From the Rising of the Sun
(NIV) Psalm 113
1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, you his servants;
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.
This psalm is one of the Hallel (hallelujah) songs and extols God’s praise in the heavens and the earth and shows that God has no comparison. The psalm was sung before the Passover meal, and some theologians believe Jesus and His disciples sang this very hymn on the night of His last meal before He went to the cross.
The psalm shows not only the magnitude of Who God is, but also the extreme love He has for His creation. The psalmist does not ask for anything, but instead exalts God for His very existence.
My favorite part of this scripture is “from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.” The psalmist is not talking about praising God from morning to night, limiting our praise by time. No, he says from the east to the west which encompasses all the earth, in every country and every nation, His name is to be praised.
It has taken me a lifetime to even partially understand the nature of God. Paul said now we see through a glass darkly, but one day, face to face. Yes, one day the veil that separates us from the source of all love will be removed and we will be in His presence.
But until then, may we take time every day to bow before the most high God, praising Him not for what He has done, or for what He will do, but for Who He is.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A Word to the Wise
(NIV) 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
I would imagine many of you are familiar with the first part of verse 10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” But let’s spend a few minutes looking at the selected verses.
I have known more than a few people with technical degrees, advanced graduate degrees and doctoral degrees. The saddest thing I have heard is when I try to talk with someone about God, and the response is, “I’m too smart to believe in God.” My immediate response is, “There’s no such thing.” You see, learning does not necessarily equate with wisdom.
At 74 I am engaged in Discipleship Training at The Church at Rock Creek in a program called Immerse led by my friend and pastor Greg Kirksey. I am not teaching, but I am a fellow student because God has given me enough wisdom to know there is still more for me to learn. As long as God gives us another day, we can still learn, we can help others learn, and we can rejoice in whatever state we are in.
How can we rejoice when our bodies have grown weak and our health is beginning to fail? We can rejoice for all the years we had good health. I rejoice that I was blessed to be able to proclaim God’s Word from the pulpit and in Assisted Living facilities, that I was privileged to teach Sunday Schools and Bible Studies, and pastor some really great congregations. I was honored to baptize children and adults, and oh how I love serving Holy Communion using the Great Thanksgiving liturgy. And I am blessed to still be called upon to lead celebration of life services for congregants who have passed from this life.
And now I rejoice that I am under sound teaching and it is my honor to be able to pray for and encourage the leaders of our church, Rev. Mark Evans, Rev. Greg Kirksey, Rev. Jason Curry, and our worship pastor Rue Buell. I thank God for Curtis Coleman, who imparts godly wisdom with such joy. I am so grateful for our team leader Jan Truitt and her wisdom, guidance, and kindness. And I am thankful that Larry and I have good enough health to be able to take care of each other.
We are never too old to learn, and the more we seek after holiness, the more wisdom God will impart to us. The more wisdom we receive, the more in awe we will be of our Lord God. And that, my friends, is really the end goal of receiving wisdom.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You are precious
(NKJV) Isaiah 43: 1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Oh, how I love the book of Isaiah! God identifies Himself as the Creator and then almost immediately says He redeemed Israel. As a child, I used to help my mother glue green stamps into a book. The stamps were considered a “premium” for shopping at a certain grocery store. There was a redemption center where we exchanged stamps for merchandise, and that was one of the first times I was introduced to the idea of redemption.
I was raised in church, but seeing my mother exchange a book of stamps for a new tablecloth was something I could see and touch. When God says He is the Redeemer, He is saying “It is I Who bought you back…”. Oh, I understand it now, but as a child the only thing I really understood was,” Jesus loves me this I know…”
But to me, one of the best things in this scripture is, “I have called you by name.” The God of the Universe knows each one of us by name. In a world where it is easy to feel practically invisible, we have the assurance that we belong, we have a place with God! Isn’t that comforting?
God does not say “if” you go through the waters and through the fire, but instead, “when” you go through trials. In this world we will have problems, we will have illnesses—we will be hurt by people and sometimes we will hurt people—but God is still on the throne.
May we keep our eyes upon our Redeemer, our Creator, the lover of our souls, and may we act as though we are precious is His sight, because we are.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Bible Tells me So
(NKJV) Is 40:28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
How many times in my life have I sought out this scripture for solace and assurance? And how many times has God comforted me with the knowledge that the God Who was, and is and shall be is my refuge, my strength, my ever-present help in the time of need? How do I know this? Because the Bible tells me so.
I have lived a long time and I know one thing is true: the Bible is the living Word of God. How do I know this? Because the Holy Spirit shines His light upon the Word and reveals hidden truths that somehow I was unable to discern before. And I have talked to others who experienced the same thing!
It is for this reason that I know the Word lives.
So when I see the promise that he that waits upon the Lord will renew his strength, I know that promise is for me.
May we seek out His truth and be fulfilled today.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Take Heart
(NIV) A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.
1 LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him. ”
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, LORD!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Today’s scripture, written when David was running from his own son, is one of hope and faith. At this point David had fought many enemies, but now his son, Absalom, has brought an army against him. How disheartening to have to wage war against your own son. But David knew from experience where to turn.
I recently found a journal I kept back in the ‘90’s. It always amazes me when I read one of the accounts of prayers prayed and prayers answered. And I thank God for the scriptures that have been light and life to me and for God Who has sustained me.
Today some of us face challenges that we fear will defeat us but take courage. The God who delivered David is the same God we serve today. So we join in prayer and say, “Rise up, oh Lord. Deliver me from my illness and make me whole so I can help others who have kingdom hearts and kingdom understanding.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 