that mother’s regard for her many children. The psalms are filled with details of the ways that God especially cares for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the stranger, casting down the mighty, to quote the Magnificat. If that is the way God regards us, perhaps we should do the same toward each other.

The good news: Each one of us can read this psalm and hear God speaking to the core of our being: We are kept as the apple of God's eye. If we can embrace that amazing grace, how does that change the way we approach this week? Then, on the basis of that gift, as the apple of God’s eye, how can we exhibit the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What will that look like this week?

- Jay Sidebotham