This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24 NRSV)
While studying Psalm 118 this morning, I ran across a lovely description in my favorite commentary: “…this is a song of thanksgiving of one who has experienced divine deliverance and has passed through a crisis, such as a severe illness.” *
Well, that speaks directly to us today. Psalms are always so relevant to life, aren’t they?
All the Psalms that fall into the “thanksgiving” category are meant to praise God after some sort of predicament. Find yourself released from trouble? Sing your appreciation to God as a way of letting others hear about your liberation. Personal witness is the best way of honoring God and God’s faithfulness. Whether done privately or communally, these psalms were written as a form of praising God from a grateful heart.
I can’t think of a better way to worship God than singing from a grateful heart. My hope is that, by the end of today, we will be able to post music from our Sanctuary as a means of praising God. Won’t it be lovely to be able to sing along with others as we praise our Creator from home?
Psalm 118 is filled with imagery of worship and entering into holy spaces. When fear and stress begin to close in, praises ring out as the psalmist claims the power of Almighty God. Borrowing from his hymn, we sing: “Everything is surrounding us, pushing in on us, and we cut it all off in God’s name! Undisputable strength belongs to us; nothing can get to us because God is our salvation!”
So, how will I rejoice and give thanks to God today – on this day that is a gift straight from the One who made it?
Will I go back to bed and rest my weary body?
Will I bless my family with a little creative baking?
Will I be intentional in communing with God being certain to say thank you?
Will I call someone just to say hello (you know, as a representative of Jesus)?
All of these are wonderful ways to honor God and I will probably do every single one of them at some point… but I think the best one for me today:
I will sing.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Go and make it a good day!
Pastor Beth
*The New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2010, page 342.
While studying Psalm 118 this morning, I ran across a lovely description in my favorite commentary: “…this is a song of thanksgiving of one who has experienced divine deliverance and has passed through a crisis, such as a severe illness.” *
Well, that speaks directly to us today. Psalms are always so relevant to life, aren’t they?
All the Psalms that fall into the “thanksgiving” category are meant to praise God after some sort of predicament. Find yourself released from trouble? Sing your appreciation to God as a way of letting others hear about your liberation. Personal witness is the best way of honoring God and God’s faithfulness. Whether done privately or communally, these psalms were written as a form of praising God from a grateful heart.
I can’t think of a better way to worship God than singing from a grateful heart. My hope is that, by the end of today, we will be able to post music from our Sanctuary as a means of praising God. Won’t it be lovely to be able to sing along with others as we praise our Creator from home?
Psalm 118 is filled with imagery of worship and entering into holy spaces. When fear and stress begin to close in, praises ring out as the psalmist claims the power of Almighty God. Borrowing from his hymn, we sing: “Everything is surrounding us, pushing in on us, and we cut it all off in God’s name! Undisputable strength belongs to us; nothing can get to us because God is our salvation!”
So, how will I rejoice and give thanks to God today – on this day that is a gift straight from the One who made it?
Will I go back to bed and rest my weary body?
Will I bless my family with a little creative baking?
Will I be intentional in communing with God being certain to say thank you?
Will I call someone just to say hello (you know, as a representative of Jesus)?
All of these are wonderful ways to honor God and I will probably do every single one of them at some point… but I think the best one for me today:
I will sing.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”
Go and make it a good day!
Pastor Beth
*The New Interpreter’s Bible One Volume Commentary, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2010, page 342.
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