The God Pause from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 29 May 2018 - Psalm 81:1-10
Psalm 81: For the Leader. On the gittit. By Asaf:Sing for joy to God our strength! Shout to the God of Ya‘akov!Start the music! Beat the drum! Play the sweet lyre and the lute!Sound the shofar at Rosh-Hodesh and at full moon for the pilgrim feast,because this is a law for Isra’el, a ruling of the God of Ya‘akov.He placed it as a testimony in Y’hosef when he went out against the land of Egypt. I heard an unfamiliar voice say,“I lifted the load from his shoulder; his hands were freed from the [laborer’s] basket.You called out when you were in trouble, and I rescued you; I answered you from the thundercloud; I tested you at the M’rivah Spring [by saying,] (Selah)“‘Hear, my people, while I give you warning! Isra’el, if you would only listen to me!There is not to be with you any foreign god; you are not to worship an alien god.I am Adonai your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth, and I will fill it.’ (Complete Jewish Bible).
It's interesting that today's reading focuses only on the first half of this psalm--the half that recalls God's blessings and promise of grace to come. The final six verses that we pass over describe a God who is grieved by children who have not received with joy the gifts offered to them.
I got a pair of argyle socks from my grandmother one year for Christmas. I was 12. They were unceremoniously pushed to the back of the sock drawer. But when Grandma came to visit, my mom made me find them and wear them to church. Not only was Grandma pleased, but I discovered that other people (grown-ups and kids) thought they were cool.
God gives gifts that are meant to be used and enjoyed. Like the gift of Sabbath rest, God's blessings are for the enrichment of our lives. When we push those gifts to the back of the drawer, God responds, "Use what I've given you, you might be surprised how it'll change your life!"
Make us thankful for your gift of rest, Lord, and remind us to cherish all your blessings. Amen.
Scott Thompson, '96
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
2 Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day.
4 For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known:
6 "I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.
7 In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55108, United State
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