Lutheran Seminary – Moved by the Promise – God Pause – Tuesday, 31
December 2013 - Psalm 147: 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O
Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your
children within you.
14 He grants peace[a] within your borders;
he fills you with the
finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters frost like
ashes.
17 He hurls down hail like crumbs—
who can stand before
his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind
blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and
ordinances to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his
ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 147:14 Or prosperity
On this eve of a new year it is natural to reflect on the year
past. I am particularly mindful of the blessings I have received this year. I
resonate most with the psalm writer's words in verse 14, "He grants peace
within your borders; he fills you with the finest wheat." They remind me
of another great poet and theologian, Frederick Buechner who said, "Peace
is not the absence of war, but the presence of love."
Because of God's great love we are given all we need to live and
to love in harmony with one another. Nevertheless, in our sinfulness and
selfishness, we often only see our own way as the right way to go about living
our lives. As we embark on a New Year let us resolve to see the things around
us through God's eyes of love and forgiveness. And let us also remember to
praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Loving God, thank you for providing us with all we need to live
as your children here on earth. We praise you for all the gifts we have
received. Help us to embrace others' differences and strive to find the good in
all creation. AMEN!
Meg Sander
Pastor of Children, Youth and Family, First Lutheran Church,
Kearney, Neb.
Psalm 147:12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O
Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your
children within you.
14 He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the
finest of wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down hail like crumbs—who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind
blow, and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to
Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know
his ordinances. Praise the Lord!(NRSV)
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