Psalm 40:1-10
I waited patiently for the LORD
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.
Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.
How does the Psalmist begin his song?
In what ways does he praise God?
What does God want from his worshipers?
What does the Psalmist say about assembly?
What is the connection between the assembly and the rest of the Psalmist’s life?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
What's going on?
Well, I got my week started. I got the Text Experience Sheet for next week done. I selected the title and texts for Sunday's worship. I made a few calls, had a couple of meetings, and got organized.
I am not complaining (well not much - ha ha), but I haven't had a full day off for about 6 weeks. I am feeling it. I just can't seem to get everything done. For the last few weeks I end up working on my sermon and other Sunday stuff on Fridays, which is the day I try to take off. I just can't seem to get it all done on Thursday, which is my goal. Then on Saturday, usually in the evening, I go back over everything.
I took a little time this afternoon to have some down time.
Did you see the nice article about my friend and ministry partner Darrin Chastain?
You can read it here.
We had another really good men's Bible study last night. We talked about patience. I try to keep these gatherings to about an hour in length, but the last couple have doubled that. No one wants to quit. It seems like when I am trying to wrap it up is when the best conversation starts. I told Kedra I am going to start wrapping it up about 10 minutes after we start (ha ha).
This Monday night group has been a really interesting experience. True community has developed; a community of confession and support.
From Henri Nouwen in The Only Necessary Thing.
I feel that once we are in touch with our belovedness, we will better see the gifts that come to us from people who affirm that in us. Therefore the greatest obstacle which prevents the Spirit working in us is self-rejection. The greatest obstacle to the Spirit working in us is that we say to ourselves that we are useless, we are nothing.
Once I know I am the Beloved, once I start discovering that in me, then the Spirit can work in me and in others; then we can do wonderful things. Now, once I say, “No, God doesn’t love me, I am not as good as everyone else,” somehow I do not claim the truth that Jesus came to proclaim.
What's with this weather? Oh well...
Ran in Bedford this evening; had to dig out my winter clothes. It was cold heading west and hot heading east and just about right running north and south. The wind was pretty strong, and it rained on us some.
I am in tapering mode for the Mini. I think it is 11 days away. I feel pretty good; ready to go.
One of my new running friends ran the Boston Marathon and had a great time. I can't wait to hear about it.
Saw this on Belski's Blog:
Tomorrow morning at 5:32... The International Space Station will pass over Louisville. This will be the brightest the space station has ever been. At a magnitude of -3.7 it will be about 10 times brighter than the brightest plantet, Venus. It will travel from the WSW and go to the ENE and be visible for 2 minutes. Let's hope for clearing skies tonight.
While you are watching the ISS....look to the east, the moon and Venus are going to be very close together. Also, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks early tomorrow and I have heard from people who saw some bright meteors this morning. So get up early and enjoy the show.I should be up, so I think I'll try see it.
The difference between Praise and Thanks, according to Claude Westermann and found in Walter Brueggemann’s, Worship in Ancient Israel .
1. In praise the one being praised is elevated. ....in thanks the one thanked remains in place.
2. In praise I am directed entirely toward the one whom I praise, and this means, of necessity, in that moment a looking away from myself. In thanks I am expressing MY thanks.
3. Freedom and spontaneity belong to the essence of praise; giving thanks can become a duty.
4. Praise has a forum and always occurs in a group; giving thanks is private, for it need concern no one except the one thanking and one being thanked.
5. Praise is essentially joyful; giving thanks can take on the character of something required. Praise can never, but thanks must often, be commanded.
6. The most important verbal mark of difference is that thanking occurs in the speaking of the words, “thank you,” or in a shortened form, “thanks”; genuine spontaneous praise occurs in a sentence in which the one being praised is the subject, “thou hast done,” or “thou art....”What do you think about all that?
Another busy day.
The previous post came as a result of our class discussion this evening.
* * *
I think the essence of Psalm 40:1-10 is that David is amazed about God's salvation. He proclaims it in the marketplace, and more importantly it seems, he proclaims it among others in the assembly who have also received God's salvation. It's the least he can do.
He will worship in the assembly, and he will worship with his life (See Romans 12:1-3).
God expects us to assemble. Isn't it the least we can do (in response to the salvation we receive)? He expects us to devote our lives to him. Isn't it the least we can do (in response to the salvation we receive)?
There is no disconnect between the assembly and the rest of life. They flow into each other.
It seems that we have lost this. Have we cheapened the Lord's Day and the Assembly? If we want to stay home or play or sleep, then we do so. Have we forgotten that God has saved us and that we owe him EVERYTHING?
Post a Comment