Thursday, April 27, 2023

Today’s Scripture Reading 
Psalm 66

Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;

sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.

Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.

All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.”

Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.

He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,

who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let the rebellious not exalt themselves.

Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,

who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.

You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs;

you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows,

those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.

I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.

I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me. (NRSV)

Reflection

This is a psalm and a song, written for the chief musician, and meant to “sing out the glory of God’s name.” We often pray, asking God for stuff — for assistance or for discernment. God has blessed us and given us all that we have on earth and the stars in heaven to gaze upon with marvel. God sustains us with God’s many gifts to us. We are grateful to God, and therefore, we often thank God with prayers and hymns of thanks. Reading this psalm, I wonder how often we just joyfully praise God, not for what God does for us but just for being God.

This psalm/song appears to be just that! It focuses on God and on praising God for God’s own greatness and glory. What is also joyful to me is that the psalm is inclusive. It does not focus only on Israel but the entire world. This Old Testament psalm aligns with the New Testament in proclaiming God as God for all the earth, and for all people — “whose eyes keep watch on the nations.” In these days of discord and division, it is so very comforting to know that we are all under the watch, love, and grace of God.

Prayer

God of all the earth, we are always grateful for your many blessings. We pause now to acknowledge you because you are worthy of our praise simply for who you are. We praise you for your everlasting perfection, holiness, unwarranted grace, and your unwavering love for us all. As in Isaiah 6:3, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of God’s glory!” Amen.

Written by Ken Gaines, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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