Dearest e-votees-
The appointed section of Psalm 86 for this Sunday speaks on so many levels—confession, praise, proclamation and prayers. May our words and our prayers this day be as heartfelt and multi-faceted as this snippet from King David’s prayer journal—the Psalms.
Peace,
Karl
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Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl. Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Psalm 86:11-17, NRSV
CONFESSION
David asks the Lord to grant him an undivided heart. This prayer would only make sense if David were aware of his divided loyalties. Perhaps he is still struggling with how he made such a tragic mess of several lives by having relations with Bathsheba while her husband was off serving in David’s military. Not only did he kill of a faithful soldier but the child conceived in sin bore a heavy sentence as well. David didn’t even seem to realize his need to confess until Nathan hit him square between the eyes with “You are the man!” (see 2 Samuel 12:7 and surrounding verses). Maybe David struggles with being king over and against the Lord being King. Maybe David is living in the shadows of nuances and half-disclosures which is why he prays about walking in the truth. How about us? If we were to offer a prayer of confession right now what would spill off our lips? If you feel so moved to pray and confess go ahead. This e-vo will still be here after a short confessional break.
There is reason that worship and our days should be steeped with with confession—it is because we are kinfolk with David.
PRAISE
David promises to glorify the Lord’s name forever and to give thanks with his whole heart. The one who has been forgiven much loves much and the one who has been forgiven little loves little (see Luke 7:36-50). Whether it is David dancing before the returning ark of the Lord (despite the disdain of his own family as seen in 2 Samuel 6:16) or the extravagant adoration of a sinful woman who is made clean there is a theme of deep response to God’s holy presence and provision. Can we find time in our busy days to dance like nobody’s watching (thank you Satchel Paige or whoever first crafted that quote)? Better yet can we craft time in our days to dance when we know full well who is watching? Can we find ways to pour out ourselves in extravagant ways at the feet of our Lord? If you feel so moved go ahead and dance and adore right now. This e-vo will still be here after a short break for praise and adoration.
There is a reason that worship and our days should be bathed in praise—we are kinfolk with David and the sinful woman at Simon’s house.
PROCLAMATION
David lifts up the qualities of God in words about God’s steadfast love and God’s deliverance. This psalm is still speaking to us so many thousands of years later. The psalm may well have been set to music and sung. Part of how God cracks through our encrusted hearts is through words of proclamation sung and spoken. Often it is not even in words as God speaks through the loving and restorative actions of people who have no reason in human wisdom to be reaching out to us. Can we find ways to receive love and deliverance in the many ways it will be offered to us this day? Can we be bearers of that love and deliverance in as many ways as the Holy Spirit stirs us this day? Can we live out that wonderful quote from St. Francis “Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary”? If you have an opportunity to proclaim God’s steadfast love and God’s deliverance right now go ahead and seize it. This e-vo will still be here after a short break for God to do holy and life-giving work through earthen vessels.
There is a reason that proclamation through music and word should abound in our worship and in our days—we are kinfolk with David and with the stones that shout out in Luke 19:40.
PRAYERS
David offers prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for deliverance. David prays for grace and mercy for himself and for vengeance so that those who hate him are put to shame. Psalms resonate so well with us because they are holy and earthy all at the same time. The Psalms call us up to new heights and hunker down with us in the depths. The Psalms do what Jesus did in his earthly ministry—they meet us where we are and call us up out of the pit to new and redeemed life. God’s mercy and grace, slow anger, steadfast love and other qualities of restoration beckon us to new life. Because we are not yet done with the pain and suffering—both self-inflicted and from without—we can find places of solace and hope in the prayers of someone like David. If you have something you need to lay in the hands of our loving and merciful God right now go ahead and give it over. This e-vo will be here after a short break to engage God in the holy and healthy work of supplication.
There is a reason that prayer and supplication should be threaded throughout our worship and our days—we are kinfolk with David and Jesus and the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8.
God, stir us to confess and praise and proclaim and pray this day. Help us not relegate these life-giving moments and activities to our weekly worship. Infuse our day with the kinds of moments that our kinsman David had. Work through us to your glory. Amen.
The appointed section of Psalm 86 for this Sunday speaks on so many levels—confession, praise, proclamation and prayers. May our words and our prayers this day be as heartfelt and multi-faceted as this snippet from King David’s prayer journal—the Psalms.
Peace,
Karl
-----------------------
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl. Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
CONFESSION
David asks the Lord to grant him an undivided heart. This prayer would only make sense if David were aware of his divided loyalties. Perhaps he is still struggling with how he made such a tragic mess of several lives by having relations with Bathsheba while her husband was off serving in David’s military. Not only did he kill of a faithful soldier but the child conceived in sin bore a heavy sentence as well. David didn’t even seem to realize his need to confess until Nathan hit him square between the eyes with “You are the man!” (see 2 Samuel 12:7 and surrounding verses). Maybe David struggles with being king over and against the Lord being King. Maybe David is living in the shadows of nuances and half-disclosures which is why he prays about walking in the truth. How about us? If we were to offer a prayer of confession right now what would spill off our lips? If you feel so moved to pray and confess go ahead. This e-vo will still be here after a short confessional break.
There is reason that worship and our days should be steeped with with confession—it is because we are kinfolk with David.
PRAISE
David promises to glorify the Lord’s name forever and to give thanks with his whole heart. The one who has been forgiven much loves much and the one who has been forgiven little loves little (see Luke 7:36-50). Whether it is David dancing before the returning ark of the Lord (despite the disdain of his own family as seen in 2 Samuel 6:16) or the extravagant adoration of a sinful woman who is made clean there is a theme of deep response to God’s holy presence and provision. Can we find time in our busy days to dance like nobody’s watching (thank you Satchel Paige or whoever first crafted that quote)? Better yet can we craft time in our days to dance when we know full well who is watching? Can we find ways to pour out ourselves in extravagant ways at the feet of our Lord? If you feel so moved go ahead and dance and adore right now. This e-vo will still be here after a short break for praise and adoration.
There is a reason that worship and our days should be bathed in praise—we are kinfolk with David and the sinful woman at Simon’s house.
PROCLAMATION
David lifts up the qualities of God in words about God’s steadfast love and God’s deliverance. This psalm is still speaking to us so many thousands of years later. The psalm may well have been set to music and sung. Part of how God cracks through our encrusted hearts is through words of proclamation sung and spoken. Often it is not even in words as God speaks through the loving and restorative actions of people who have no reason in human wisdom to be reaching out to us. Can we find ways to receive love and deliverance in the many ways it will be offered to us this day? Can we be bearers of that love and deliverance in as many ways as the Holy Spirit stirs us this day? Can we live out that wonderful quote from St. Francis “Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary”? If you have an opportunity to proclaim God’s steadfast love and God’s deliverance right now go ahead and seize it. This e-vo will still be here after a short break for God to do holy and life-giving work through earthen vessels.
There is a reason that proclamation through music and word should abound in our worship and in our days—we are kinfolk with David and with the stones that shout out in Luke 19:40.
PRAYERS
David offers prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for deliverance. David prays for grace and mercy for himself and for vengeance so that those who hate him are put to shame. Psalms resonate so well with us because they are holy and earthy all at the same time. The Psalms call us up to new heights and hunker down with us in the depths. The Psalms do what Jesus did in his earthly ministry—they meet us where we are and call us up out of the pit to new and redeemed life. God’s mercy and grace, slow anger, steadfast love and other qualities of restoration beckon us to new life. Because we are not yet done with the pain and suffering—both self-inflicted and from without—we can find places of solace and hope in the prayers of someone like David. If you have something you need to lay in the hands of our loving and merciful God right now go ahead and give it over. This e-vo will be here after a short break to engage God in the holy and healthy work of supplication.
There is a reason that prayer and supplication should be threaded throughout our worship and our days—we are kinfolk with David and Jesus and the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8.
God, stir us to confess and praise and proclaim and pray this day. Help us not relegate these life-giving moments and activities to our weekly worship. Infuse our day with the kinds of moments that our kinsman David had. Work through us to your glory. Amen.
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