August 25, 2021 — Psalm 70:1–72:20  

“Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!
² Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.
Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.
³ Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame. ⁴ Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” ⁵ But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay!” Psalm 70:1-5

Psalm 70 is traditionally used during Holy Week, and gives us specific reminders (in the words “Aha, Aha!”) of the mocking that Jesus encountered by those who stood by making fun of him during the crucifixion. It is during Holy Week that we are reminded of our utter dependence on G-d – to deliver us from those who persecute us and those who desire our ruin.

Yes, Jesus was crucified. But G-d raised him from the dead, exalted him above all things, and placed him next to the throne of G-d. Death has been defeated once and for all. We should wake up every day remembering the empty tomb knowing “G-d is our help and deliverer.”

The G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has acted to deliver all people from the bonds of death, the bonds of evil, and the sting of death through Jesus Christ. And G-d accomplished all this through the cross. G-d did what G-d always promised, just not the way people thought G-d would do it. As such, we have reason every day to exclaim “G-d is Great!”

Let us Pray,

G-d, you are great. You are good in your greatness and great in your goodness. Help me every day to do your will. Amen.Pastor Dave

August 24, 2021 – Psalm 68, Acts 7:1–23

“Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. ² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. ³ But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy. ⁴ Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—his name is the Lord—be exultant before him. ⁵ Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. ⁶ God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.” Psalm 68:1-6

Read again the words of Psalm 68, “Father of orphans and protector of widows is G-d in his holy habitation. G-d gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.”  For this psalmist, what humans achieve in this life are not necessarily the achievements of our own efforts, but a recognition and dependence upon G-d and openness to understanding G-d’s ways – that it is through G-d that we receive our blessings. 

The psalms were regularly read in worship (and are, of course, still today). When we read the Psalms today, we are reading words in worship that connect us across time and space to people who shared our collective need for G-d’s love. But they also connect us with the G-d of justice, the G-d of righteousness, and the G-d of mercy. As such, these words remind us of our responsibility to be agents of hope, justice and social change.

Let us Pray,

Lord, you are still the G-d of orphans and widows, of the good and the bad, of the rich and the poor, of the churched and unchurched. We continue to depend upon you for protection from sin, death and the devil – for which we are eternally grateful. Amen.

Pastor Dave