Psalm 136 - Love Endures

Psalm 136:1-2, 4-11, 16-17, 21, 23-26 NIV

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.

He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let the mantra begin! Say it with me, "His love endures forever!" Psalm 136 is clearly a call and response kind of worship liturgy. The leader calls the gathered worshipers to give thanks to the Lord for His goodness. The people respond in unison with, "His love endures forever."

The leader tells of the many ways God has shown His goodness. God is creator. God is powerful and has full understanding on universe creating. God is deliverer, setting the Hebrews free from slavery in Egypt, defeating kings who opposed them as they took possession of their inheritance, the Promised Land of Canaan. God is a promise keeper. He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He brought Israel into the land He promised to them. The animals within the land are fed by the goodness of the creator. His love does all these wonderful things and more. His love endures forever.

This psalm recounts the history of Israel from its creation story to its deliverance from slavery in Egypt to its possession of the Promised Land. But what of your history? If you were to recount your story of God's goodness to you what would you say?

Mine would give thanks for my creation, for my life, for my family. I wanted for nothing. I would thank Him for the sunny days spent swimming in ponds and walking barefoot in grass. I would praise Him for forests and trees, for blackberries and apples, for pie and ice cream. I would praise Him for laughter and love, for games and family movie nights.

My story would give thanks for my deliverance from slavery to sin and the fear of death. Death itself is conquered in the work of my deliverer, Jesus Christ. I am saved and I and being saved. I am free and I and becoming freer. He has defeated fears, addiction, and other brutal taskmasters. He has lead me from isolation to friendship. He has restored my sanity and returned to me the joy of His salvation. He has filled me with the promised Holy Spirit as a sign of heaven to come. He has helped me to live comfortably in my own skin. He has imparted to me peace that passes understanding. Though I am far from the perfect love of Christ, God is faithful. He will complete the good work He began in me. His love will continue to transform my soul. His love endures forever!

Our stories move in similar patterns as that of Israel's story: Creation (birth and beginnings), Deliverance (from what keeps us from our fullest life), and Promise (our hope in heaven and the healing of creation).

Recount the ways God has revealed His goodness to you through your journey. Give thanks for He is good. His love endures forever.

Psalm 135 - Praise Praise Praise

Psalm 135:1-6, 9-10, 12-21 NIV

Praise the Lord. 

Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord,

 you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. 

For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession.

I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. 

The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth,

 in the seas and all their depths. 

He sent his signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,

 against Pharaoh and all his servants. 

He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings—

 and he gave their land as an inheritance, an inheritance to his people Israel.

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations. 

For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by human hands. 

They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 

They have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. 

Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, praise the Lord; house of Aaron,

 praise the Lord; house of Levi, praise the Lord;
 you who fear him, praise the Lord. 

Praise be to the Lord from Zion, to him who dwells in Jerusalem. 

Praise the Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Psalm 135! It's hard to believe, but I'm 15 psalms away from the end of the Book of Psalms. Psalm 135 is not noted as a psalm of accent, but it sure looks similar to others that are. The priests and Levites who serve continually at the temple are called to praise the Lord. Hallelujah! That's the actual Hebrew phrase that means praise the Lord.

They are to praise with singing. God is good all the time! There are countless songs written for Him and new ones come every year. He has chosen Israel/Jacob. They are his treasured possession through whom He reveals His goodness, faithful, power and righteousness.

The psalmist celebrates God's mighty acts of deliverance in Egypt and during the conquest of Canaan. God defeated Pharaoh and his army. God defeated the king Og and king Sihon of the Amorites. Og was a giant descended from the mythical Rephaim or Nephilim, the offspring of angels and women. God drove out the nations from Canaan and gave the land to the Israelites as an inheritance, according to His promise to Abraham.

As creator God has the power and authority to do as He wills. He willed to save us. He chose us through His Son Jesus Christ, the king of the Jews. We Christians are also God's people. Therefore we too can join in the praise.

Those who trust in idols, false gods, man made icons, or adore famous people, or anything other than the living God, are doomed to become the very thing their hearts worship. What happens when the boy band are no longer boys? Your idol slips into fable and obscurity over time.

My idols are aging and their music is dated. Most of the emerging generation has not understood my idols' magnanimity. If my heart was truly given over to The Beatles,The Stones, and The Who, I'm destined to mourn and be lost as they pass from this life. My idols are dwindling to become little more than a brief dictionary article in some future book of rock music.

I too am passing. Can Pete Townshend save me? Can John Lennon usher me into eternity? Can George Lucas or Luke Skywalker deliver my soul from death? That's a ridiculous notion. There is only One deserving of our worship, only One deserving of our ultimate trust. Israel calls us to praise the Lord.

Psalm 135 ends with a fourfold call to praise the Lord. All Israel, her priests and Levites, and those who fear the Lord (that's you and me!) are called to praise Yahweh.

Remember the renowned way in which the Lord has rescued you from sin and death. Acknowledge the greatness of our God. Abandon lesser things and join in the chorus. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm 134 - Appreciation

Psalm 134:1-3 NIV

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord

 who minister by night in the house of the Lord. 

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord. 

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

 he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every church offers worship services. Call a church and their voicemail system will offer you their service times. Few if any will tell you that services occur around the clock, but that is what happened at the temple in Jerusalem. God was served continually by the priests and Levites, according to the Law of Moses.

Somehow our understanding of worship shifted from a service given to honor God, to a service offered to meet the spiritual needs and appetites of the community. The so-called worship wars between traditional and contemporary styles are an example of our self-focused understanding of a worship service.

From a practical standpoint how we got to this place is pretty apparent. Worship attendance in America peaked in the 1970's at 70% of the people worshiping. Then worship numbers began to fall, plummeting to today's 30% or less of the people worshiping with religious institutions. Churches began to try new things to attract more worshipers. The focus shifted from serving God to trying to reach a populace that no longer heeds the voice of the church.

It makes me wonder what church attendance would be like if we kept our focus on God and sought His help. What if we served Him around the clock with prayers and praise? Would revival come once again to America?

Psalm 134 is a prayer for those dedicated to the service of the Lord, for priests and Levites. They had a system of rotating duties. When it was your turn you took the night shift at the temple.

Samuel, when he was a child, was working the night shift. He slept in the holy place assuring that the candles remained burning and the incense continued rising to the Lord. He was not a priest. His mother dedicated him to the Lord's service. He became a mighty prophet in Israel. There in the holy place he heard the voice of the Lord for the first time.

October is called pastor appreciation month. Pray for those who labor for the Lord's honor and glory. Pray for those who listen for the Lord's guidance. Pray for those who assist in leading worship. Pray for those leaders who attend to administration. Pray for ministry leaders and their teams. Pray to God with thanksgiving for them. Encourage them. Let your words lift them to what they do for your God. Let your prayers become a powerful resource to those who minister before the Lord. Keep worship about serving God and not about your preferences. Pray the Lord's blessings on His servants and upon His church. Perhaps, as His light shines upon the people, others will come to the light they see in you.

Psalm 133 - Mountain Dew

Psalm 133:1-3 NIV

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,

 running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. 

For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you're into soda pop, then you know the sugary zing of Mountain Dew. The name of the beverage isn't inspired by Psalm 133, but rather another beverage, moonshine whiskey. But when did we start thinking of illegally distilled corn whiskey as mountain dew? During prohibition moonshiners produced whiskey in the Appalachian mountains. So I get the connection. But what is mountain dew actually? I searched Google for an answer.

I couldn't find a direct answer, but it seems that the altitude, the abundance of foliage, and wind conditions affect the dew point of the air. Water is in the air and when conditions are right it condenses and forms as dew on surfaces on the ground. Dew fall isn't like rain, but dew is refreshing for plant life and even a life saver during times of drought. Jerusalem is sort of a high desert climate, so Mt. Zion is dry and dusty a lot of the time. Mt. Hermon, on the other hand, is usually covered in snow and lush with vegetation. The moist conditions in the summer time would make Hermon a nice place to cool down. So the metaphor for dew falling from Hermon means refreshment and joyful release. I suppose moonshine gives release and a moment of joy. Beware the morning after though!

Psalm 133 is liturgy celebrating the unity of worshipers at the temple in Jerusalem. That unity of faith leads to unity throughout the land. The unity of worshiping people is good and pleasing to the senses like dew fall on a hot summer night.

The unity of God's people is like anointing oil poured with a generous portion over the head of the high priest, consecrating him as the mediator of the covenant of the Lord for the people Israel. As priests, the sons of Aaron minister before the Lord serving Him on behalf of the people. A priest follows, with due reverence and strict obedience, all the religious ordinances prescribed in the law of Moses. The high priest had the sole privilege of offering sacrifice for the sins of the nation on the Day of Atonement. Only the high priest could walk behind the veil and enter the holy of holies where sat the ark of the covenant, and that he did only once a year. Could the reference to the consecration of Aaron be a reference to the Day of Atonement? How is that good and pleasing? How does atonement lead to unity?

To be one with God is without a doubt the greatest pleasure one can experience. To be in harmony with our creator leads to harmony in all our relationships. Atonement from sin restores our relationship with God, making unity possible. The experience of forgiveness and mercy showered upon the people during the Day of Atonement must have been a felt experience, as God manifested His holy and lifegiving presence among His newly restored worshipers. The presence of God is often peaceful and pleasing.

Imagine yourself among the worshipers on the one day of the year when thousands upon thousands gather at the temple to receive mercy and to have their sins blotted out. Such joy! Such meaningful community!

Whenever I celebrate the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion) I sometimes am caught up with a feeling of wonder as face after face comes forward to receive the elements representing the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, The Anointed One. He is our high priest forever and through the atonement we receive through His blood, we are forever reconciled with God. We can enjoy unity with God all the time because Christ died an atoning death once for all. His is the ultimate and final sacrifice. In our unity with God we might also enjoy harmony in our relationships in the fellowship of the church. Our unity is never more clear than at the Lord's table. For we all are sinners in need of mercy and we all receive the abundance of God's mercy when we humbly remember the death of Jesus for our sakes. Such joy! Such heartfelt connection with God and one another.

Lord, save us from our sin. In Your mercy, bless the church with unity. Make us one with Christ and one with each other in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast together at His heavenly banquet. Amen

Psalm 132 - Come With History

Psalm 132:1-5, 7-8, 11-18 NIV

Lord, remember David and all his self-denial. 

He swore an oath to the Lord, he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:

 “I will not enter my house or go to my bed,

 I will allow no sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,

 till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

“Let us go to his dwelling place, let us worship at his footstool, saying,

 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.

The Lord swore an oath to David, a sure oath he will not revoke:

 “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne.

 If your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them,

 then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever.”

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling,

 saying, “This is my resting place forever and ever;

 here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. 

I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. 

I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

 “Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”

Psalm 132 is a prayer for the king of the Jews who rules in Jerusalem, the city where the temple of the Lord sits upon Mount Zion. The prayer is seeking the Lord's blessing on the king, David and his descendants, and as a result, a blessing on all of Israel, it's priests and people.

This psalm also celebrates the story of how David was committed to building the Lord a temple, and how God was moved to establish a covenant with David and his sons. When God heard David's plans to build a temple, the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to him with a message.

2 Samuel 7:11-16 NIV

“ ‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

The worshipers call to one another, "Let's go to the temple where the Lord dwells and worship." They call to the Lord to fill His temple with His glory, to take His seat upon His throne above the ark of the covenant.

They celebrate the Lord's faithful promise to the house of David to always have one of his sons ruling the people with righteousness as he keeps the law of Moses. This means blessings upon all Israel when the king is obedient to God and His law.

The blessings upon Israel through faithful sons of David mean the enduring presence of God among His people, abundance, food for the hungry poor, and a priesthood who carry the salvation of the Lord upon their hearts to share with the people. Blessing means the people will forever sing with joy to the Lord for His goodness. It means strength and glory upon the king of the Jews and shame and defeat upon the enemies of Israel.

As the pilgrims travel to Jerusalem to worship they sing this psalm, among the many others designed to encourage and instruct. They are reminded of their history. They are reminded of the significance of the temple. It's history points to their future. Rooted in the desire to honor the Lord, the temple has become the earthly dwelling of the living God, creator of heaven and earth. From there God will bless Israel. They are reminded of God's promises to the house of David and what it means for all Israel. And they increase their joy in anticipation of seeing the temple and worshiping there.

I'm getting super excited about seeing the new film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Anticipation builds as I remember my history with this mythological space adventure. I remember seeing the first film back in 1977 as a 15 year old boy scout camp counselor on a night off. I remember how we all cheered when the movie ended. I saw that movie three times that summer. I've seen everything Star Wars since. It's a joyful part of my life.

A new full length trailer is coming out this Monday. I can't wait to see it. The trailer will be like seeing a glimpse of the film coming out on December. Though it's still two months away, my joy and anticipation grows each day. I imagine that glimpsing the temple seated upon Mount Zion from a distance miles away must have also filled the worshipers long ago with joy that grew with every step they took. The object of their desire was soon to be within their immediate presence, the Lord of heaven and earth.

As I come to the sanctuary of any particular church, I come with history. I remember my life journey with God. I remember His faithfulness to me. I remember that God has kept His promise to the house of David and placed the Son of David, Jesus Christ, upon the throne forever. I acknowledge that Jesus is the righteous king who brings blessings upon the world by blessing the church with love and grace, truth and wisdom, plenty and protection. I remember that I was weened on mother church and grew in faith through her teachings. I stand in thankful joy as I look upon the altar.

May we always and forever be filled with songs of joyful praise to our God.

Psalm 131 - Mystics

Psalm 131:1-3 NIV

My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;

 I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 

But I have calmed and quieted myself,

 I am like a weaned child with its mother;

 like a weaned child I am content.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

Psalm 131 is the prayer of a mystic. In two of the three verses of the psalm the prayer is directed to God from the person praying. First is acknowledgment of humility before the omniscience of God. God sees all. God knows all things past, present, and future. The Hebrews thought God had a book with all our days written in it.

Psalm 139:4, 6, 16 NIV

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Too often in theological discourse there is a lack of this kind of humility. We think that we can know all that God knows, or rather, in a godless worldview, know what there is to know thereby disproving the existence of the God portrayed in the Bible, or any god at all.

Stephen Hawking wrote in His book, A Brief History of Time,

"What I have done is to show that it is possible for the way the universe began to be determined by the laws of science. In that case, it would not be necessary to appeal to God to decide how the universe began. This doesn't prove that there is no God, only that God is not necessary."

That's the kind of human arrogance I mean. It lacks humility before God. It's not that we should not explore the knowable universe and explore questions of existence, it's that we foolishly believe our scientific tools somehow compare to the omniscience of God.

Hawking exemplifies my point in this passage from his book.

"If we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason — for then we would know the mind of God."

What has been questions solely held within the realm of religion is now the objective goal of astrophysicists. It would be better if scientists pursued these questions with humility, open to the possibility that they might be wrong, that they have not seen the whole picture, in fact that they are only scratching the surface.

The psalmist knows this humility and it brings him closer to God where he finds peace.

Psalm 131:2 NIV

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Contemplative prayer is a spiritual practice that leads one to the bosom of God where there is incredible peace, lifegiving and renewing. You won't find your way to the presence of God with an attitude that God does not exist, or that God is some impersonal force, or an absentee landlord. Only by faith can we please God. Only by a wholehearted search can God be found by our efforts. We find God only because God wants to be found by those who love Him. It's not that God is absent or hiding. It's that we are deaf and blind to ultimate reality. In Christ God removes our blinders.

That's why the composer of Amazing Grace wrote, "I once was lost but now I'm found, 'twas blind but now I see. Faith in God brings us to spiritual sight, and then only glimpses that carry us in great hope for full sight. Grace from God gives us that peace that passes all understanding. A contemplative prayer life will nurture peace like a satisfied babe upon the breast of her mother. Each day as we sit in silence seeking to experience the presence of the Almighty, a little more of the peace of heaven touches us. In that heavenly peace we bring peace into the world. Be humble and know peace.

And so I close with the urging of the psalmist,

"Put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore."

Psalm 130 - He Himself Redeems

Psalm 130:1-8 NIV

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. 

Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning

, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love

 and with him is full redemption. 

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The English translation is Day of Atonement or Day of Redemption. It is the day, the only day of the entire year, when the high priest entered the holy of holies. He stepped behind the veil concealing the most holy place in the temple where the ark of the covenant sat, that gold overlaid box Moses and Aaron had built to hold the ten commandments, written on two stone tablets by the finger of God. The ark was covered with a lid upon which sat two cherubim. Above their wings, it was believed, sat the throne of God. Though the Lord could not be seen, this space above the cherubim was known as the mercy seat. Here the high priest made intercession for the people Israel, pleading for mercy and forgiveness for their transgressions and sin during the year.

In the days of the temple, the streets of Jerusalem near the temple would flow with the blood of sacrifices flowing from the altar. The animals gave their lives in substitution for the lives of sinners. The blood of the animal sacrifices atoned or covered the people's sins. With their sins covered, holiness is restored and they can once again stand in the presence of holy God and enjoy His blessing.

I imagine Psalm 130 to be a perfect psalm for worshipers coming to the temple on the Day of Atonement. The psalm is a prayer of confession and a profession of faith in the mercy of God.

The psalm begins by entreating the Lord to hear the psalmist's cry for mercy. He acknowledges that his sins separate him from God. If it weren't for the mercy of God, none would be able to stand in His holy presence. For we all fall short of the glory of God. Atonement, the blood sacrifice, makes it possible to serve the Lord in humility and reverence.

This psalm communicates a deep ache, a terrible yearning for forgiveness. The psalmist wants to be made right again before His God. He knows his wrongs. He knows how he has offended God and harmed others. He is deeply sorrowed. He wants to be set free from his guilt which he feels deep within. So out of the depths of his soul he cries. And he waits on the mercy of the Lord to set him free.

Psalm 130 ends with an appeal to the community to put their hope in the unfailing love of God. They can expect complete freedom from shame and guilt through the redemption He will give. For God himself will redeem Israel.

As a Christian I can't help but read Jesus in that last thought.

Psalm 130:8 NIV

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Jesus laid down His life, the lamb of God, for us all. His blood was shed upon the cross as a sacrifice to redeem us from all our sin. The death of the Son of God is the once for all sacrifice that covers over the sins of the world, for all people, for all time. Now, by an act of God's incredible mercy, we are free to serve Him in reverence.

Paul says it best.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 6:1 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

The Day of Atonement for Christians is any day. Every day the Lord forgives. Every day the Lord redeems. Every day freedom is yours in His mercy. Wait for it. Hope in it. Cry out for mercy and sweet redemption from the depths of your soul and trust in the unfailing love of Christ.