WHERE IS GOD?

/ Union Avenue Christian Church /

The tragic shooting at Central VPA High School has left many people questioning and wondering how such things could have happened here in St. Louis. Perhaps it was inevitable, given the increasing frequency of gun violence and school shootings across the country over the years, but even so it is also lamentable and terrible for such a thing to have come to pass at all. In such moments, it is natural to wonder, “Where was God is all of this? Why did God allow this to happen? Why does God allow these kind of things to happen, if God is good?” This Sunday (October 30, 2022), in the wake of the CVPA shooting, we will explore the issue of theodicy (the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil) as Rev. Michael brings us a word of comfort and hope with his sermon, “Where is God?”

Psalm 10

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies
Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
   Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor—
   let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.


For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart,
   those greedy for gain curse and renounce the Lord.
In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, ‘God will not seek it out’;
   all their thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’


Their ways prosper at all times;
   your judgements are on high, out of their sight;
   as for their foes, they scoff at them.
They think in their heart, ‘We shall not be moved;
   throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.’


Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
   under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
They sit in ambush in the villages;
   in hiding-places they murder the innocent.


Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
   they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert;
they lurk that they may seize the poor;
   they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.


They stoop, they crouch,
   and the helpless fall by their might.
They think in their heart, ‘God has forgotten,
   he has hidden his face, he will never see it.’


Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
   do not forget the oppressed.
Why do the wicked renounce God,
   and say in their hearts, ‘You will not call us to account’?


But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief,
   that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
   you have been the helper of the orphan.


Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers;
   seek out their wickedness until you find none.
The Lord is king for ever and ever;
   the nations shall perish from his land.


O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek;
   you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear
to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed,
   so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

NRSV