September 4, 2021 — Psalm 107:1–108:13         

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:1-9

The overarching message for Psalm 107 is radical message – that there is ultimately no such thing as self-sufficiency. The Psalmist is suggesting that all human life depends upon G-d. The good news is that we can depend upon G-d. G-d is good, all the time, and all the time G-d is good. And G-d wants to share G-d’s goodness all the time. “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

The idea that self-sufficiency is anti-G-d is one of the many secularist messages that we usually hear from our society. Take care of Number 1…G-d helps those who help themselves (I don’t know that this is even biblical) – these are the phrases we hear from our society. As Lutherans we express our utter dependence on G-d. All things come from G-d – the same G-d who can turn a desert into pools of water, and a fruitful land into a salty waste.

Do you doubt that G-d is omni-present? I would ask that you simply look around –how can you not see G-d in all things?

Let Us Pray,

Lord, you are great in your goodness, and good in your greatness. Turn the desert areas of our lives into pools of living water and help us be fruitful in all works. Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 3, 2021 – Psalm 105:16–106:48     

“Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever. Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise?Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them; that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.” Psalm 106:1-5

The early church’s use of the psalms was in keeping with what we might expect from the early church: the church used the Psalms both as liturgical materials to sing the praises of the Lord, and as words that express their understanding of G-d’s works. Evidence for the first use of these songs is found in Paul’s advice to the Colossians: that they were to “sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.”  The book of Psalms is quoted and alluded to in the New Testament more than any other Old Testament book. (The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IV)

I think it is difficult for us to look at the Psalms as just liturgical material because we often sing them in worship. But many do not know that the Psalm selected for each Sunday is selected specifically to support the Old Testament lesson.

No matter the reason for which Psalm is selected on a Sunday, the psalms are a great source of liturgical poetry and words of meditation, and we should study them as often as possible.

Let Us Pray,

Lord, just like Paul, we encourage each other to sing psalms and hymns as part of our praise of you. Give us the words every day to praise and thank you for your marvelous works. Amen.

Pastor Dave