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Gay Christian Devotion
Psalm 120 (King James Version)
1In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.
2Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
3What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
4Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
5Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
6My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.
7I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Reflection
The commentator Adam Clarke notes that Plsams 120 to 134 are ascending Psalms. According to Adam Clark, R. D. Kimchi says the priests went up fifteen steps to the temple and they sang a different ascending Psalm on each of the fifteen steps. We can praise God just at the thought of entering the church to worship. We can also praise God that the Spirit lives within us and we can praise God on each step of the way toward accepting who we are, a queer temple of God.
The Jewish commentator Radak refers to the tents of Kedar as "the great power that would persecute Israel in exile." Many gay, lesbian, and trans Christians can identify. They have lived in exile in the tents of Kedar, in the tents of those who hate and persecute them. Knowing that has been the history of God's queer tribe, queer Christians can praise God every step of the way to affirming churches.
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