Good Morning Children of God! Here is your Wednesday Message. Have a blessed day.
Wednesday’s Message
August 19, 2020
It has struck me that in writing the Sunday Messages during this time of pandemic and protest, that I have leaned heavily upon the Psalms assigned in the lectionary. I believe that is because they were written as hymn-prayers that express the deepest emotions and faith that reside within us.
The Psalms are varied. They are generally categorized as follows: Hymns of Praise, Laments, Songs of Trust, Thanksgivings, Sacred History, Royal Psalms, Wisdom Psalms, and Liturgies.
The ancient Israelites organized the Psalms as five books. Many scholars think that was done as a reflection of the first five books of the Bible which were regarded as God’s instruction or Torah. Time spent with the Psalms reveals that through them God is teaching us how to express ourselves to him. In my last three Wednesday’s Messages I will explore three different Psalms beginning with Psalm 1.
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
This summer I have been reading The Soul of America – The Battle For Our Better Angels by presidential historian Jon Meacham. He refers frequently to America’s Declaration of Independence and our nation’s pursuit of happiness. The first verse of the Psalms addresses such a pursuit, but in the negative. What does not produce happiness is following a way which is contrary to God’s instruction. Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm. From the beginning of the Psalter we are told that it is wise to abide by God’s teaching.
but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.
In ignoring the waywardness of the wicked – sinners – scoffers, the children of God are free to spend time with God and his word. To do so “day and night” calls to mind the words of St. Paul to “pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)When devoting thought to the Lord and contemplating his words and actions, we experience delight; we gain in the pursuit of happiness.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.
The relationship we have with our Father through Jesus is life changing and life- saving. We are strengthened and empowered to love when God’s word flows and is received as the source of life.
The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
When God is ignored the soul suffers and the instinct to do justice and express kindness evaporates. Without the source of life there can be no meaningful, fulfilling life.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
There is only one true way to find abundant life and happiness and that is with the Lord. He is watching over us and freely shares his righteousness with us. As it is written, “In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:6)
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bill