Psaltery

Psalter Reading for December 24, 2023

“Visitation” by Franz Anton Maulbertsch (1724-1796)

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:46b-55
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is an excerpt from the famous passage known traditionally as The Magnificat.

Here is the context — Mary, upon being told by the Angel Gabriel that she will be the virgin mother of Jesus, is also told that her relative Elizabeth is expecting a child as well. So, like many expecting mothers who welcome fellowship with other moms-to-be, she travels from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah live (Luke 1:26-45).

The occasion for this poem of superlative beauty is the instant recognition by Elizabeth that the child within Mary is divine. Elizabeth says to Mary:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:42-45).

Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s inspired greeting is her song of praise to Almighty God. The song seems to come from somewhere deep within her soul as she praises God for what he has done for her and for all people through her.

Mary is aware that she has been tremendously honored by this unique visitation — that God has exalted her despite her humble origins. And she also is keenly aware that this experience will transcend her own humble existence:

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

She recognizes that what is happening to her is of great historical significance.

At the same time, she is very careful to ascribe all honor and glory to God:

For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.

This is a very theocentric, i.e., God-centered hymn of praise.

Then, in verses 50-55, the song’s scope expands to include all generations, and sounds a theme of social justice that resonates with the same concerns lifted up by the Hebrew prophets of the Old Testament.

She focuses on God’s mercy that is offered to all who fear him down through the ages; but she also lifts up the same concern for the poor and the oppressed and the hungry that was voiced by Isaiah and Amos and Micah and other prophets. Mary’s song proves to be quite counter cultural — the proud are scattered, rulers are deposed from their thrones, the rich lose all that they have!

In contrast, the humble are lifted up, the hungry are satisfied with food, and Israel is helped by the mercies of God.

All of this is in keeping with the promises of those same prophets cited earlier — that God has kept faith with the descendants of Abraham.

It is clear that this song of praise is consistent with the Old Testament and the prophetic tradition of social justice and deliverance, and that the promises to Abraham and to Israel are kept inviolable.

APPLY:

It has been said that the Magnificat is one of the most powerful revolutionary documents in all of Scripture, if not all literature. Even a shallow reading leads to the conclusion that God is definitely going to turn the tables on the rich and the powerful, and the poor and humble will be lifted up. There will be a reversal of status and position.

It has even been said that a British bishop in a third world country cautioned his priests against reading this passage aloud in church to the oppressed citizens of their colony, because it might lead to social upheaval and revolution!

But it begins in the life and literally in the womb of a young woman. Her consent to the news that she was to become the mother of the Messiah is a pivotal act in history. By saying, as she does, let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38), she sets a revolution in motion.

It is not to be a violent revolution, except for those who resist the coming of the Messiah. It is to be a revolution of mercy, lifting the humble from their oppressed social status, and feeding those who are hungry.

The violence that occurs because of the coming of the Messiah is from reactionaries — from those who are aware that they will lose their power and prestige, and who see this woman’s son as a threat to the status quo. They react to his teaching and his healing and his “hunger relief program” by crucifying him, and then by persecuting his followers.

But all of that is to come later — as will the mighty deeds that God will accomplish with his arm. The birth, life, ministry, cross and resurrection of Jesus have indeed:

scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

And it all begins with the blessed Virgin Mary and this great thing that God has done for her and through her.

RESPOND:

I sometimes forget that the Scriptures we so glibly read in worship services during this season of Advent are RADICAL!

True, all generations are blessed by that child that has been conceived in Mary. But if I take the words of Scripture seriously, they call me to examine which group I’m a part of — am I arrogant or humble, ruler or ruled, full or hungry?

But more importantly, what am I to do about it? Fear God, humble myself before him, and identify with the poor and the oppressed? I think so.

Our Lord, I cannot improve on Mary’s words. But I am aware that as with Mary you have honored me with your favor simply by offering me your grace and mercy. Forgive me when I crow with the proud and seek to be imperious like the rulers. Give me an identification with the humble and poor so that I might be in ministry to them — because that’s where you are. Amen.

PHOTOS:
"Magnificat" uses this image: "Visitation" by Franz Anton Maulbertsch is in the Public Domain.

Psalter Reading for December 11, 2022

Note from Celeste:

Before we look at today’s lectionary reading, I’d like to draw your attention to my Advent Bible Study books.

Getting Ready for Christmas is part of the Choose This Day Multiple Choice Bible Studies series, available in paperback and ebook.

The daily devotionals take 10-15 minutes and include:

Scripture passage (World English Bible)
Fun, entertaining multiple choice questions focused directly on the Scripture passage
Short meditation that can be used as a discussion starter.

Like an Advent calendar, Getting Ready for Christmas begins on December 1 and ends December 25. However, these 25 devotionals focusing on the Messiah can be used any time of year.

Use this book personally during a coffee break or with the family in the car or at the dinner table.

Order Getting Ready for Christmas today to prepare your family for this year’s Christmas season!
CLICK HERE for Amazon’s Kindle book of Getting Ready for Christmas.
CLICK HERE for Amazon’s Paperback of Getting Ready for Christmas.

And here’s the link to its puzzle companion book: Getting Ready for Christmas Word Search Puzzles for Advent.

It’s a large-print puzzle book with over 1,200 hidden words taken straight from the same 25 Scripture readings. (30 puzzles in all.)

If you’re not in the U.S., you can still order the books from your country’s amazon platform. Simply search for “Getting Ready for Christmas” by Celesta Letchworth.

Thank you for your consideration! And thank you for faithfully following Tom’s SOAR blog!

AND NOW, BACK TO TODAY’S LECTIONARY READING:

“Visitation” by Franz Anton Maulbertsch (1724-1796)

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:46b-55
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is an excerpt from the famous passage known traditionally as The Magnificat.

The occasion for this poem of superlative beauty is the instant recognition by Elizabeth that the child within Mary is divine. Elizabeth says to Mary:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:42-45).

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

She recognizes that what is happening to her is of great historical significance.

At the same time, she is very careful to ascribe all honor and glory to God:

For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.

This is a very theocentric, i.e., God-centered hymn of praise.

In contrast, the humble are lifted up, the hungry are satisfied with food, and Israel is helped by the mercies of God.

All of this is in keeping with the promises of those same prophets cited earlier — that God has kept faith with the descendants of Abraham.

APPLY:

But all of that is to come later — as will the mighty deeds that God will accomplish with his arm. The birth, life, ministry, cross and resurrection of Jesus have indeed:

scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

And it all begins with the blessed Virgin Mary and this great thing that God has done for her and through her.

RESPOND:

I sometimes forget that the Scriptures we so glibly read in worship services during this season of Advent are RADICAL!

But more importantly, what am I to do about it? Fear God, humble myself before him, and identify with the poor and the oppressed? I think so.

PHOTOS:
"Visitation" by Franz Anton Maulbertsch is in the Public Domain.

Psalter Reading for November 20, 2022

“Birth of John the Baptist”

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:68-79
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is the song of Zacharias, the priestly father of John the Baptist who offers this oracle following the birth of his promised son.

Here is the back story — Zacharias is the husband of Elizabeth. They are childless and aging. Zacharias serves as a priest of the order of Abijah, and in the rotation of temple service it falls to him by lot to burn incense in the temple. There he encounters the Angel Gabriel who tells him that his wife Elizabeth will bear a son, and that his son:

…. will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:16-17).

This child, of course, would be named John and would be the forerunner of Jesus, baptizing repentant Jews and preparing the way of the Lord.

But Zacharias is dumbfounded with disbelief, and is thus silenced by the Angel until John is born.

So the words in today’s lectionary reading are Zacharias’ first words uttered after nine months of silence!

These words are reminiscent of the Psalms in their tone and quality. Zacharias blesses the Lord for his favor to his people, and for fulfilling his promises to send a horn of salvation. This reference to the horn of salvation is a direct quote from the song of David in 2 Samuel 22:3, when David rejoices that he has been delivered from the Philistines and the hand of King Saul. This ancient symbol of the horn is a metaphor signifying great strength.

Zacharias looks backward to the salvation history of Israel, and then forward to the salvation story in which his son John (The Baptist) would participate.

He remembers the promise that the Messiah would come from the:

house of his servant David
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

The Messiah would bring:

salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show mercy towards our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant…

Zacharias references the covenant of Abraham and the oath to David, and emphasizes the continuity between the Hebrew Bible and the Gospel:

…the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
should serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Zacharias sees his own son as the prophet who will prepare the way for the Lord — giving the knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sins. He addresses his newborn in this oracle:

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins
because of the tender mercy of our God…

This is a brief summary of the vital ministry of John the Baptist, who calls Israel to repentance baptizing penitents, and preparing the way for the Messiah.

And finally Zacharias uses the imagery of light that reminds us of the language of Isaiah:

…dawn from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
to guide our feet into the way of peace

The words of Isaiah resonate with the words of Zacharias:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

As Zacharias’ silence has been broken by this lyrical song, so the darkness of sin and death will be pierced by the light of the Lord.

APPLY:

We are reminded that there is a direct link of continuity between the promises of God in the Hebrew Bible and their fulfillment in the New Testament.

In a sense, Zacharias and his son John represent transitional figures as we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Zacharias represents the priestly office, and John the prophetic office.

But we are especially reminded that the purpose of John as a transitional prophet is to guide us into a deeper relationship with the Messiah — he prepares us by reminding us of holiness and righteousness, and guiding our feet into the path of peace.

RESPOND:

Thomas Carlyle has been credited with the “Great Man” Theory of history — that is, that from time to time there are great men (or women) who arrive on the stage of history and have a tremendous impact on the direction of the events of the time. We do tend to study history through the eyes of an Alexander the Great, or Julius Caesar, or Napoleon.

Historians may debate this theory. But I wonder about those men and women who are transitional figures — these are the people who prepare the way for other great figures, or events. Only the most arrogant of “great men and women” would assume that they alone were responsible for their great accomplishments. Where would Helen Keller have been without Anne Sullivan? Most of us can name President Teddy Roosevelt, but forget that he was first William McKinley’s Vice President. Would Abraham Lincoln have been nominated as the Republican candidate for the presidency in 1860 without the help of David Davis and Norman Judd?

Christians would agree that Jesus of Nazareth is the most important figure in history. But what of the role of John the Baptist? He was a transitional figure, but he prepared the way for the coming of Jesus.

There is a word for John’s ministry in modern parlance — he was an “advance man,” who preceded the King with publicity and announcements about his coming. His role was critical in awakening the people of Judea to the reality that the King was on his way.

We may feel that our own role in the world is insignificant and easily forgotten. But we can choose to be “advance men and women” for the King who is coming!

Our Lord, your promises for our salvation, holiness and righteousness are from of old. The promises you have made to Abraham and to David are fulfilled in your Son, Jesus. Give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace. And may we be your “advance men and women” to prepare those around us for your reign. Amen.

PHOTOS:
“Geburt Johannes des Täufers” by Jacopo Pontormo, is in the public domain.

Psalm Reading for November 6, 2022

“Jewish Museum, Rome – The Spanish Synagogue”

The Jewish Museum of Rome is beneath the Great Synagogue. The Spanish Synagogue has been moved here from a building that was just over the river but no longer exists. This is the ladies’ gallery (as in all orthodox synagogues men and women sit separately). The Hebrew inscription (reading right to left) is the opening of psalm 145: “Happy are they who dwell in your house and they shall praise You forever.” [photo and caption by Mike Freedman, emphasis mine]

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

Psalm 145 is another acrostic Psalm devoted to the praise of Yahweh. Each verse begins with a different letter from the Hebrew alphabet. David, the shepherd, musician, warrior and king, is designated as the author.

David begins by proclaiming his own praise for God, with his affirmation that:

I will exalt you, my God, the King.
I will praise your name forever and ever.

In the second verse, he reinforces this declaration through the Hebraic poetic technique of parallelism — repeating the same thought in different words:

Every day I will praise you.
I will extol your name forever and ever.

He proclaims the greatness of Yahweh, whose greatness is unsearchable —beyond comprehension.

David reminds us that each generation is responsible to pass on the faith to the next generation:

One generation will commend your works to another,
and will declare your mighty acts.

This underscores the importance of corporate worship and of teaching children the Scriptures and traditions of the faith.

At the same time, there is an intensely personal and intimate dimension to the worship of God:

Of the glorious majesty of your honor,
of your wondrous works, I will meditate.

In the second section of our lectionary reading from Psalm 145, David extols the qualities and character of Yahweh. He is righteous and gracious. And Yahweh also is described as intimately close to those who call on him and who fear him.

And then there are some extraordinary promises that are claimed in the name of Yahweh:

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him.
He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Yahweh preserves all those who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

Some scholars describe this as Deuteronomic theology. In Deuteronomy 28, as Moses prepares for his own departure from the people of Israel, he makes this statement:

It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to Yahweh your God’s voice, to observe to do all his commandments which I command you today, that Yahweh your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you, and overtake you, if you listen to Yahweh your God’s voice (Deuteronomy 28:1-2).

Conversely, if the wicked are not obedient to God’s commands, they will suffer the consequences of their disobedience.

For himself, David proclaims his own intention to praise Yahweh, and calls upon all living beings to praise him:

My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh.
Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

APPLY:

There are a few obvious applications of this Psalm to our spiritual life.

First, worship and praise of Yahweh as our God, the King is absolutely vital to our own relationship with God, including meditating on his unsearchable greatness. A sense of awe is an essential part of our worship and prayer.

Second, corporate worship and church-life are vital in the process of passing the faith from one generation to the next. As John Wesley said, “Christianity knows nothing of solitary religion.” We must declare God’s mighty acts to each generation— from creation to the liberation of Israel, the giving of the law, the ministry of the prophets, and the incarnation and redemptive work of Christ.

Third, we internalize his wondrous works as we meditate on them. Our own spiritual life is fed as we meditate on God’s work in creation, as well as his mighty acts of salvation revealed in Scripture.

Fourth, we are aware that part of God’s character is his graciousness to us — that there is blessing that is bestowed on those who call on him. Obviously there is a nuance here — God is not a genii who gives whatever we want if we “name and claim it.” But those who live close to God and in worshipful gratitude tend to be those who are more keenly aware of God’s consistent love and blessing. And, yes, they tend to be happier and more content with what they have received than those whose cravings rule their lives.

RESPOND:

The proper focus on Psalm 145 is on the theme of praise and worship. That is the real emphasis here.

However, it is impossible to miss the Deuteronomic influence here — that if we obey God’s law and fear God, we will be blessed.

We see that theology in an exaggerated form in what is called the Prosperity Gospel today. This is the belief that when we become Christians, whatever we ask in Jesus’ name God must give us.

I had a friend in seminary who would proclaim, as we drove through the pricey, exclusive sections of Dallas, “I believe Jesus wants me to have that house! I believe Jesus wants me to have that Mercedes.”

I believe that this is a gross distortion of Deuteronomic theology. The truth is really more a matter of “both/and.” It is true that blessing and reward are promised in the Old Testament and the New Testament to those who are faithful. However, there is also a balance in the Biblical record. Patriarchs, prophets and apostles all experienced profound suffering and hardship, and delayed fulfillment.

So, yes, there is reward promised to believers. Some of that reward may come in the sense of peace and serenity in the face of tribulation and suffering. And some of that reward is eschatological.

So the answer to the question about God’s promise of reward is yes — but as Paul writes in Romans:

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. (Romans 8:18)

Lord, I join together with all generations to praise and extol you! Thank you for your promise of blessing. The greatest blessing of all is the opportunity to know and worship you. Amen.

PHOTOS:
"Jewish Museum, Rome-The Spanish Synagogue" by Mike Freedman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license.

Psalm Reading for October 30, 2022

The letter Tzadi is near the end of the Hebrew alphabet.
Psalm 119 is an acrostic psalm — each stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Verses 137-144 begin with Tzadi.

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 119:137-144
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

Psalm 119 is an acrostic Psalm, with each of its 22 stanzas beginning with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from Aleph to Tav. Psalm 119 is devoted almost exclusively to the celebration of Yahweh and his holy law.

Our Psalm in this week’s lectionary reading focuses on the section of Psalm 119 with the letter Tzadi.

The Psalmist begins with an affirmation about the nature of Yahweh and the reliability of his law, which rests on his own character:

You are righteous, Yahweh.
Your judgments are upright.
You have commanded your statutes in righteousness.
They are fully trustworthy.

However, the Psalmist reveals that obedience to the commandments of God does meet with opposition and even derision:

My zeal wears me out,
because my enemies ignore your words.
Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them.
I am small and despised.
I don’t forget your precepts.

Despite the opposition of enemies to the law of God, the Psalmist cleaves to the promises of God. Though the Psalmist may feel small and despised, the precepts of God sustain him:

Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.
Your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me.
Your commandments are my delight.

This stanza of Psalm 119 is a study in contrasts — the Psalmist admits that he is worn out, small and despised, and experiences trouble and anguish. And yet, the truth and reliability of the law delight him and give him life:

Your testimonies are righteous forever.
Give me understanding, that I may live.

APPLY:

The laws and promises of God provide boundaries and certainty in an uncertain world. Though we may feel worn out because of those who deride our faith and our convictions, God’s promises have stood the test of time. Though we may feel small and despised, when we remember God’s precepts we are reminded of something much, much bigger than we are. When we feel we are taken hold of by trouble and anguish the assurances of God’s commandments can be a source of delight.

This is a reminder to us that we are to read, study and apply God’s Word on a daily basis in our lives.

RESPOND:

We live in a world of moral relativism and casual ethical boundaries. It is so difficult to know exactly where we stand as believers in a culture devoted to narcissism, materialism and consumerism.

God’s laws and commandments ground us, and provide foundation. When we are in a moral fog, they are the light that pierces through the gray confusion. We are reminded that we are not to conform to this age but are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (from Romans 12:1). There is no better place to start than the study of Scripture.

Lord, I feel so worn out sometimes by the moral fog of this world; and I feel small and despised, and troubled and anguished by some of the directions our culture has taken. May your commandments be my delight and the source of my moral guidance. Give me understanding, that I may live. Amen.

PHOTOS:
"Tzaddi.gif" is in the public domain.

Psalm Reading for October 23, 2022

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 65
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

Psalm 65 is called A Psalm by David in the ascription. It is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving, especially for the blessings of salvation, the created order, and the abundance of the harvest.

The Psalm begins with praise of God in Zion, the mountain upon which the City of David, Jerusalem, is built. This is a place of prayer and worship, where vows to God are honored, prayers are heard, where pilgrims come, and sacrifice for sin is made.

Our knowledge of the biography of David certainly adds color to his confession:

Sins overwhelmed me…

We are familiar with the details of adultery and murder in David’s life (2 Samuel 11), and that God calls him a man of war who has shed blood in battle, which disqualifies him to build the temple. However, we also know that David repents of his sin in the matter of Bathsheba and her assassinated husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 12; Psalm 51); and we know that David is called a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14), which is also how he is described by the Christian church centuries later (Acts 13:22).

Like all human beings, David is a mixture of good and evil. This is why the phrase that immediately follows his confession is so poignant:

but you atoned for our transgressions.

This is a reminder that the sinner cannot atone for his/her own sin. Only God can do that.

The next verse (4), however, is a little problematical. It describes the blessing of the one who is chosen to come into the courts of the Lord, in his house and holy temple. The problem is that the temple itself wasn’t built until after David’s reign, by his son Solomon.

It is true that David brings the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6), and places it within the Tent. So we must assume that if David wrote this Psalm, the temple refers to the tabernacle, or Tent.

David’s Psalm continues to recount God’s awesome deeds of righteousness, and character as the God of our salvation.

And there is here a hint of the opportunity of salvation that is offered not only to Israel but to everyone, including the Gentiles:

You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth,
of those who are far away on the sea;

David then waxes lyrical as he describes the beauty and power of God as he forms the mountains, calms the roaring sea waves, and even resolves political issues as he stills:

the turmoil of the nations.

David continues in a poetic vein as he describes Yahweh’s natural wonders that evoke awe everywhere:

You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.
You visit the earth, and water it.
You greatly enrich it.
The river of God is full of water.
You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows.
You level its ridges.
You soften it with showers.
You bless it with a crop.
You crown the year with your bounty.
Your carts overflow with abundance.
The wilderness grasslands overflow.
The hills are clothed with gladness.
The pastures are covered with flocks.
The valleys also are clothed with grain.
They shout for joy!
They also sing.

APPLY:

The gifts of God for the people of God are superlative — but the truth is God’s gifts are meant for all people who will acknowledge God — and even for those who don’t acknowledge him!

Yahweh hears the prayers of all people who will respond (v. 2); he is:

the hope of all the ends of the earth,
of those who are far away on the sea…

The mountains and the seas inspire the awe of those:

who dwell in faraway places [and] are afraid at your wonders.

The blessings of sunrise and sunset, rain and harvest are available to all people throughout the world.

We are reminded of this message in the New Testament. When Jesus speaks of the universal love of God, he says that God:

makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust (Matthew 6:45).

When Paul begins to spread the Gospel beyond the Jews to the Gentiles in Lystra, he reminds these pagans that the same God who revealed himself through Jesus is the God who has made all things for all people:

[God] didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness (Acts 14:17).

We are reminded that God’s love isn’t simply limited to the so-called chosen. He loves all people, and has lavished his gifts of salvation and creation to all who will come to him in praise and thanksgiving.

RESPOND:

This is a wonderfully lyrical passage that inspires us to give thanks and praise to the Creator of all the natural wonders that surround us, and the abundance of creation that is available to all of us.

However, there is one verse embedded in this Psalm that reveals a very personal side of David’s character, if only as an aside:

Sins overwhelmed me,
but you atoned for our transgressions.

What a contrast David is to a man who only apologizes after he is confronted, and then makes excuses and casts aspersions on others!

This is a simple confession of sin, and an acknowledgement that we cannot atone for our own sins. Upon this cornerstone the entire Christian doctrine of atonement rests. As the great hymn of Robert Lowery reminds us:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Lord, your blessings surpass my capacity for praise. You offer salvation, through your own sacrifice, and share the beauty and wonder of all creation with all of us. I thank you for… everything! Amen.

PHOTOS:
"psalm 65-8" by George Samuel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic license.

Psalm Reading for October 16, 2022

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 119:97-104
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

Psalm 119 is unique. It is one of about a dozen acrostic Psalms in the Hebrew hymnal, each stanza based on a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It begins with Aleph and ends with Tav.

What sets Psalm 119 apart is that it is the longest Psalm in the Psaltery, with 176 verses; and also the longest single book in the Bible! In fact, by itself Psalm 119 is longer than 17 Old Testament books, and 14 New Testament books!

Psalm 119 is devoted almost exclusively to the celebration of Yahweh and his holy law.

Our lectionary reading is only a small part of the total — focusing on the Hebrew letter Mem. But this section lifts up the central theme of Psalm 119:

How I love your law!
It is my meditation all day.

This is the “first principle” of Hebrew faith — that God has revealed himself through the law. Hence, meditation on the law makes one wise, righteous.

In fact, the Psalmist’s focus on the commandments gives him a leg up on his enemies, his teachers and the aged!

Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
for your commandments are always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
because I have kept your precepts.

In other words, it would seem that simply studying the laws, statutes and commandments of God has given the Psalmist an unsurpassed advantage in life.

A common Biblical metaphor for the righteous way of life is walking with God (Enoch in Genesis 5:24; Noah in Genesis 6:9; Abram in Genesis 17:1; Israel walking in obedience to God’s law in Exodus 18:20, etc.), and this Psalm alludes to this Godly walk:

I have kept my feet from every evil way,
that I might observe your word.

And yet another frequent metaphor in Scripture is the imagery of the Word of God as honey that is eaten by the reader (cf Psalm 19:10; Ezekiel 3:2-4):

How sweet are your promises to my taste,
more than honey to my mouth!

As the Psalmist ingests these words, they give him wisdom to discern good and evil. And to avoid the evil:

Through your precepts, I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.

APPLY:

For the Hebrew believer, the laws and commandments of God were paramount. The law, delivered to Moses on Mount Horeb, forms the foundation of the covenant between God and Israel. The law provides a way of life, of worship, and of righteousness to the Israelites.

For the Christian, the law is more complicated. Paul strongly affirms that the law:

indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good (Romans 7:12).

So, the Christian is never at liberty to denigrate or deny the law of God. However, Paul’s insight is that the law can’t deliver the righteousness that it demands. The perfect standards of the law cannot be attained by sinful men and women, no matter how good we are.

Thus, Jesus has fulfilled the law on our behalf through his sinless life and his atoning, sacrificial death:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:2-4).

Are we to meditate on the law, as the Psalmist did? Yes. But we also realize that Jesus fulfills the demands of the law on our behalf; and through the Spirit fulfills the moral and spiritual law through the law of love written on our hearts.

RESPOND:

When I was in seminary I wrote a paper that had a rather pretentious title — “The Dialectic of Law and Grace in John Wesley’s Theology.” Actually, despite its high-falutin’ title, the premise was relatively simple.

John Wesley’s study of the Bible led him to conclude that God’s law is holy and just and good, like Paul said. Wesley believed that the ritual and ceremonial law of sacrifices and diet were types that symbolically pointed to the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus. In his life, death and resurrection, all of those ritual and dietary laws were fulfilled and were no longer required. Jesus is our sacrifice. Therefore, the sacrifice of animals is no longer required.

However, Wesley said that Jesus never contradicted the moral law that had been revealed in the Old Testament — in fact, Jesus doubled down on the moral law! For example, murder is bad, but anger is the beginning of the murder of a brother; adultery is wrong, but lust is the objectification of a woman and the root of adultery. In other words, the moral law isn’t merely external — it is internal.

Wesley summed it up like this — the law drives us to Christ by showing us, as though in a mirror, that we are loathsome sinners; Christ’s grace forgives us as he fulfills the law on our behalf through his life, death and resurrection; and then Christ drives us back to the law as a helpful guide to growing in grace. What is behind the law is always the law of love which leads us to love God, neighbor, and even our enemy!

So, along with the Psalmist, we can also say:

How I love your law!
It is my meditation all day.

Our Lord, how I love your law! Your law reveals to me what holiness looks like, revealed in your consuming love. It also reveals to me how far short I fall when I try to fulfill the law in my own strength. Thank you for your grace in Christ Jesus that fulfills the law on my behalf, and for your Spirit that writes your law of love on my heart. Only through you am I able to live the life to which your law calls me. Amen.

PHOTOS:
"How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth. (Psalm 119:103) #godsword #honeybee #bee #honey #red #redflower" by Jeanette's Ozpix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license.

Psalter Reading for December 19, 2021

Note from Celeste:

Before we look at today’s lectionary reading, I’d like to draw your attention to my Advent Bible Study books.

Getting Ready for Christmas is part of the Choose This Day Multiple Choice Bible Studies series, available in paperback and ebook.

The daily devotionals take 10-15 minutes and include:

Scripture passage (World English Bible)
Fun, entertaining multiple choice questions focused directly on the Scripture passage
Short meditation that can be used as a discussion starter.

Like an Advent calendar, Getting Ready for Christmas begins on December 1 and ends December 25. However, these 25 devotionals focusing on the Messiah can be used any time of year.

Use this book personally during a coffee break or with the family in the car or at the dinner table.

And here’s the link to its puzzle companion book: Getting Ready for Christmas Word Search Puzzles for Advent.

It’s a large-print puzzle book with over 1,200 hidden words taken straight from the same 25 Scripture readings. (30 puzzles in all.)

If you’re not in the U.S., you can still order the books from your country’s amazon platform. Simply search for “Getting Ready for Christmas” by Celesta Letchworth.

Thank you for your consideration! And thank you for faithfully following Tom’s SOAR blog!

AND NOW, BACK TO TODAY’S LECTIONARY READING:

“Visitation” by Franz Anton Maulbertsch (1724-1796)

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:46b-55
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This passage is an excerpt from the famous passage known traditionally as The Magnificat.

The occasion for this poem of superlative beauty is the instant recognition by Elizabeth that the child within Mary is divine. Elizabeth says to Mary:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:42-45).

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

She recognizes that what is happening to her is of great historical significance.

At the same time, she is very careful to ascribe all honor and glory to God:

For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.

This is a very theocentric, i.e., God-centered hymn of praise.

In contrast, the humble are lifted up, the hungry are satisfied with food, and Israel is helped by the mercies of God.

All of this is in keeping with the promises of those same prophets cited earlier — that God has kept faith with the descendants of Abraham.

APPLY:

But all of that is to come later — as will the mighty deeds that God will accomplish with his arm. The birth, life, ministry, cross and resurrection of Jesus have indeed:

scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

And it all begins with the blessed Virgin Mary and this great thing that God has done for her and through her.

RESPOND:

I sometimes forget that the Scriptures we so glibly read in worship services during this season of Advent are RADICAL!

But more importantly, what am I to do about it? Fear God, humble myself before him, and identify with the poor and the oppressed? I think so.

PHOTOS:

"Visitation" by Franz Anton Maulbertsch is in the Public Domain.

Psalter Reading for December 5, 2021

Note from Celeste:

Before we look at today’s lectionary reading, I’d like to draw your attention to my Advent Bible Study books.

Getting Ready for Christmas is part of the Choose This Day Multiple Choice Bible Studies series, available in paperback and ebook.

The daily devotionals take 10-15 minutes and include:

Scripture passage (World English Bible)
Fun, entertaining multiple choice questions focused directly on the Scripture passage
Short meditation that can be used as a discussion starter.

Like an Advent calendar, Getting Ready for Christmas begins on December 1 and ends December 25. However, these 25 devotionals focusing on the Messiah can be used any time of year.

Use this book personally during a coffee break or with the family in the car or at the dinner table.

And here’s the link to its puzzle companion book: Getting Ready for Christmas Word Search Puzzles for Advent.

It’s a large-print puzzle book with over 1,200 hidden words taken straight from the same 25 Scripture readings. (30 puzzles in all.)

If you’re not in the U.S., you can still order the books from your country’s amazon platform. Simply search for “Getting Ready for Christmas” by Celesta Letchworth.

Thank you for your consideration! And thank you for faithfully following Tom’s SOAR blog!

AND NOW, BACK TO TODAY’S LECTIONARY READING:

“Birth of John the Baptist”

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:68-79
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is the song of Zacharias, the priestly father of John the Baptist who offers this oracle following the birth of his promised son.

…. will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:16-17).

This child, of course, would be named John and would be the forerunner of Jesus, baptizing repentant Jews and preparing the way of the Lord.

But Zacharias is dumbfounded with disbelief, and is thus silenced by the Angel until John is born.

So the words in today’s lectionary reading are Zacharias’ first words uttered after nine months of silence!

Zacharias looks backward to the salvation history of Israel, and then forward to the salvation story in which his son John (The Baptist) would participate.

He remembers the promise that the Messiah would come from the:

house of his servant David
(as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

The Messiah would bring:

salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show mercy towards our fathers,
to remember his holy covenant….

Zacharias references the covenant of Abraham and the oath to David, and emphasizes the continuity between the Hebrew Bible and the Gospel:

….the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,
should serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Zacharias sees his own son as the prophet who will prepare the way for the Lord — giving the knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sins. He addresses his newborn in this oracle:

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins
because of the tender mercy of our God….

This is a brief summary of the vital ministry of John the Baptist, who calls Israel to repentance, baptizes penitents, and prepares the way for the Messiah.

And finally Zacharias uses the imagery of light that reminds us of the language of Isaiah:

…. dawn from on high will visit us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
to guide our feet into the way of peace

The words of Isaiah resonate with the words of Zacharias:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined. (Isaiah 9:2)

As Zacharias’ silence has been broken by this lyrical song, so the darkness of sin and death will be pierced by the light of the Lord.

APPLY:

We are reminded that there is a direct link of continuity between the promises of God in the Hebrew Bible and their fulfillment in the New Testament.

In a sense, Zacharias and his son John represent transitional figures as we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Zacharias represents the priestly office, and John the prophetic office.

RESPOND:

Christians would agree that Jesus of Nazareth is the most important figure in history. But what of the role of John the Baptist? He was a transitional figure. He prepared the way for the coming of Jesus.

We may feel that our own role in the world is insignificant and easily forgotten. But we can choose to be “advance men and women” for the King who is coming!

PHOTOS:
“Geburt Johannes des Täufers” by Jacopo Pontormo, is in the public domain.

Psalter Reading for December 20, 2020

START WITH SCRIPTURE:
Luke 1:47-55
CLICK HERE TO READ SCRIPTURE ON BIBLEGATEWAY.COM

OBSERVE:

This is an excerpt from the famous passage known traditionally as The Magnificat. Here is the context — Mary, upon being told by the Angel Gabriel that she will be the virgin mother of Jesus, is also told that her relative Elizabeth is expecting a child as well. So, like many expecting mothers who welcome fellowship with other moms-to-be, Mary seeks out her kinswoman. She travels from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah live (Luke 1:26-45).

The occasion for this poem of superlative beauty is the instant recognition by Elizabeth that the child within Mary is divine. Elizabeth says to Mary:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” (Luke 1:42-45).

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

She recognizes that what is happening to her is of great historical significance.

At the same time, she is very careful to ascribe all honor and glory to God:

For he who is mighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name.

This is a very theocentric, i.e., God-centered hymn of praise.

In contrast the humble are lifted up, the hungry are satisfied with food, and Israel is helped by the mercies of God.

All of this is in keeping with the promises of those same prophets cited earlier — that God has kept faith with the descendants of Abraham.

It is clear that this song of praise is consistent with the Old Testament and the prophetic tradition of social justice and deliverance from oppression, and that the ancient promises to Abraham and to Israel are to be kept inviolable.

APPLY:

It has even been said that a British bishop in a third world country cautioned his priests against reading this passage aloud in church to the oppressed citizens of their colony. He feared it might lead to social upheaval and revolution!

But this song of praise begins in the life and literally in the womb of a young woman. Her consent to the news that she was to become the mother of the Messiah is a pivotal act in history. By saying, as she does, let it be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:38), she sets a revolution in motion.

But all of that is to come later — as will the mighty deeds that God will accomplish with his arm. The birth, life, ministry, cross and resurrection of Jesus have indeed:

scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

And it all begins with the blessed Virgin Mary and this great thing that God has done for her and through her.

RESPOND:

I sometimes forget that the Scriptures we so glibly read in worship services during this season of Advent are RADICAL!

But more importantly, what am I to do about it? Fear God, humble myself before him, and identify with the poor and the oppressed? I think so.

Our Lord, I cannot improve on Mary’s words. But I am aware that as with Mary you have honored me with your favor simply by offering me your grace and mercy. Forgive me when I crow with the proud, and seek to be imperious like the rulers. Give me an identification with the humble and poor so that I might be in ministry to them — because that’s where you are. Amen.

PHOTOS:
"Visitation" by Franz Anton Maulbertsch is in the Public Domain.