Friday, July 4, 2025  

Today's Scripture
Psalm 66:1–9

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.” Selah

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. Selah

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. (NRSVUE)

Reflection

This joyous psalm encourages us to live a life in constant praise of God. To illustrate God’s devotion to God’s people, the psalmist provides a history lesson, describing God’s many deeds protecting God’s people, and recounting God’s providence in leading the people of Israel out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

It must have seemed to the Israelis, as they toiled in slavery in Egypt, that God had abandoned them. But God did not. God led them to their promised land, and God continued to bless them. God kept God’s promise to them.

Sometimes we may feel as though God has abandoned us. When we suffer pain or loss, when we are discouraged, we can feel separated from God. But we rely on the belief, as Paul writes in the book of Romans, that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Grabbing onto that promise, let us follow the example of the psalmist, praising God for God’s faithfulness and thanking God for God’s awesome deeds on our behalf. By living a life of grateful praise, we will be reminded of this promise of God’s providence toward us and grow in our faith in that promise.

Prayer

Great God of the universe, we praise you for keeping watch over us. Thank you for keeping us in your care. Lead us in lives of gratefulness, praising you for the promise that nothing earthly can separate us from you. Amen. 

Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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