Web Theologian

>135:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
give praise, O servants of the Lord,
2 who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God!
3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing to his name, for it is pleasant! [1]
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great,
and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.
7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

8 He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
both of man and of beast;
9 who in your midst, O Egypt,
sent signs and wonders
against Pharaoh and all his servants;
10 who struck down many nations
and killed mighty kings,
11 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
and Og, king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
12 and gave their land as a heritage,
a heritage to his people Israel.

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, [2] O Lord, throughout all ages.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
so do all who trust in them!

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!

Here they are tail-gating again, standing in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. So while your at is sing the songs you know. Not the ones from the bar, but the one your parents taught you handed down from generation to generation about how good God has been. About how it’s not because of our goodness or beauty but simply because God has chosen to make us his own.

Don’t just get caught up in the act of singing or going to church. Remember this God who you are singing to. He is amazing and better than the other Gods. He is really the one who controls the sky and sea, wind and rain. When you see him coming on a cloud make sure you know who it is.

In that song you will hae to remember the redemption of our fathers. Especially out of Egypt. How God passed over our kids. It is amazing to me that Aidyn has already latched on to that story, one I found very hard to teach her, and hard to teach the kids in the first communion class. Yet it is central to our story. The story of Jesus is incomplete without an understanding of the Passover.

The idols which get so much of our attentions, “Have mouths, but do not speak, they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears but do not hear…” we serve a living God. Let the idols of our life be exposed for what they are.

Blessed be the Lord

>81 My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 In your steadfast love give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

My expectation is that the job is already done. Complete and wrapped up in a bow and then I wonder why I still run into trouble. I am in need of comfort. Everything is not complete and we are not finished we are still in the middle of God’s work in this world. Exhausted, worn out, left hanging in a smoky room, yet still believing. Most of this comes from people, who are out to get me. Digging traps and persecuting almost to the point of death.

Lord, take care of me when I have nothing else. When people have hurt me and wounded me and I don’t think I can take anymore be my comfort. Teach me of you love that can sustain me and allow your law to loving come from my lips, reminding me of the life you have intended for me.

>73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!

You are the Creator Lord, who has fashioned me in your image and given me the desire and ability to worship you. Those who you have allowed to get it see that and are excited, for I cannot help but be faithful to you and even when I fail turn back, because your love is so great. The comfort I find in you is incomparable to anything in this world. Give my brothers and sisters ears so that we can all hear of the wonderful things that you are up to, especially those we don’t get enough time with.