September 27, 2023 — Psalm 147

“Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” (Verses 1-11)

Psalm 147 is the second of a group of five Psalms called the Hallelujah Psalms that conclude the book of Psalms. As we review the items of praise, it becomes immediately apparent that each part of the hymn combines activities that concern the community of the Lord’s people and deeds that concern the world at large. “The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground. He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.”

The Lord gives hope to the last, lost, least and little, and also numbers and names the stars and the hairs on our heads. The two kinds of actions, giving hope and naming are placed alongside each other to create what seems to be an indiscriminate image for all to see. So there is a theological purpose behind this mingling. Two kinds of experience are being brought together: gathering the lowly and making it apparent that the Lord knows them by name.

Usually it is the forgotten and the lowly who believe that the Lord has forgotten them. As such, in this view of G-d’s mysterious ways, the community of faith has an important responsibility. The history of the community of faith is a small part of our visible reality, but the power that moves this community to give hope to the hopeless has the same power as G-d’s creating will. The processes of the world are vast, impersonal, and uncaring, and usually seem to be winning the day. But the love, mercy and saving power of Jesus Christ reminds us that G-d has not forsaken nor forgotten us.

Let us Pray:

Loving God, great builder of the heavenly Jerusalem, you know the number of the stars and call them by name. Heal hearts that are broken, gather those who have been scattered, and enrich us all from the fullness of your eternal wisdom, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 26, 2023 — Psalm 146

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long. Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!”

Trust G-d and be unafraid of mortals. Here the contrast is used to address the problem of trusting in various leaders who make promises to save people from the predicaments of human and historical existence. The problem with human leaders is that they don’t “keep faith forever”; or their plans and promises die with them, or they were never planned for action in the first place. With their death, or the death of their promises, the hopes of those who trusted in them are dashed.

I should note that this Psalm does not say that leaders are unnecessary or not useful. But it does warn against trusting any and all human leaders for salvation. Hope based on what passes away is doomed to disappointment.

In contrast, we trust and believe that “the Lord will reign forever”. When we place our trust and our hope on the reign of G-d through the promises of Jesus Christ, then attaching ourselves to Jesus’ reign is founded on a reality that does not pass away. The G-d of Israel is king of the universe — the G-d of Jacob is our stronghold.

Let us Pray:

Blessed indeed are they who put their trust in you, O God, our sure rock and refuge. Guard us from giving to any other the allegiance that belongs only to you. Shine upon us with the brightness of your light, that we may love you with a pure heart and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.