August 22, 2023 — Psalm 116 

“I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I pray, save my life!” Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I walk before the LORD in the land of the living. I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my consternation, “Everyone is a liar.” What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.” (Verses 1-15) 

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.” 

“What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?” 

There is an evident tension between these two ways of viewing and speaking about death — death, and final death. If G-d rescues his faithful from the power of death, how can the realm of death lie beyond the help of G-d? The psalm as a song of the Old Testament celebrates the deliverance of life from the snares of death, but it is subject to another reading that will emerge in time, a reading in which it speaks of salvation from the “final death”. 

All people will die — we cannot avoid death. But, we can look forward to eternal life — which, through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, has defeated “final death”. This is why the Psalmist says “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones.” The ones who continue in the good fight of faith to the end, yes will die, but will not experience final death. This is the promise of the resurrection — the Grace of Jesus Christ.  

So then we consider the question: “What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?” 

All we can give to G-d is our prayer, praise and thanksgiving — and then live lives of obedience.  

Let us pray: 

God of mercy and compassion, through the passion and resurrection of your Son you have freed us from the bonds of sin and death. Be with us on our pilgrimage, that may we offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving, fulfill our vows, and glorify you in the presence of all your people; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave

August 21, 2023 — Psalm 115 

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness. Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; 

eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the LORD,  both small and great. May the LORD give you increase,  both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth. The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings. The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence. But we will bless the LORD  from this time on and forevermore. Praise the LORD!” 

“Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk” 

Psalm 115 is a hymn of praise to G-d who is above all things — who is the creator of all. While G-d is not seen in any anthropomorphic manner — yet we see G-d in the things G-d created — and the evidence of G-d’s power — and through the Son, Jesus, who brings salvation.  

The Psalmist attacks those who worship false gods and idols, promoting the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them.” (Exodus 20:4-5) 

I am reminded of the battle between Elijah and the priests of Ba’al on Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged them to have their gods consume a sacrifice — and so they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” (1 Kings 18:26-27) 

We worship one G-d — who was, is and is to come, the almighty. And we continue to read the Psalms in our worship, and use them in our prayer life — for they remind us of the greatness of our G-d. 

Let us pray: 

Lord God, creator and ruler of the universe, you have entrusted the care of the earth to its peoples. Grant that your children, surrounded by signs of your presence, may live continually in Christ, praising you through him and with him, now and forever. 

Amen. 

Pastor Dave