Author: Cheryl Hughes Have you ever read a Scripture passage and felt that it had been recorded in God’s Word just for you? Have you ever read a passage that demanded you go back and reread it, inserting your own name in specific places? If you are like me, you raised your hand to answer each of these questions in the affirmative.
Psalm 78: The miracle and glory of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection mean that the lover’s pursuit has not waned. The story isn’t over. And perhaps that’s why remembering and retelling the story can be hard work.
Psalm 81: Perhaps when we understand the command to worship as God’s invitation to come and be fed “with the finest bread and the best honey” we’ll be ready to pay attention.
Psalm 87: This text leads us to Jesus, God’s beloved son with whom God is well pleased. And in Jesus, God builds, loves, delights over and strengthens you. In Jesus, God invites you to make him home. Put on your dancing shoes.
Psalm 88: Unlike other psalms of lament, Psalm 88 does not end in worship. It ends where it began – in a darkness punctuated only by anguished prayer. Or does it?
Psalm 92: We receive Psalm 92 as a melodic call to pause in the presence of the Lord whose love and faithfulness are new every morning and to orient ourselves to our true North who is Jesus crucified and risen. It’s only when we do so that we recognize the truth at the heart of our story.
Psalm 93: We elect leaders who may embarrass and disappoint us. When Toronto’s mayor makes Time magazine’s list of “Top 10 Apologies of 2013,” voter cynicism can’t be far behind. We aren’t unlike the early Israelites in this regard. The people of ancient Israel lived in a time much like ours, rife with great fear and conflict. We understand their desire for safety and security.
Psalm 103: It’s not enough though to give intellectual assent to who God is and what He does. And it takes more than passion to worship God with all of who you are. David knew failure intimately – remember Bathsheba?
The writer of this psalm is desperate. His health is in ruins. He feels the passing of days. He doesn’t want to die even though he considers his life a worn-down ruin and likens it to the ruins of Zion. He’s getting old.
Recently a new reminder was added to messages broadcast while riding escalators in the subway stations where I live. To the perennial “Please hold the handrail and stand firm,” a voice now adds: “Please don’t keep your eyes only on your mobile phone.” What a statement.