August 9, 2023 — Psalm 105

“O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually. Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered, O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm. He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen. They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.” (Verses 1-15, 26-28)

Seek the LORD and His strength: G-d’s people are invited to not only seek G-d, but also G-d’s strength. This strength is given to G-d’s people as they seek Him, as Paul would later write: Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). Seek — we have the word three times, and though the words differ in the Hebrew, the sense is the same. It is a blessed thing to be moved to “seek the Lord”, though we know the Lord is just a prayer away. 

As Lutherans we believe that G-d comes down to us — we do not need to try to work our way up to heaven. Jesus came down in the flesh, as Paul writes in Philippians 2 “Let the same mind be in you that was in Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

As such, Jesus will come again, in the flesh, to bring all people to salvation. But whenever we participate in the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism, Jesus comes to be among his people. And yet, it is a good thing to be seeking the Lord — because it reminds us to daily keep our eyes focused on the presence of G-d in our lives.

Prayer

God of our salvation, through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ you continue to fulfill your covenant promise to redeem the world from slavery and to lead your people into the promised land. Grant us living water from the rock and bread from heaven, that we may survive our desert pilgrimage and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Pastor Dave