Tag: praise

A Thunderous Beauty (Psalm 68:24-35)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Your solemn processions are seen, O God,
    the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
the singers in front, the musicians last,
    between them young women playing tambourines:
“Bless God in the great congregation,
    the Lord, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
    the princes of Judah in a body,
    the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.

Summon your might, O God;
    show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem,
    kings bear gifts to you.
Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds,
    the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.
Trample under foot those who lust after tribute;
    scatter the peoples who delight in war.
Let bronze be brought from Egypt;
    let Cush hasten to stretch out its hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
    sing praises to the Lord,
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
    listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
    whose majesty is over Israel
    and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
    the God of Israel;
    he gives power and strength to his people.

Blessed be God! (New Revised Standard Version)

From psalm to psalm, the entire biblical psalter is consistent in praising God. Foremost among the praise is celebrating God’s inherent character, and for how that divine character acts with power and grace in the world.

Since God is an infinitely immense Being, our human language cannot begin to adequately contain or describe such incredible divinity. Yet, words are what the psalms have for trying to communicate the attributes of such an awesome God.

That’s why the use of metaphors is significant. Whenever we can picture something we are familiar with, then imaginatively place God alongside it, it helps give us at least a rudimentary idea and feeling of who God is, what God is all about.

To gain a glimpse of God’s majesty and sovereignty over the universe, the psalmist invites us to see with our spiritual eyes that God riding the sky; and to hear with our spiritual ears the thunderous shout that roars and reverberates throughout the cosmos.

Along with our eyes and ears, we are invited to respond by using our power of words and speech to proclaim God’s power. And, I must say, that power is well beyond our ability to describe.

With all of the powerful forces in this world, they are but a mere puff of breath to the God who reigns supreme over all powers, both in heaven and on earth. God’s power is a thunderous beauty. God’s splendor and strength rise larger than thunderheads.

Having grown up in Midwest America, I’ve seen my share of large thunderheads (massive cumulus clouds which form just before a storm), thunderstorms replete with bright lightning and noise so awesome it shakes the farmhouse, and tornados with such force that they rip the roof off a barn as if it were a Lego building.

God is bigger than thunderstorms and tornadoes – louder than any hurricane; stronger than any cyclone; and brighter than any flash of lightning.

The appropriate response to such a great God is to make music for the One who strides the ancient skies in a heavenly chariot; and yet stoops to listen and care about puny humans.

The reasonable response to such a breathtaking God is to listen to the divine voice thundering in the world, and submit to the sound which seems like it might split the heavens open.

To gain a mere glimpse of God’s strength and power will inevitably result in a response of giving up our all to the Lord of the universe – everything we have, and all that we are.

To know, even a tiny smidgeon, of such a God will bring our own loud shouts of proclaiming God’s goodness, grace, and generosity to anyone who will listen to us.

To glimpse what the psalmist sees will consume us with awe, as we intuitively connect with the glory which is constantly streaming from heaven.

What’s more, God shares divine strength with people. God doesn’t have to do that. The Lord has no obligation to do so. Yet, it happens, despite our fickle praise and inconsistent devotion.

So, let’s give our highest praise to the God of the psalms. Let’s imbibe of God’s thunderous presence among us.

I guarantee that it will make us happier than a gopher in soft dirt; or a butcher’s dog; or a unicorn eating cake on a rainbow.

Eternal Trinity – blessed Father, Son, and Spirit – the awesome God whom I serve: The more I enter you, the more I discover, and the more I discover, the more I seek you. A massive thunderhead is but a small cloud next to you, the Godhead, the incredible Three-in-One.

Through you, almighty Lord, I shall come to know myself and my world. And that knowledge is a mighty love for humanity which spans longer and higher than the universe itself. May the love, unity, harmony, community, goodness, and power which is always present within yourself, mighty God, be present with me, your servant.

For just a molecule of You is enough to power me for eternity. Praise the Lord! Amen.

The Wounded Healer (Psalm 18:1-6, 43-50)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
By French painter Georges Rouault (1871-1958)

I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.

The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears…

You gave me victory over my accusers.
    You appointed me ruler over nations;
    people I don’t even know now serve me.
As soon as they hear of me, they submit;
    foreign nations cringe before me.
They all lose their courage
    and come trembling from their strongholds.

The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock!
    May the God of my salvation be exalted!
He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
    he subdues the nations under me
    and rescues me from my enemies.
You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
    you save me from violent opponents.
For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations;
    I will sing praises to your name.
You give great victories to your king;
    you show unfailing love to your anointed,
    to David and all his descendants forever. (New Living Translation)

King David, the psalmist, had no problem with publicly expressing his great feeling of love for God. His desire was to be thoroughly devoted to the Lord; and he confidently discerned God as the source of his strength.

What’s more, David freely recognized God as the One who brought him deliverance. David cried out in distress. In his despair and desperation, he looked to the Lord, and God responded.

This is in contrast to those who complain about God and consider the Lord as distant and uncaring – if existing at all. David’s experience was that of being heard by God. And he wanted everyone to know, so that the faithful may be encouraged.

David didn’t want people becoming discouraged because of the bitterness of others who accuse God of being unconcerned.

The psalmist was not just talking about some mundane request, like asking for parking spot close to the building. David was in a life-and-death situation, stressful beyond imagination. Things were not looking good for him.

It seemed that the insolent, who think God isn’t watching, believed they could act unjustly and do whatever they wanted. Sadly, their lust for power and control blinds them to the larger reality of an invisible God who sees, and who responds at just the right time.

David wanted people to remember and not to forget about the saving actions of God. Because by keeping in mind who God truly is, then we can have confident trust, and will live in a way that is right, just, and good.

“Our service will not be perceived as authentic unless it comes from a heart wounded by the suffering about which we speak.”

Henri Nouwen

A good, right, and just life is always the appropriate response to divine mercy and deliverance. We are saved from evil, so that we might live in the spiritual freedom of purity and peace. And David gave God some due praise, adoration, and thanksgiving for rescuing him from his enemies.

Since David went through all of the adversity, hardship, stress, and suffering of dealing with unjust people, he was in a position to be a wounded healer for us.

A wounded healer is not someone who endorses a victim mentality. Rather, this is a person who has been profoundly hurt – physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually – and comes through the experience with an ability to be present with others and help facilitate healing in those who suffer.

Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5, NIV)

We all suffer and face various hard circumstances. And we are all changed by the hurtful encounters. But we don’t all respond the same way to that adversity. The difficult experiences of pain lead us to become either bitter or better.

If we have a wounded healer in our life, there is a good chance that we will be able to move through the hardship and come to a place of gratitude for what the Lord has done for us and how God brought us deliverance.

“As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others.”

Henri Nouwen

Deliverance may not end up looking like anything we anticipate. If we are stuck on particular outcomes and have a singular expectation, then we may very well miss the Rescuer when the ship of salvation shows up.

Yet, if we can remain open to and aware of God – as well as of what’s going on inside us – then we shall likely experience healing for our deep wounds of pain. And we will embrace the scars it leaves as a reminder of the Lord’s deliverance.

It could be that things don’t change, at least like we want. In such times, perhaps the greatest healing that can take place is to be healed from the need for healing.

The Lord shows unfailing commitment and steadfast love to the faithful, to those who seek God. We shall find the divine in all circumstances, that is, if we seek God with all our heart.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV)

Pain cannot be taken away unless we enter into it. So, it only makes sense to me, that we have a guide like the psalmist to lead us, and a Savior like Jesus to rescue us.

“Wholeness is not achieved by cutting off a portion of one’s being, but by integration of the contraries.”

Carl Jung

May you be patient in suffering, as Christ was in his earthly pain.

May the Lord be near you in your time of weakness and wondering.

May God sustain you by divine grace, and grant you courage not to have a failure of faith.

May you know healing of both body and soul.

And may you always believe that what happens to you in this present life is of little account if you hold Christ in eternal life. Amen.

The Thundering Voice of the Lord (Psalm 29)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
    worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl
    and strips the forest bare,
    and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless his people with peace! (New Revised Standard Version)

I grew up in rural middle America, on the land, and working the land. All of that outdoor work of the farmer makes one very attuned to the weather. In fact, my dad could often predict a coming thunderstorm with an almost precise accuracy.

There is something of a weather report from the psalmist in today’s lesson. He describes a powerful storm forming and moving its way inland from over the sea. It does its damage as a result of high winds, incredible lightning, and of course, the loud rumble of thunder. It is this thunderous display of strength that is the voice of the Lord.

Seven times in Psalm 29 the psalmist repeats the phrase, “the voice of the Lord.” There’s a lot more going on than a meteorological thunderstorm; behind the storm is theological Being who controls all things. The Lord God almighty is not your run-of-the-mill ordinary local deity.

Israel did not have multiple gods of thunder, lightning, clouds, and rain; they worshiped Yahweh, one God, who was Lord of the entire storm, as well as the whole world. The point of the psalmist is that no one, no other god, can compete with this awesome God of Israel.

Yet, despite the theological reality of Israel and their God, there was an entire panoply of gods that the Canaanites worshiped in ancient Palestine. The Canaanite god Baal is mentioned many times in the Old Testament. Baal was the lord of the storm, the god who hung out in the clouds and brought needed rain for the crops to grow.

What’s more, ancient Israel was continually tempted toward the worship of Baal. There were even those who gave the ancient god credit for the harvest of crops. But the psalmist will have none of that business. The real lord of the storm, the actual power behind everything in the universe, is Yahweh.

This is why there is the invitation to praise the Lord. And it isn’t just people who are invited; the heavenly beings are called upon to praise. It’s likely that the psalmist is putting those pagan gods in their place by encouraging them to recognize who is really in charge and in control of all things.

Whatever is going on with the psalmist’s intention, there is clearly a universal and cosmic call to acknowledge the majesty and sovereignty of Yahweh and offer appropriate praise for the One who is over everything.

The description of the powerful thunderstorm is presented as evidence of Yahweh’s power, glory, and sovereignty. It’s as if the entire earth is a temple, with every creature on earth called upon to offer up their praise and honor. Beings in both heaven and earth join together in a great universal choir of praise to the God who makes all things possible.

Even when the rains turn into a flood and brings chaos, God is over those chaotic waters, as well. It is the Lord who brings order from chaos, and who tames the mighty waters. In the New Testament, Jesus demonstrated this godly power in front of the fearful disciples:

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And waking up, he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:37-41, NRSV)

God, as absolute Sovereign, is able to provide peace and well-being from fearful hearts and anxious minds. And this is something to celebrate, to offer gratitude to God for such absolute authority.

People today may not be tempted to worship Baal; but in the middle of our fear and anxiety of life’s many storms, we might search for help and deliverance from the stock market, technology companies, a capitalist economy, social networking, or our own hard work and ingenuity.

Those things may easily become the gods we worship – offering our time, commitment, money, and emotional energy to them – and leaving God in the dugout of our lives to be available, just in case, as a pinch-hitter. But this approach never accounts for the inevitable game being rained out – perhaps permanently.

Just as the wise person saves their money for the inevitable rainy day, so the spiritual person who is aware of God’s authority and power will wisely invest their time and energies into discovering this God. They will engage in spiritual practices designed for relatable connection.

The believer realizes that, although today might be bright and sunny, there will be a damaging thunderstorm in the future for which preparations must be made now.

The voice of the Lord can be a reassuring presence and a healing balm; or it can be a fearful and devastating experience. How you see it and prepare for it makes a big difference.

Glorious God, I worship and praise you in response to your voice. I join with all the voices of the earth, together with all the voices of the heavens, to praise your glorious name; and to bow down in awe before your mighty power. Amen.

Our Creator and Sustainer (Psalm 104:24-34, 35b)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Bible Art

Our Lord, by your wisdom
    you made so many things;
the whole earth is covered
    with your living creatures.
But what about the ocean
    so big and wide?
It is alive with creatures,
    large and small.
And there are the ships,
    as well as Leviathan,
the monster you created
    to splash in the sea.

All of these depend on you
    to provide them with food,
and you feed each one
with your own hand,
    until they are full.
But when you turn away,
    they are terrified;
when you end their life,
    they die and rot.
You created all of them
    by your Spirit,
and you give new life
    to the earth.

Our Lord, we pray
that your glory
    will last forever
and that you will be pleased
    with what you have done.
You look at the earth,
    and it trembles.
You touch the mountains,
    and smoke goes up.
As long as I live,
I will sing and praise you,
    the Lord God.
I hope my thoughts
    will please you,
because you are the one
    who makes me glad…

With all my heart
I praise you, Lord!
    I praise you! (Contemporary English Version)

In the wake of the Day of Pentecost, we are reminded by the psalmist that the Spirit was not only involved in forming the church, but was already experienced in forming creation. Everything about the Spirit’s work at the origins of the earth was immensely good, wonderfully complex, and intricately interrelated. Indeed, it all reflects the wisdom and majesty of God.

According to the psalmist, God is the Creator and is therefore sovereign over all of this vast dominion of earthly space and ecological systems. We humans are workers in this ordered world; and created in God’s image and likeness as the Lord’s vice-regents over this incredible domain. Humanity is thus both intimately connected with and distinctly separate from all the rest of the world.

As the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the entire world depends upon God for every need; no one can survive, let alone thrive, without the Lord’s continuing presence by means of the Spirit.

This sustaining force of God includes gracious, loving, and compassionate guidance. Everything holds together and has its meaning within God. The breath of God – the Spirit – gives life to both our physical and spiritual selves.

The psalmist paints a picture of creation as full of life – with life itself as the highest expression of its purpose. Our delight in living and being comes from a profound connection with the Creator, Sustainer, and Guide of the universe.

Because of humanity’s deep connection with God and the rest of creation, everything we do as people on this earth impacts God and God’s big world. Every human action exerts an influence. Theology, anthropology, and ecology all exist with complex interconnectedness. God, people, and the world are bound to each other. Since God is relationship itself, relational connection is built into all creation.

Humanity is the apex and climax of God’s creative activity; yet, at the same time, we are but one piece within this intricate whole of creation. We humans are tasked by God to serve the earth and care for it – not to rule in such a way that exploits its grand resources, but to maintain and strengthen the existing connected systems of the earth.

This means we are meant to think of the common good of all earth’s citizens, as well as to consider future generations, and equip them to steward our vast world with practical wisdom and spiritual sensitivity.

Everything that brings disconnection, and thus harm, is to be weeded out and discarded. Wickedness, injustice, oppression, exploitation, unrighteousness, and arrogance are to be purged from the good earth, so that all creatures great and small can thrive and enjoy what God has provided.

Even the seemingly uncontrollable elements of this world – sea monsters and leviathans, chaos and evil – are ultimately subject to the sovereign God of this realm. It is the Lord who brings order from chaos, life from death, and calms the churning waters – quieting all of those ancient leviathans which cause so much of a stir.

It would be great if everyone everywhere found joy in their lives, brought God joy, and enjoyed being with everyone else and caring for all creation. Yet, those chaotic disconnecting powers are there – causing harm and division, splitting that which is designed to be connected, and disrespecting the inherent goodness of God’s image bearers and God’s world.

By being in harmony and in sync with God’s Spirit, we can work together against wickedness and not separate or dismantle what God has built and joined. Through our spiritual awareness, we can help, and not harm. In maintaining our proper spiritual connections, we can be agents of upholding the good, the right, and the just; and not underhandedly undermining God’s sovereignty.

Let us then offer our hallelujahs; our praise, adoration, and gratitude, to God who is the source of life. Because it’s awfully hard to be bad when you’re being good.

May you be able to say with the psalmist – and with all creation, including the trees and even the rocks – that with my whole heart I praise you, almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth.

And may your prayers be pleasing to the Lord and be full of mercy and love. Amen, amen.