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

August 8, 2023 — Psalm 104

“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight. They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them. You set a boundary that they may not pass so that they might not again cover the earth. You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst. By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.” (Verses 1-13)

Psalm 104 begins and ends with the same self-exhortation that opens and closes Psalm 103: “Bless the LORD, O my soul.” The sentence appears only in these two psalms; its repetition holds them together as a pair.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul” — I guess it is true, praise to the Lord should begin at home. It is hypocritical to ask others to lift up praises to G-d if we are ungratefully silent ourselves. We should find the joy that resides within our own lives and of course our hearts to awaken and realize the blessings G-d has first given us — before we press others to do the same. When we bless the Lord, we should do it personally, publicly, and often. To offer up half-hearted praise, and to offer up half-hearted worship is not worthy of the awesomeness of the Lord.

“O Lord my God, you are very great.” Is it too bold to call upon the Lord as “Mine”? I do not think so. If we believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and confess with our lips the same, then we are just as right to call Jesus “ours”, “mine” — for the Lord is a great G-d and worthy to be praised.

Prayer

God of majesty, we are constantly surrounded by your gifts and touched by your grace; our words of praise do not approach the wonders of your love. Send forth your Spirit, that our lives may be refreshed and the earth may be renewed, until the new heaven and new earth resound with the song of resurrection in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Pastor Dave