God's Tent & the Unhoused

 

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

   Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbours;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honour those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

                          Psalm 15:NRSVue

I've been attempting to read a psalm each day as I prepare for a study series at Trenton United beginning this Wednesday morning, February 1st. I suppose I could describe my good intentions as spasmodic, but in the daily lectionary psalm selections run for three days, demonstrating that our God is gracious and provides second chances. 

I was moved by the opening words of this week's Psalm 15 which asks who gets room in God's presumably spacious tent. I appreciate that this question has nothing to do with our homelessness crisis in the 21st century, except that maybe it does. 

This past couple of years, including this Winter, we've heard so much about unhoused people who have set up temporary encampments, usually with tents and other makeshift shelters. Do an internet search of "tent encampment" and up comes dozens of examples from across the continent. 

There doesn't seem to be any ready answer, other than providing housing.  Some municipalities remove them, at times with seems to be excessive force, while others set deadlines for closure, then debate some more, then extend the dates. These tent encampments can be dangerous because of the risk of fire and residents have died. 

There are attempts to develop liason teams in communities with varying outcomes. A few months ago in British Columbia a police officer who was a member of a mental health and homeless outreach team was stabbed to death by a lone homeless camper, although this sort of violent interaction is unusual. The majority of unhoused tent dwellers are leery of shelter systems and find a greater sense of community in these precarious encampments. 

What if we did some thought experiments with God as a tent dweller who welcomed others who are not as a problem to be solved but persons of value and worth? Can we say that we are walking blamelessly and speaking the truth when we look upon the unhoused with contempt?

This may be stretching the midrash or imaginative interpretation of Psalm 15 beyond reasonable bounds, but it spoke to me in that moment. 

Psalm 15 is also the psalm for this Sunday as is the passage from Micah 6 which includes these powerful words:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?