Scripture

Psalm 123:3-4 (NRSV)

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.

Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

Consider

Who has not experienced the scorn of an arrogant person or the ridicule of someone trying to elevate himself at your expense? When have you suffered an insult in silence because you did not want to lose your job or engage in a conflict you knew you could not win?

We live in a world of sin. Sin makes people selfish, and selfishness invariably leads to hurtful behaviors and damaged relationships. The psalmist’s plea for mercy asks God for relief from the oppression of the proud and those in authority who abuse their power. He does not ask God for deliverance but rather for mercy. He asks God to remove the sting and bring peace in the midst of an inescapable and hurtful situation.

As we offer this prayer along with the psalmist, we can also ask God to be merciful to us as the oppressors, to forgive us for all the times we have treated others scornfully and arrogantly. In seeking God’s mercy, we repent and ask for God’s correction. We ask God to replace our adversarial habits and superior attitude with compassion and respect.

Take for example a situation in which you passionately disagree with another person’s opinion. How might God expect you to disagree with this person compassionately and respectfully, without resorting to ridicule and scorn? Here are some tips:

• Don’t make it personal. Challenge ideas and opinions but not the dignity of the person.
• Don’t equate opinion with intelligence. Assume this person’s reasoning ability is just as sharp as yours but led to a different conclusion in this case.
• Don’t put the other person down to elevate yourself. Accept his or her right to disagree with you.
• Don’t label the person with adjectives or stereotypes. Labeling dehumanizes and devalues people.
• Don’t let your self-esteem get mixed up with winning the argument. Keep shame out of the exchange.
• Don’t return hurt for hurt or evil for evil, ever. If the relationship is intolerable, ask God to deliver you.
  God’s mercy diffuses the sting of hurtful behaviors.

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Pray

FATHER, I need your mercy as often and as urgently as I need oxygen. Have mercy on me, O Lord, that I might endure injuries from others as Jesus did, without the need to retaliate or leave the godly path you have laid out for me. Have mercy on me also that I might repent of my sinful oppression of others and learn more loving and respectful habits of engagement.

Reflect

Psalm 73:1-3; Jeremiah 10:23-24

Ponder

When someone insults you, what is your instinctive reaction? Do you need God’s correction?