Dearest e-votees-
Amidst all the glitz and emotion and pageantry of the Olympics our appointed psalm speaks of blessings that transcend our own achievements—personal and national—that are for all peoples. May we know those blessings and bear them today.
Peace,
Karl
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May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Psalm 67, NRSV
Our appointed psalm begins with echoes of the benediction that we hear at the end of our worship services (see Numbers 6:24-26).
The move of this psalm is to ask for God’s blessings so that those who are blessed who may go out and be a blessing in the world. That is often how God moves through God’s people.
In Baptism we are blessed and then are sent out to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (see Matthew 5:16b)
In Communion we are fed and restored and forgiven that we might go out and invite others who are hungry and disenfranchised and laden by sin and invite them in as well (see Matthew 25:34-40 and John 6:35-40).
As we are encountered by the Word God’s purposes are accomplished (see Isaiah 55:10-11 and Hebrews 4:12) we are empowered and equipped to bear that Word in the world through our own words and actions.
As God’s blessings reverberate through those who have been blessed the world is blessed too: praise and glad songs are the thankful response; justice becomes more firmly established; nations sing joyfully and even the earth yields its increase.
Let us not be naïve enough to think that blessings will abound without challenge. Where God would work blessings and joy the devil would work curses and woe. Where God would work justice the devil would work tyranny and oppression. Where God would work harmony between nations the devil would work distrust and war. Where God would work bounty and abundance the devil would work hoarding and famine.
A quick look the newspapers and into our own hearts says that God is not done working yet. But God is at work in us this day. Receive the blessings God has for you this day. Bear them out into the world that is so desperate for a blessing touch as well. May God’s face shine on you and may you reflect that light wherever you go this day.
God, You bless us more than we could ever deserve. Use us as instruments of Your blessing today. And give us the humility to receive Your blessings from those who are made in Your image just as much as we are. Amen.
Amidst all the glitz and emotion and pageantry of the Olympics our appointed psalm speaks of blessings that transcend our own achievements—personal and national—that are for all peoples. May we know those blessings and bear them today.
Peace,
Karl
-------------
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Our appointed psalm begins with echoes of the benediction that we hear at the end of our worship services (see Numbers 6:24-26).
The move of this psalm is to ask for God’s blessings so that those who are blessed who may go out and be a blessing in the world. That is often how God moves through God’s people.
In Baptism we are blessed and then are sent out to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (see Matthew 5:16b)
In Communion we are fed and restored and forgiven that we might go out and invite others who are hungry and disenfranchised and laden by sin and invite them in as well (see Matthew 25:34-40 and John 6:35-40).
As we are encountered by the Word God’s purposes are accomplished (see Isaiah 55:10-11 and Hebrews 4:12) we are empowered and equipped to bear that Word in the world through our own words and actions.
As God’s blessings reverberate through those who have been blessed the world is blessed too: praise and glad songs are the thankful response; justice becomes more firmly established; nations sing joyfully and even the earth yields its increase.
Let us not be naïve enough to think that blessings will abound without challenge. Where God would work blessings and joy the devil would work curses and woe. Where God would work justice the devil would work tyranny and oppression. Where God would work harmony between nations the devil would work distrust and war. Where God would work bounty and abundance the devil would work hoarding and famine.
A quick look the newspapers and into our own hearts says that God is not done working yet. But God is at work in us this day. Receive the blessings God has for you this day. Bear them out into the world that is so desperate for a blessing touch as well. May God’s face shine on you and may you reflect that light wherever you go this day.
God, You bless us more than we could ever deserve. Use us as instruments of Your blessing today. And give us the humility to receive Your blessings from those who are made in Your image just as much as we are. Amen.
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