The Daily: Thursday June 20, 2024

Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 9:9-20 (NRSV, The Message); 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (NRSV, The Mesage); Acts 20:1-16 (NRSV, The Message)

After that, whenever the bad depression from God tormented Saul, David got out his harp and played. That would calm Saul down, and he would feel better as the moodiness lifted.
1 Samuel 16:23 (The Message)

There's a lot going on here. The one that God had chosen to replace Saul as king (or the one who would usurp the throne, it really depends on who is telling the story, doesn't it?) was playing music for him to relieve the bad mood that, according to the story, God sent to torment him.

No matter what we know, sometimes it sure does feel like we're being tormented by God. What is it that relieves that mood for you? Maybe it's music. Maybe it's a brief walk. Maybe it is reaching out to a God who, rather than tormenting us, offers grace and love in the midst of what we are experiencing.