pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Sing, O Israel

Readings: Psalms 64-68

‭Psalm 68:9 – “You showered down abundant rain, God; when your inheritance grew weary, you restored it yourself.”

Psalm 64 begins with a prayer for protection and finishes with a celebration of God’s acts. Psalms 65-67 join in the celebration of God’s mighty acts. We close with Psalm 68, mostly more praise but with some petitions for God to act. As we draw close to the end of Book 2, we see the shift towards more praise and less lament.

Psalm 64 begins with prayer of protection against the evil doers’ words or “arrows.” What an appropriate descriptor. The psalmist trusts that God will respond with an arrow too. Then the righteous will rejoice in the Lord. The rejoicing continues in Psalm 65, where David is grateful for God’s listening ear and forgiving heart. David also celebrates how God can “calm the roaring sea.” How we too are grateful for this gift! The Psalm closes with thanksgiving for God’s provision of abundant flocks and grains. Yes, God is good.

Psalm 66 focuses on God’s deeds and power. This power has tested and refined them – a good process. A good one for us too. Not always enjoyable but always fruitful. The psalmist’s response? Offerings given and promises kept, a joyful response! The thanksgiving extends in Psalm 67 to include the gift of salvation. It is to be made known to the nations. Then the nations of the world will better understand the fair judgments that God renders and will better receive the guidance that God desires to give to all of the nations of the world.

Closing today with Psalm 68, the Psalm begins with a grand sweep of God’s acts: scatters the enemy, cares for orphans and widows, sets prisoners free. The psalmist celebrates God’s provision and love: “You showered down abundant rain, God; when your inheritance grew weary, you restored it yourself.” The Psalm closes by remembering God’s past victories, grand worship, and shows of strength. The psalmist longs for these to return. Remind yourselves through song. Sing, O Israel, sing to the God who gives you strength!

Prayer: Lord God, we too thank you for the many ways that you move in our lives and in our world. We offer you our praise and worship! And we too count on your continued presence. Without you, O Lord, we’d be in trouble. Shower us with your abundant love and provision. Go with us day by day. Amen.


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Unfailing Love

Reading: Psalm 31: 9-16

Verse 16: “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love”.

The section of Psalm 31 that we read today begins with David in a place of suffering. In verse nine he pleads with God: “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress”. Most of us have prayed a similar prayer many times in our lives, some more than they can count. All of us have our share of trials and sufferings in life. In this current time in our world and nation, a lot more people are crying out as David does in the verse.

In the next four verses, ten through thirteen, David shares the sources of his distress. Perhaps we have not or are currently not struggling with the same list as David shares here, but that does not make our struggle any less. As we name our struggles or the sources of our suffering or trial, let us ask God to take that up, to bring us relief, to remove that from your life. As you do so, read again the words in verse fourteen: “I trust in you, O Lord; I say, you are my God”. Trust in the God who loves you.

David closes with this powerful request: “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love”. May the Lord our God shine his face upon you. May the Lord our God shower you in his unfailing love.

Prayer: Lord God, rain down that love today. Pour out your affections on me. Let me walk in your love today. Amen.


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Flourishing

Reading: Psalm 72: 5-7

Verse 6: “He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth”.

The Psalms reveal God with a poetic beauty. Sometimes it is a God who judges, who has high expectations. Sometimes it is a God that is patient and loving. Today’s Psalm is of the second variety. In either case, the Psalms are about revealing God and bringing Him glory.

Verse 5 speaks of God’s span of time. The psalmist equates God’s span to the life of the sun and moon. From the Genesis 1 account we know that God pre-exists these heavenly bodies because on the first day God created light. The light brought order out of the darkness. Through Jesus Christ, the light continues to dispel the darkness and evil from our lives and from the world. The King that the psalmist speaks of, Jesus, will indeed endure through all generations as well.

Verse 6 states, “He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth”. After the harvest, the rain falls on the remnant, even then nourishing it and preparing it for new life. When we have been pruned or when we have repented and chosen a better path, Jesus’ love you pours out upon us, bringing growth and new life. The showers that water the earth also bring blessing. As well as bringing growth, the waters also wash away and cleanse.

Verse 7 also speaks of the blessing that will fall upon the righteous, upon those who are faithful to God. The psalmist says that they will flourish. The writer names prosperity as a sign of God’s blessing. Prosperity can be in terms of wealth and resources, but not always. These are temporal, earthly. To me the hope and joy and peace and contentment that come from faithful living are the true and lasting blessings. All we do and say flourishes when we are at rest in our relationship with the Lord. All is well when it is well with our souls. Today, as we wait upon the One who was and is and is to come, may it be well with our souls as we trust in God.

Prayer: Lord of the universe, thank you for being my God. This day and every day, may I rest in you and your love. Pour out your peace and hope and contentment upon my life. May these things overflow into the lives of all I meet today. Amen.