Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 27 January 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 111

Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 27 January 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 111: Praise the Lord for All He Has Done
1 Shout praises to the Lord!
    With all my heart
I will thank the Lord
    when his people meet.
2 The Lord has done
    many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God’s marvelous deeds
    will keep them in mind.
3 Everything the Lord does
    is glorious and majestic,
    and his power to bring justice
    will never end.
4 The Lord God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
    and he is kind and merciful.
5 He gives food to his worshipers
    and always keeps his agreement
    with them.
6 He has shown his mighty power
    to his people
    and has given them the lands
    of other nations.
7 God is always honest and fair,
    and his laws can be trusted.
8     They are true and right
    and will stand forever.
9 God rescued his people,
    and he will never break
his agreement with them.
    He is fearsome and holy.
10 Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the first step
    to wisdom and good sense.[a]
    God will always be respected.[Footnotes:
111.10 This. . . sense: Or “This is what wisdom and good sense are all about.”](Contemporary English Bible)
Psalm 111 has its own beauty. It's an acrostic poem, which means that each of the twenty two phrases in it begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Poems have a special way of touching our soul.
But the little observation in the final verse, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," surely catches our imagination and provokes reflection. The "fear" that the psalmist advocates isn't the type that provokes a "fight or flight" reaction, but a fear that leads to wisdom. 
This "fear" is reverence, respect and a willingness to obey and serve. "Wisdom" has to do with pleasing God in life and knowing the wholeness that comes to us when we are in harmony with God's intentions. Of course, this makes sense in our lives. When we love and respect God, we're on the way to becoming the wise person that God intends. 
Here is something to always remember: if you are afraid that God will not like who you are and what you do, repent and say a prayer, but don't let that feeling of unworthiness keep you from welcoming a relationship with God that will make you a person of wisdom and joy.
We long to know you and find the fullness of your presence, dear God. Send your Spirit to us and give us wisdom for this life. Amen.
Wendell Debner
Director Emeritus, Doctor of Ministry Program, Luther Seminary 
Bachelor of Divinity , 1966
Psalm 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever(New Revised Standard Version)
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