The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul,Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" for Tuesday, 28 April 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 22:25-31

The Lutheran Seminary of Saint Paul,Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion" for Tuesday, 28 April 2015 - Scripture: Psalm 22:25 (24) For he has not despised or abhorred

the poverty of the poor;

he did not hide his face from him

but listened to his cry.”

26 (25) Because of you

I give praise in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows

in the sight of those who fear him.

27 (26) The poor will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek Adonai will praise him;

Your hearts will enjoy life forever.

28 (27) All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to Adonai;

all the clans of the nations

will worship in your presence.

29 (28) For the kingdom belongs to Adonai,

and he rules the nations.

30 (29) All who prosper on the earth

will eat and worship;

all who go down to the dust

will kneel before him,

including him who can’t keep himself alive,

31 (30) A descendant will serve him;

the next generation will be told of Adonai.[Complete Jewish Bible]

Many of us heard these words from Jesus on the cross on Good Friday, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" The psalm is filled with the words of pain from persecution and the joy of knowing God's saving acts throughout history.
This psalm gives us permission and even the words to cry when we experience persecution, desolation and anguish. This psalm also becomes our words of thanksgiving and praise when we see God rescuing us from that which could destroy. It reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel's song, "7 O'Clock News/Silent Night." Our lives are filled with moments when all looks dark and dangerous. They are also filled with times when life seems good and God is holding our hand. So it is not surprising that in one day you can hear a cry of help and a cry of thanks coming from our mouths.
Thank you, God, for hearing our cries of pain and for the moments when your saving presence becomes so real to us that we shout out loud our thanks. Amen.
Franklin Lee
Pastor, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Naples, Fla.
Doctorate of Ministry , 1965
Psalm 22:25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.[New Revised Standard Version]

____________________________________