"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 19 July 2016 with Scripture Psalm 19

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 19 July 2016 with Scripture Psalm 19

Psalm 19:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:

2 (1) The heavens declare the glory of God,

the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands.

3 (2) Every day it utters speech,

every night it reveals knowledge.

4 (3) Without speech, without a word,

without their voices being heard,

5 (4) their line goes out through all the earth

and their words to the end of the world.

In them he places a tent for the sun,

6 (5) which comes out like a bridegroom from the bridal chamber,

with delight like an athlete to run his race.

7 (6) It rises at one side of the sky,

circles around to the other side,

and nothing escapes its heat.

8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,

restoring the inner person.

The instruction of Adonai is sure,

making wise the thoughtless.

9 (8) The precepts of Adonai are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The mitzvah of Adonai is pure,

enlightening the eyes.

10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,

enduring forever.

The rulings of Adonai are true,

they are righteous altogether,

11 (10) more desirable than gold,

than much fine gold,

also sweeter than honey

or drippings from the honeycomb.

12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;

in obeying them there is great reward.

13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?

Cleanse me from hidden faults.

14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,

so that they won’t control me.

Then I will be blameless

and free of great offense.

15 (14) May the words of my mouth

and the thoughts of my heart

be acceptable in your presence,

Adonai, my Rock and Redeemer.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Many preachers have begun sermons with the words of Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." It's a fitting acknowledgement with which to begin a homily. Whether one is the preacher giving the sermon or the listener receiving it, the point of it all isn't to entertain or to impress. The point is to get out of the way and let the God we meet in Jesus Christ come alive and be encountered.
My dad used to say he noticed few stained glass windows of John the Baptist, and he liked that, because John the Baptist made it very clear that his only role was to draw attention not to himself, but to the one who was to come--Jesus. A good clear pane of glass is a nice metaphor for what should happen when we proclaim our faith.
O God, in the mystery of Jesus, the Christ-among-us, you have made clear that the presence of the divine is with us, among us, and shows through us. Use us, our words, our actions, our witness and even our uncertainties to be something of your presence in the lives of others today. Amen.
Peter Rogness
Retired Bishop, ELCA
Master of Divinity, 1972
Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. [New Revised Standard Version]
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