This week's Lectionary reading includes the story of the Israelites creating an idol of a golden calf in the desert. Moses is away speaking with God, and stays a way just a tiny bit too long for them. They can't stand it - they must worship something. So they melt a bunch of earrings and create for themselves something they can see and touch. But Moses defends them, and rescues them from their sure self-destruction. Much of this litany is taken directly from Isaiah 25.
O LORD, you are my God;
I will exalt you (1)
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
A refuge to the needy in their distress,
A shelter from the rainstorm
And a shade from the heat. (2)
Even though we set other gods before you
You have loved us.
Even though we have worshiped wealth and empire
You have not abandoned us.
Even though we have distanced ourselves from you,
You have drawn near to us.
Rescue us, God, from our self-destruction;
From the valleys of death we’ve created, (3)
From our self-imposed exile,
From our forgetfulness.
You were out-of-sight, out-of-mind,
But now we remember you:
Your beauty,
Your kindness,
Your mercy,
Your faithfulness.
You will wipe the tears from our faces.
You will take away our disgrace.
You will destroy the shroud that is over us.
You will swallow up death forever. (4)
Amen
1) Isaiah 25:1
2) Isaiah 25:4
3) Psalm 23:4
4) Isaiah 25:7-8