"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 21 February 2017 with Scripture Psalm 99

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 21 February 2017 with Scripture Psalm 99

------- Psalm 99:1Adonai is king; let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned on the k’ruvim; let the earth shake! 2 Adonai is great in Tziyon; he is high above all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and fearsome name (he is holy): 4 “Mighty king who loves justice, you established fairness, justice and righteousness in Ya‘akov.” 5 Exalt Adonai our God! Prostrate yourselves at his footstool (he is holy). 6 Moshe and Aharon among his cohanim and Sh’mu’el among those who call on his name called on Adonai, and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the column of cloud; they kept his instructions and the law that he gave them. 8 Adonai our God, you answered them. To them you were a forgiving God, although you took vengeance on their wrongdoings. 9 Exalt Adonai our God, bow down toward his holy mountain, for Adonai our God is holy![Complete Jewish Bible] -------- This psalm reminds us that one proper response to our Lord is trembling. We should praise and extol and worship. Holy is God! Yet how often do we, instead, hear the name of the Lord being used in vulgar conversation? Whenever I hear someone use the name "Jesus Christ" as a curse word, I whisper under my breath "loves you." For me this helps ease the offense I feel. When I was teaching confirmation, I tried to show the kids how it would feel if their name was a curse word. They seemed to get it, but old habits die hard. If we truly understand the power of God's name, we will never use it lightly. We're told that Moses, Aaron and Samuel called on the name of God and were forgiven. God answered them and their wrongdoings were set aside. By whom? By the beautiful and precious name of Jesus Christ. Holy Lord, your name is sacred. Help us to remember that and never use it lightly. Forgive those who do not yet understand the power of your name. Amen. Laurie Neill, '12 Discipleship Pastor, First Lutheran Church, Fargo, N.D. Psalm 99:1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he! 4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.[New Revised Standard Version]

-------