United States Constitution
Amendment 6 - Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses. Ratified 12/15/1791.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Paul languished *2* years in jail under Festus. Acts says that Festus wanted a bribe from Paul and apparently it was not forthcoming so he just left him there when he was replaced.
In America today, we enjoy the privilege of a speedy trial. It is one of our 'rights'. We are fortunate to live here; other nations do not have this 'right'. Paul certainly didn't. We have so very much to be grateful for and I know that I frequently forget them.
Much of today was spent cleaning up after a limb from a neighbor's tree smashed my chicken shed. We were so fortunate. No chickens were lost. Because we were in Destin, our cross the street neighbors Jim and Cathy pulled the massive limb off, tarped the gaping hole and bungee corded the doors that were ripped off so that no chickens got eaten in the night by our not-so-friendly neighborhood raccoon.
Even in this one silly incident, the law of our land is ever present. Even though it was my neighbor's tree that dropped this limb on my shed, it is my responsibility and to my expense. These situations are not brought before judges who are bribed, nor was anyone paid off so that we could rebuild. I am not so naive to know that there are judges who are bribed and that enforcers do rear their heads on occasions. But this is the rarity. For the most part, normal law happens, garbage gets picked up and neighbors take care of what is their job, commiserating with one another over the freaks of nature and sharing chain saws where necessary.
Paul did not live in such times. For the vast amounts of history, no one did. I am certain that the mentions in Chronicles of so and so was their sister was because she was a piece of chattel, used as a bargaining chip for whatever purpose.
And though America is far, far, far from perfect, it is so much better than anything the world has ever known. Let us commit to preserving this so that situations like Paul are not in *our* future.
Psalm 4
This is the first of the Lament psalms. Over half of the psalms included in the Bible are ones of Lament.
Listen to what Walter Brueggerman has to say about lament poetry in the Bible:
"It has been noticed by many readers of the Psalms that there is a recurring, disciplined form to the complaints and laments. Israel knew how to order its grief, not only to get that grief fully uttered and delivered, but also to be sure that, said in its fullness untameable, it is not turned loose with destructiveness." Preface to Ann Weems' Psalm of Lament p.x
Not turned loose with destructiveness.
A neat turn of phrase to someone who is retching from the bottom of their soul. The psalms of lament almost always end on a positive note. It is like the psalmist, once they have said their piece to God, no matter how ugly, now have moved on and can once again see God's glory.
And that is where I see a flaw in modern civilization's grief expression. We don't have these retching/wrenching moments to pile on God through poems, art, riding a horse all day, wailing, in the community that held you close. Now, we are supposed to have polite sobs, but not at the funeral home, only at the funeral, grieve for the weekend and then show up on Monday with a brave face. Grieving is supposed to be done in private and in a seemly amount of time and better not blame God, because he might strike *you* dead and then where would your family be??
The lament psalms are not like that. Excuse the expression but the psalmist give God hell. Answer me. Be merciful to me. How long? No striking dead here.
And we have to assume that God hears because the relief is forthcoming. As it is for us if we will just give all that up to God. Not that it won't come back because it has been my experience that you go in loop-de-loops with grief. Over and over and over again. But if you will let him, God will hold your hand.
Grace and peace to each of you.
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