Psalm 110 - King and Priest Forever

Psalm 110 is most often interpreted as prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. We read it through the lens of the New Testament as it is quoted there numerous times.

In Mark (12:35-37a NRSV)
     "While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:

     “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
      “Sit at my right hand
      until I put your enemies
      under your feet.”’

   

     David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”"

The LORD will send out a ruler from Zion.  He will rule in the midst, and in spite, of God's enemies. He will be a priest forever according to the order of Mechizedek. (v.4) In Hebrews, chapters 5, 6, and 7, the writer more clearly links Jesus to this prophetic passage from the Psalms.  

     "We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,  where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Heb 6:19-20)

David's hope was in the One who was to come.  Our hope lies in the One who has come, is now, and will reign as King, and as High Priest, forever, Jesus Christ, our LORD.

May your hope be renewed and your joy complete.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 109 - Vengeance is God's

^"He loved to pronounce a curse—
may it come back on him.
He found no pleasure in blessing—
may it be far from him.
He wore cursing as his garment;
it entered into his body like water,
into his bones like oil.
May it be like a cloak wrapped about him,
like a belt tied forever around him.
May this be the Lord’s payment to my accusers,
to those who speak evil of me. (Psalm109:17-20 NIV)

Vengeance is the LORD's.  I have learned over the years that it is not my place to take vengeance on those who accuse me.  God will take care of me. He will take care of those who are falsely accused or accosted. He will take care of those who falsely accuse or unjustly attack others. No, I am not a pacifist. I definitely will defend others when they are attacked. There are times when we need to defend ourselves. There are times when we need to seek assistance from the law. However, there are also times, I think, that we should step back when it is we who are being attacked and let go and let God, as the saying goes.

Years ago when I was very young, I was selling insurance door to door.  At one home, a man, arrogant and full of deceit attempted to assault me.  I was pretty shaken, but I got away unharmed.  I wanted to press charges.  A co-worker, an older Christian man, talked me into not doing that. The man who had attempted to harm me was pretty well known and liked in the community.  I was a stranger.  He was a local politician. I was an insurance salesman. "Do nothing, he said. Who are the authorities going to believe? Let us pray together and leave the vengeance to God.  Let us pray that the evil he intended upon you return to him." So we did.

Did God answer our prayers?  You tell me.  The following week, while the man was at work, his  wife left him. With his new convertible filled with his precious electronics in the trunk, she and her boyfriend sped away from the house and wrecked his vehicle. It hit the newspapers. The car and the contents were totalled. His wife and her boyfriend were unharmed, but his ego was definitely done in. He was no longer the prideful man he had been the week before.

Sure, there are days, still, when I would like to take vengeance.  But, I learned that day, almost forty years ago, to leave vengeance to God. He will take care of me. He always has. Why would He not continue?

Remember, your curses against others are prayers. Prayers that just might return and turn upon you. Watch what comes out of your lips - prefer blessings to curses - as what you do to others may be done to you.

"He loved to pronounce a curse—may it come back on him." (vs 17)
God's blessings and peace - Pr. J
 

Psalm 108 - Jesus Victorious Over All - Even Death

You want victory?  In all things, in this world and the next, the LORD brings to us victory! Jesus is victory!

How many times have you sought the help of humankind to get you through troubling times? The schemes and works of man might seem to help for a time. But, it never seems to last. There is only One who can deliver you completely and thoroughly. Quit scheming against others and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Trust the LORD and give Him praise. In Him, you will find deliverance from your enemies.  There is no better advise that I can give you if you are in the midst of turmoil than to listen to the LORD, your God. He will lead you out of the wilderness.

This morning, I am preparing for a Memorial Service. They can be difficult. Sometimes there is just too much time to plan what can one say to comfort those who grieve.  What can one say to those who are standing face to face with the death of a loved one?  The only thing once can do is to trust the Holy Spirit and to proclaim the Kingdom of God for all who believe. Jesus the Christ died, descended into hell, and rose from the dead for us. He conquered death for us and because He lives, so shall we! We shall live in the Kingdom that He has prepared for us!  

"I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor
does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinth 15:50-55 NIV)

Who will bring us to the promised land?  You know the answer to that.  Jesus Christ, our LORD. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Psalm 107 - Genuine Love Endures Forever

If you find yourself in a dark place, alone and without love, cry out to the LORD and He will deliver you from your distress.  And... when he does, tell your story that others might hear and believe. Tell your story that others might turn to the LORD for their deliverance, for their redemption.

By the blood of Christ, you have been redeemed.  Why is that so difficult to believe?  Maybe, because so many refuse to hear His promises?  Maybe because so many refuse to turn from the ways of the world and turn to the path the LORD sets before them? 

Quit wandering aimlessly in the desert wastelands!  Step out of the darkness into His marvelous light! Turn from your rebellious ways and bask in his unfailing love for you! Bask in that light of love! Share that love of God with others so that they, too, may live in His peace.

The world is not a happy place.  Actually, there a lot of people running around pretending to be happy. But, sadly inside where man cannot see, there is a loneliness, a lovelessness that dwells within the heart.

Humankind has have a very bad habit of seeking momentary pleasures. We seek superficial love that passes quickly and costs us much. It costs us our relationships with God and genuinely loving relationship with one another. There is only One to whom we can turn to know genuine love.  That One whose love is genuine and never-failing is the LORD, our God, who on the cross redeemed us and made us His own.

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; his love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 106 - Remember, But Don't Live In the Past

Over and over again, the people rebelled against God.  Over and over again, they suffered because of their rebellion.  Over and over again, the LORD saved them from their own iniquity.

It's the same old story.  It's not just Israel's story.  It is ours.  All of us have gone astray.  All of us have experienced the consequences of our sins. Yet, God, whom we have offended most, continues to forgive. He continues to give to us salvation through Jesus Christ.

As often as we turn and call out to Him, He hears. We remember our past sins and God forgives.  Remembering where we have been is a good thing.  It reminds us who we are not.  We are not God. It reminds us who it is that saves. It is not us.  Only Jesus can save.

But, sometimes we have a different motivation for remembering - especially remembering the sins of others. That motivation is sin itself. It is sin when we remember the past sins of others to make ourselves feel better about our own sins. "I'm not as bad as so and so...."  It is sin when we remember the sins of others, but cannot acknowledge the sin within ourselves.  It is sin when we live in the past and refuse to live in the day that God has given us to live in today, when we do not receive the gift of light and life today; rather choose to live in the darkness of yesterday. They seek to destroy the lives of others, but only end up destroying their own.

Remembering the past can be a good thing.  Remembering can help us live fuller lives in Christ today as we remember not to turn our backs on the One who has had mercy on us. But, if you choose to live in the dark past, stop trying to drag others back there with you. There are those who prefer to follow Jesus and now live in the light of God's grace.

"Praise the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever."  (Psalm 105:1 NIV)

 

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 106:3 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read those who do.
2. Psalm 106:32 Or Meribah

Psalm 105 - Remember

Roadside Park in the Keweenaw

Remember His marvelous works for He remembers you!

I believe that every single person that is reading this blog has experienced miracles in their lives. Miracles of healing of body and spirit.  Miracles that helped navigate you on your journey.  Some miracles are right there in your face, right now.  Other miracles happen long term over time as God remembers you, is with you, guiding you, giving you strength to keep on keeping on.  However, not every one recognizes many of the miracles in their lives the hand of God. Some choose to think these miracles happened because of their own good works.  I'm thinking that those that think in this latter way, probably don't experience as many miracles as the rest of us.

"Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore!" (Psalm 105:4 NIV) Recognize the presence of God in your life.  Remember His marvelous works and recount them to others that they to might begin to realize how God has been present with them.

God remembers you. He is with you for your good.  He remembers His promises.  He has fulfilled them in Jesus Christ.

Remember His marvelous works for He remembers you and is with you even now!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 104 - Playing With Leviathan

Wolf Point, Keweenaw - a calmer day

Well there is that Leviathan...  I have never been able to include Leviathan in a sermon.  Eighteen years of preaching and somehow I've never managed it. During Worship as we have sung this Psalm, I have thought: "Missed another opportunity!" 

The awesomeness of God's creating activities and His playing with Leviathan according to this psalm, reminds me of my first kayak trip on Lake Superior.  So this morning, I'm going to take the opportunity to share a story with you. 

It was a 4-day journey from Big Bay to Marquette with a group of clergy. Big Bay is only about 25 to 30 miles from Marquette, so it wasn't going to be a hard paddle. Except... 3 out of the 4 days we were paddling in small craft warnings.  Now, them were some waves! Leviathan was mentioned more than once!  We had to actually paddle quite a ways from the shoreline where the waves were more rolling and we could ride them.  The closer to shore, the more threatening the water.  It was actually pretty awesome!  I remember Pr. Peter Vorhes riding the waves in front of me, singing hymns!  Now that was really awesome!  Especially, since he has such a fantastic voice.  "O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands hath made..."

Was it scary!  I hate to admit it, but it was not.  The wind and rain and waves were so great that it took all of my concentration to ride the waves much like a surfer would do.  There was no time to be afraid.  At one point, there was a long narrow peninsula we had to go around.  Not far from the end of this peninsula was a small rock island.  To get around this peninsula and the island, where the wave action was pretty fierce, we would have had to paddle a long ways out... So, we chose to go between the little rocky island and the peninsula point, where the waves were bouncing off the island and crashing into the waves as they had bounced back from the little island.  It was wild in there. We went through two by two.  It only took about 5 minutes to get through - a ride of a life-time.  Pr. Peter was only a couple yards away from me, but there were moments when he and his kayak disappeared from my sight completely as huge waves came up between us.  I still cannot help but smile.  When we made it through to slightly calmer seas; Pr. Peter, smiling, yelled at me through the storm, "let's do it, again!"

Playing with Leviathan...

There's my story. That was a long time ago, when I was much younger. My young paddling partner of today is not really into getting wet for no good reason and she would probably insist on staying home if I suggested that we should go and play with Leviathan. The sturgeon make her nervous enough.

That reminds me of another story... when my own children were young, I tried to get them to go canoeing with me on the New River in NC. I told them I was going to try to photograph some alligators.  I realized then that is not the way to try to get someone to go paddling with you... Alligators and Leviathan should usually be left out of the big picture...

Please, read all of Psalm 104! Meditate on His Glory and the awesome work of creation that He has done.  And, I'm really not recommending playing with Leviathan.  That really is something that should be left for God alone.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord my God, You are very great:

You are clothed with honor and majesty,
This great and wide sea,
In which are innumerable teeming things,
Living things both small and great.
There the ships sail about;
There is that Leviathan
Which You have made to play there.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!  (Psalm 104:1, 25-26 NIV)

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 104:18 Or rock hyrax (compare Leviticus 11:5)

 

Psalm 103 - Where Eagles Fly

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!" (Psalm 103:1 NIV)

What an magnificent and powerful bird!  I am most blessed to live where not only the bald eagles, but the golden eagles fly quite regularly. This photo was taken a couple of summers ago in my backyard.

Whenever, I see a bald eagle flying or sitting a tree watching me, my heart leaps. These birds, our national bird, give me a sense of both peace and security. The sight of them refreshes me.  Indeed, for a moment or two, I do feel young again. I feel like time does not exist or just stopped. Thet take my breath away. For a moment, there is nothing between the eagle and me. We are one. God created both. They are marvelous to behold.

To watch the majestic flight of the eagle is a reminder how magnificent and powerful God is. It is a reminder to me that God in his infinite wisdom is in charge of things. He made man to walk up on the earth, the fish to swim, and the eagle to fly. How wonderful is that? Who will not bow in humility when one realizes the power and authority that God has. All these things....  and, more....

He blesses our souls, heals us, reconciles us to Him and to one another. He forgives us our iniquities, though we are far from worthy. He crowns us with loving kindness and tender mercies. All that is are His. We are His. That should bring a sense of peace and security to all people.  It will, once we realize that He is God and there is no other.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion." (vs 1,2, 22)

May God refresh you this and every morning as you rise.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 102 - Prayer, Crying To God For Help

Ok, I've got a couple prayer requests that I'd like answered rather quickly.  "Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress.  Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly." (Psalm 102:1-2 NIV)

The prayers aren't for me, but they are urgent enough that they are keeping me awake at night as I spend much more time in prayer begging God to be quick to answer for the sake of others. Like the disciples on the night in which our LORD was betrayed, I have often fallen asleep in the middle of my evening prayers.  Sometimes, I've even fallen asleep during my morning prayers.  But, lately, it is taking focused effort to fall asleep. Lately, the desire to see God's answer is more urgent within me and it is difficult to fall asleep as I am, like the persistant widow, (Luke 18:1-8) reluctant to leave my evening prayers.

Our days on earth are so very short, they vanish like smoke.  There is so very little time to waste promoting strife.  So very little time to enjoy the good things that God created and prepared for us. It would be so good, if God's children would grab hold of the good and turn their back on the bad and maybe I (and many others) would not have to be up in the middle of the night praying for the salvation of others.  We might still be up praying.  But, then our prayers would be prayers of thanksgiving as we just talk to our Father and listen to Him.  You know, do what we do when we're in a good and healthy relationship... Communicate...

Our prayers for the needy will continue for as long as the earth exists.  There will come a day, though, when we will no longer groan upon our beds as we pray for those who have gone astray. The earth and all that is in it will vanish, but God is forever.  His children and their children are promised that we should live in His presence forever.

In the meantime, we pray with confidence: We give you thanks O' LORD, for in your mercy, you have heard our prayers and answered.  You have delivered your children from all bondange and bless them with your eternal presence.  Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J