"The God Pause Daily Devotionals" The Lutheran Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 28 June 2016 with Scripture Psalm 66:1-9
Psalm 66:(0) For the leader. A song. A psalm:
(1) Shout to God, all the earth!
2 Sing the glory of his name,
make his praise glorious.
3 Tell God, “How awesome are your deeds!
At your great power, your enemies cringe.
4 All the earth bows down to you,
sings praises to you, sings praises to your name.” (Selah)
5 Come and see what God has done,
his awesome dealings with humankind.
6 He turned the sea into dry land.
They passed through the river on foot;
there we rejoiced in him.
7 With his power he rules forever;
his eyes keep watch on the nations.
Let no rebel arise to challenge him. (Selah)
8 Bless our God, you peoples!
Let the sound of his praise be heard!
9 He preserves our lives
and keeps our feet from stumbling.[Complete Jewish Bible}
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A good story causes a physical reaction in the hearer. Hearts beat faster, palms sweat; we may cry or laugh. We listen outside the story but our bodies enter it. How does this work in God's story?
Our psalmist remembers in verse six a deed of power done by God. "God turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on foot." This likely refers to the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites during the Exodus. But notice the psalmist's personal turn in the telling in the next phrase, "there we rejoiced in God." In this recollection the psalmist has now become a participant in the miracle. When we hear or retell a story about God, we also become a physical part of that story. Please tell me your story so that I may rejoice or mourn or wait with you. This is the living body of Christ.
O great storyteller God, we find ourselves continually drawn into your narrative. Give us the courage to also retell your story and thereby include any who feel like outsiders. Amen.
Jill Bergman
Associate Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Columbia Heights, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 2003
Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name." (Selah)
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,
7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let the rebellious not exalt themselves. (Selah)
8 Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip[New Revised Standard Version]
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A good story causes a physical reaction in the hearer. Hearts beat faster, palms sweat; we may cry or laugh. We listen outside the story but our bodies enter it. How does this work in God's story?
Our psalmist remembers in verse six a deed of power done by God. "God turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on foot." This likely refers to the parting of the Red Sea for Moses and the Israelites during the Exodus. But notice the psalmist's personal turn in the telling in the next phrase, "there we rejoiced in God." In this recollection the psalmist has now become a participant in the miracle. When we hear or retell a story about God, we also become a physical part of that story. Please tell me your story so that I may rejoice or mourn or wait with you. This is the living body of Christ.
O great storyteller God, we find ourselves continually drawn into your narrative. Give us the courage to also retell your story and thereby include any who feel like outsiders. Amen.
Jill Bergman
Associate Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Columbia Heights, Minn.
Master of Divinity, 2003
Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.
3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
4 All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name." (Selah)
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,
7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let the rebellious not exalt themselves. (Selah)
8 Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip[New Revised Standard Version]
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