Psalm 106—Israel’s Confession of Sinfulness and God’s Fidelity

Guided Prayer

by Marlyn Monge

Set aside about twenty minutes to be in God’s presence and speak to him regarding the present crisis. Take the phone off the hook. Sit in a quiet place. Surround yourself with beauty, a picture or icon or crucifix. Play soft music if that is helpful for you to quiet down and center on God’s presence.

Psalm 106 is the confession of Israel that recalls God’s faithfulness, the people’s sinfulness, and the saving action of God. Though Israel keeps turning from God, God never leaves his people. We can pray the prayer of Israel in the name of the Church today, making it our own confession to God of the wrong we have done, trusting in God’s faithful mercy and in his loving power to save.

Praise the LORD!
O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD,
or declare all his praise?
Both we and our ancestors have sinned;
we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.
Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wonderful works;
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
Yet he saved them for his name's sake,
so that he might make known his mighty power.
He rebuked the Red Sea,
and it became dry;
he led them through the deep as through a desert.
So he saved them from the hand of the foe,
and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.
The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them was left.
Then they believed his words;
they sang his praise.
But they soon forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel.
Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
They grumbled in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
They mingled with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes,
and were brought low through their iniquity.
Nevertheless he regarded their distress
when he heard their cry.
For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and showed compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love. (cf. Psalm 106)

We learn from this Psalm that God is faithful to his people. Because he has been faithful in the past, we can trust that he will be faithful now. God takes the initiative. We can believe that he is taking the initiative right now while we are in the midst of this crisis.

God isn’t here for us only when everything is going right. Our God is here with us right now. He wants you to share your feelings about this situation with him. Don’t be afraid to share your sadness or anger with God. He already knows what you are feeling, but by sharing what you are feeling with God, you reach out to him and God can respond to you.

• Are you hurt that your trust has been betrayed…tell God.

• Are you ashamed…tell God.

• Are you angry with the priests…tell God.

• Are you angry with the Church authorities…tell God.

• Are you angry with God…tell God.

If you feel you cannot speak aloud to God, then write him a letter. Pour out the contents of your heart—all of your emotions. Like St. Augustine, let your tears flow, making them "a pillow for your heart" as you open yourself to God.

Psalm 106 tells us that God always reached out to his people even though they rejected him. This crisis in the Church today is in God’s hands. All of your feelings regarding this crisis also need to be placed in his gentle and loving hands. Will everything be okay after this time of personal prayer? Maybe yes it will and maybe no it won’t, but you will have strengthened your faith and your relationship with the One who loves you beyond comprehension. In the end will God help his Church learn, grow, and become stronger from what it is currently suffering? We know that this answer is a resounding yes.