Reflecting God – Wednesday, 27 November
2013 – “The Last Stanza” - Scripture Reading: Psalm 89: 38 But now you have spurned and rejected him;
you are full of wrath against your anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant with
your servant;
you have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have broken through all his walls;
you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41 All who pass by plunder him;
he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his
foes;
you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 Moreover, you have turned back the
edge of his sword,
and you have not supported him in battle.
44 You have removed the scepter from his
hand,[a]
and hurled his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his
youth;
you have covered him with shame.Selah
46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide
yourself forever?
How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is—[b]
for what vanity you have created all mortals!
48 Who can live and never see death?
Who can escape the power of Sheol?Selah
49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of
old,
which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servant is
taunted;
how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples,[c]
51 with which your enemies taunt, O Lord,
with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.
52 Blessed be the Lord forever.
Amen and Amen.
Footnotes:
Psalm 89:44 Cn: Heb removed his cleanness
Psalm 89:47 Meaning of Heb uncertain
Psalm 89:50 Cn: Heb bosom all of many
peoples(NRSV)
“The Last Stanza” by Duane C. Brush
Psalm 89 is a powerful hymn. The first
stanza (vv. 1-18) exalts God’s faithfulness, righteousness and justice. The
second (vv. 19-37) rejoices in the Lord who is mighty to save. The final stanza
(vv. 38-52) takes a somber turn; it begins with an indictment of those who have
spurned God’s “anointed one” (v. 38). It ends with a prayer for God to remember
mercy.
From the human viewpoint it seems that
death and the grave triumph in the end. Even God’s Anointed One, Jesus Christ,
tasted death. He was mocked, “Come down from the cross and save yourself!”
(Mark 15:30). His body was placed in the grave. If this is truly the way life
ends the cynics win! There is no justice, no mercy, no hope—only the dark
oblivion of the grave.
Still, God will not be mocked. He will be
found true and every human being a liar (Romans 3:4). “But Christ has indeed
been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. . .
.For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians
15:20, 22). The last stanza was written by Jesus the Christ. Our hope is in Him
alone.
Hymn for Today:
“Christ Arose” by Robert Lowry
1. Low in the grave He lay,
Jesus, my Savior,
Waiting the coming day,
Jesus, my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to
reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
2. Vainly they watch His bed,
Jesus, my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead,
Jesus, my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to
reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
3. Death cannot keep his Prey,
Jesus, my Savior;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to
reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Thought for Today:
“The journey of faith and hope intersect
at Christmas”(Debbie Salter Goodwin)
Prayer Needs:
Many young people will be called into
full-time Christian ministry in the United States and Canada.
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Global Church of the Nazarene
Global Ministry Center
17001 Prairie Star Parkway
Lenexa, KS 66220 United States
Phone: (913)577-0500
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