August 28, 2023 — Psalm 121 

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?

My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 

He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. 

The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 

The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 

The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in 

from this time on and forevermore. 

“My help comes from the LORD,” is set up as a theme for this Psalm — which is further developed by a series of assurances that “the LORD is your keeper.” 

Psalm 121 is one of my favorites — it is one of several I have committed to memory for my own devotional purposes. What is interesting about this psalm is that, though it begins with a personal ascent of a relationship with the Lord (MY help comes from the Lord), it soon turns into a communal profession of faith The Lord is YOUR keeper. He will keep YOU from all evil). 

Again we can see the power of the Psalms to give us both words of comfort and words of devotion. The Psalm is good for communal worship — the Psalm is important to be included in our daily devotions. 

The Heidelberg Catechism, used in the Reformed church teachings,  makes the following statement about trust in the providence of G-d that provides a nice confessional commentary on Psalm 121: “To believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is, the catechism teaches, to “trust in him so completely that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. Moreover, whatever evil he sends upon me in this troubled life he will turn to my good, for he is able to do it, being almighty God, and is determined to do it, being a faithful Father… . We are to be patient in adversity, grateful in the midst of blessing, and to trust our faithful God and Father for the future” 

Everyday, may we too be patient in adversity, grateful for our blessings, and trusting of our faithful G-d. 

Let us pray: 

O God, maker of heaven and earth, you help us in times of distress and watch over us day and night. Hold us securely in your mercy, that in the midst of fear and danger we may depend on you, our sure deliverer; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen. 

  

Pastor Dave

August 27, 2023 — Pentecost +13A – Matthew 16:13-20

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”

Caesarea Philippi was also known as Paneas – it stood at the foot of Mt. Hermon. There was a large cliff there referred to as the “Rock of the G-ds”. There were many shrines built there, especially into the cliff face. In the center of the “Rock of the G-ds” there was a huge cave from which flowed a stream that was one of the major sources of the Jordan River. The cave was also called “The Gates of Hades”. It was believed that the god Baal would come and go from the underworld through this cave. This was a lush area – it had a sweeping view of the Upper Jordan River Valley. The water that gushed forth created an oasis of life. One of the shrines built to a god was the shrine to “Pan” – the half goat, half man, flute player. Pan was a “seer” – the Romans and the Greeks received revelations from Pan. He was also worshipped for fertility – his shrine was sexually explicit…….and there were strange sexual rites performed at his shrine. So you see why the Rabbi’s would not even visit this area – it was the original “Sin City” – what happened in Caesarea Philippi (CP) stayed in CP – if you know what I mean.  

How do you think the disciples would have reacted? And when Jesus arrived in CP perhaps he had them sit in this lush, oasis when he asked them the question “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” At the foot of Mt. Hermon, at the place they called the “Rock of the G-ds” Jesus asks his followers about his Messiah-ship. Someone says “Well, Jesus, some people say you are John the Baptist”. Another says “Some say you are Elijah”. Another says “Jeremiah or one of the prophets”. Jesus tells them that it is nice what others say – but then he asks them “What do you say? Who Am I?” Peter says “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living G-d”. And Jesus says, “You are right, Peter. And you will be called “Peter” (Petros) and upon this rock I will build my church. And the gates of Hades will not prevail against my church”.

Why did Jesus go to Caesarea Philippi? The juxtaposition of images cannot be over looked. At the foot of this statue to Pan and perhaps many other shrines, Jesus inquires of their understanding of the Messiah. Protestants claim it is Peter’s “confession” that Jesus is the Messiah – we claim this is the rock on which the church is built. And Jesus gives his followers, including you and me, a rock of faith to stand upon. 

Pastor Dave