August 9 — Psalm 100

“Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”

What is it that we do when we come to worship? Coming to worship involves some responsibility on our part — both before we arrive, and once we have made our presence known to G-d either in the pew or watching on our devices.

In Jerusalem, one of Herod’s palaces sat very near the Temple which contained the “Holy of Holies”. One palace was the residence of the human King; the other was where G-d resided, the divine King. The question in Israel’s history often was: whose will really rules — human or divine? In Roman times the early Christians said, “Jesus is lord,” in their worship in an empire that required people to say “Caesar is lord,” and they, in particular Jesus, paid for the choices they made.

When we come to worship, we are proclaiming our trust and obedience to a power whose will and way make a difference in our lives. As such, coming to worship is both a religious and a political statement. If those who come to worship Jesus as Lord see their presence as nothing other than the same as attending a concert, or watching a movie, then their participation in worship is not what Psalm 100 is suggesting.

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the LORD is God.”

When we address G-d in worship, we trust that G-d is present — so we enter into the very presence of the LORD through song, prayer, word, and sacrament. In the view of the psalm, the LORD by his own choice comes down to us, (a very Lutheran understanding of worship) and is “there” in the most real way. The psalm testifies to the importance of “presence” for authentic and enthusiastic worship. It is the exciting anticipation of being in the presence that funds the joy of praise.

Worship allows us the opportunity to say to the world “We know the LORD as our savior. Worship then moves us into the presence of the one who is “for us” and “saves us”.

Let us pray:

Lord our God, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise, for you have created us as your people and you sustain us with your hand. Nourish us in your rich pasture and keep us in your steadfast love, that we may bless your name and serve you with gladness day after day; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

August 8 — Psalm 99

“The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them. O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.”

The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble!

This does not sound like a Psalm of comfort — if the people are to tremble because of G-d’s reign. We just studied Psalm 98 where it was determined to have inspired Isaac Watt in writing the wonderful hymn “Joy to the World” — a celebration of the Kingship of Jesus. Now, we are told to tremble at the sight of such a king.

We know that there are many reasons to tremble — just watching people try to navigate this pandemic has produced many scenes where people seem to be visibly trembling. However, does trembling always represent fear?

While the guilty person might tremble at the thought of judgment, the righteous tremble at the sight of G-d’s holiness. One is the fear of being punished — the other is reverence for the mercy and grace all people need — for we all are sinners and fall short of the glory, the majesty, and the magnificence of the King of Kings.

I have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating, in Luther’s explanation of the Ten Commandments, he begins each one with these words: “We should fear and love G-d…” There is room for both in our lives — a reverence of G-d that defines our faith, and a love that is defined by that reverence.

Let us pray:

Holy God, you are exalted over all the nations and just in all your ways. Strengthen us to worship you with our deeds and to proclaim your greatness with our lips, for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.