Because of this, the land mourns

Take some time out and listen to this fantastic sermon by Charlie Cleverly of St Aldates, preached last Sunday. Press the play button after reading the Psalm.

1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,
for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
 and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
  and even the fish of the sea are taken away.

4 Yet let no one contend,
and let none accuse,
for with you is my contention, O priest.
5 You shall stumble by day;
the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;
and I will destroy your mother.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;
  because you have rejected knowledge,
I reject you from being a priest to me.
And since you have forgotten the law of your God,
  I also will forget your children.

7 The more they increased,
the more they sinned against me;
  I will change their glory into shame.
8 They feed on the sin[b] of my people;
they are greedy for their iniquity.
9 And it shall be like people, like priest;
I will punish them for their ways
and repay them for their deeds.