August 30, 2023 – Psalm 123

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt. Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.”

Psalm 123 is the fourth in these Psalms that are called the “songs of ascents” (Psalms 120–134). For the first time in these particular Psalms, the writer speaks directly to the Lord. When we hear the words “Have mercy on us…”, we realize this Psalm is a prayer — and the writer prays for help.

Have you been praying to the Lord for help lately? I tend to pray often for the Lord’s guidance, for the Lord’s direction, and for the Lord’s help. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives. We might need help in a relationship; we might need help deciding a direction for our work lives; we might pray for our children or grandchildren that they will receive the help they need when they are struggling. There is no shortage of situations that we might look to the Lord for help.

It is good for us to look to the Lord for many things, especially look to the Lord for help. We often spend too much time worrying and struggling to figure out situations on our own — when we should be learning to wait upon our Lord for that still, small voice of G-d looking to impart upon us G-d’s will and help. Never cease in praying – for prayer is effective and powerful.

Let us Pray:

O God, our creator and redeemer, we look to you for all that we need. Look with favor on us, your servants, and give us your grace; for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Pastor Dave

August 31, 2023 — Psalm 124

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and Thou forgavist the iniquities of my sins.” This is how I remember beginning the services of my Lutheran church when I was a kid. It is an immediate confession and a promise of forgiveness from the get-go of our worship lives. We all need help from time to time — and this was the message of our last devotion. Today let’s look at how it is we should ask for help. 

In the Psalm, the writer says his help is in the Lord — and he adds a reason why he reaches out to the Lord for this help: because the Lord made everything. The Lord created all things. As such, if there is someone we should look to for help, it is the Lord. The Psalmist states: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say….then they would have swallowed us up alive”

That is the positive truth which we come to worship the Lord, which we come to the Lord in prayer, in which we live our lives. The theme of dependence on the Lord in a hostile and difficult world is a recurring feature of the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120–134). Psalm 124 is like 121 which is like Psalm 23 in many ways — in particular, the psalm is a testimony to G-d’s providence in the life of believers through Jesus Christ. We just need to live lives where we worship the Lord often, we pray daily, and we live in the confident trust of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Let us Pray:

Helper and defender of Israel, rescue the peoples of the world from destructive anger, and set us free to love and serve each other in the peace of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

August 29, 2023 — Psalm 122 

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” 

Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem—built as a city 

that is bound firmly together. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, 

as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.” 

“Peace be within you.” 

The Psalmist again offers a prayer for peace. For Psalm 120 I wrote these words: “Peace does not come without a lot of hard work — compromise — and compassion.” 

The joy of this psalm, Psalm 122, is its concern for the peace of Jerusalem. Jesus lamented about the state of Jerusalem — “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) And again in Luke 19:42: “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” 

As we pray for peace in our world, in our community, in our nation, and in our church, have we recognized the things that make for peace? Do we know how to find peace?  

Every day we should be people of peace — not people who argue to get our way, not people who shout down those we disagree with, not people who need to always be right. Let us live the words of the Psalmist, who says “Let Peace be within you.” 

Let us pray: 

Lord Jesus, give us the peace of the new Jerusalem. Bring all nations under your rule, that they may render thanks and come with joy to your eternal city, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave