Psalm Meditation 702
First Sunday of Advent
December 1, 2013
Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
(NRSV)
From time to time, folks dispute the question of applause in worship. Is it okay, acceptable, appropriate to clap in worship. I have never gotten a sense that we have arrived at a mutually agreeable answer to the question; this may be our answer. Congregations tend to applaud after a musical part of the worship service. The opening, prelude, is often received with applause by members of the congregation. Folks who are not inclined to speak or shout words of praise are more willing to clap in appreciation. Anthems too are received with applause. From the musicians’ side, they feel they have given their music as a gift, to God and the congregation, and applause makes it feel as if it were a performance. Caught between the desire to give thanks and the desire to give a gift we are caught in conflicting motivations in worship.
When children, especially those too young to have a verbal response, are filled with joy they clap their hands as an expression of that joy. The psalmist begins with the exhortation to clap our hands as an expression of joy in the presence of God. While clapping is an expression of appreciation for the hard work that went into a performance, it is also an expression of joy and excitement in worship. While it may not be appropriate in every situation in worship, it is certainly an ancient practice to clap our hands when we are overcome with the excitement of a moment in worship. And some folks do have an undercurrent of exuberance in their lives that finds expression in worship by clapping their hands.
Should worshipers clap for each part of the worship service? Please, no. Should those of us who lead worship discourage folks from fully participating in worship, even in ways that might make us uncomfortable? No, as long as it is worshipful. What we who lead offer as a gift to God and to the congregation is up to us. How folks receive that is up to them. Is it okay, acceptable, appropriate to clap in worship? Yes, it is. Can it get disruptive if folks clap for everything, prayers, announcements, hymns, sermons and sacraments? Yes it can. Am I clapping as an act of thanksgiving and praise? Feel free to do so. Am I clapping as a way to draw attention to myself or to be a disruption to the flow of the worship service? It would be better to refrain.
November 25, 2013
LCM
Monday, November 25, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Psalm Meditation 701
Reign of Christ Sunday
November 24, 2013
Psalm 97
1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.
8 Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
(NRSV)
In the midst of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, I remember what a shock it was to hear that the Soviet Union was geographically larger than the US. How could the best country in the world not also be the biggest. Through the years I have discovered that the biggest is not always the best and mine is not always better than that of another. Sometimes that other is better, sometimes worse and sometimes simply different.
When it comes to God I have also had a change of heart and mind. The older I get the more radical becomes my monotheism. Rather than worrying about whether one or another religious faith worships the same God I worship, I am inclined to believe that there is only one God who is experienced and interpreted differently from person to person and faith to faith. So, for me, the worshippers of other gods have chosen to split attributes of God into multiple parts to make God more comprehensible.
I would like to think that our conception of God is the most complete and comprehensive. At the very least it is the one most meaningful to me. So whether there is a nation that is larger than my own, this is home for me. It is the one best suited to my current set of needs, wants and wishes. Whether there is one God or a panoply, the one God of the Bible, Yahweh, is the one in whom I will rejoice and the one to whom I will give thanks.
November 18, 2013
Reign of Christ Sunday
November 24, 2013
Psalm 97
1 The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.
4 His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.
8 Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.
9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!
(NRSV)
In the midst of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, I remember what a shock it was to hear that the Soviet Union was geographically larger than the US. How could the best country in the world not also be the biggest. Through the years I have discovered that the biggest is not always the best and mine is not always better than that of another. Sometimes that other is better, sometimes worse and sometimes simply different.
When it comes to God I have also had a change of heart and mind. The older I get the more radical becomes my monotheism. Rather than worrying about whether one or another religious faith worships the same God I worship, I am inclined to believe that there is only one God who is experienced and interpreted differently from person to person and faith to faith. So, for me, the worshippers of other gods have chosen to split attributes of God into multiple parts to make God more comprehensible.
I would like to think that our conception of God is the most complete and comprehensive. At the very least it is the one most meaningful to me. So whether there is a nation that is larger than my own, this is home for me. It is the one best suited to my current set of needs, wants and wishes. Whether there is one God or a panoply, the one God of the Bible, Yahweh, is the one in whom I will rejoice and the one to whom I will give thanks.
November 18, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Psalm Meditation 700
Twenty sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 17, 2013
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.
(NRSV)
The psalmist believes that our actions have a direct effect on the way God treats us. If we turn away from proper practice of our faith God turns away from us and leaves us to the consequences of our sin. As long as we do the right thing, go through the proper rituals and have some personal investment in the process God will be good to us. As soon as we stop doing what God has asked of us we are left alone.
I too believe that our actions have an effect on the presence of God in our lives but in a different way. As we fail to live out of love, forgiveness and generosity we wander away from the way that leads to the presence of God. It is not that we are abandoned so much as we lose the ability or the willingness to see and experience the presence of God in our lives. Once we stop practicing the presence of God we begin to lose the ability to see God in all times and spaces.
Both viewpoints acknowledge that we are separated from God as a consequence of our actions. In one view God walks away from us, in the other we walk away from God. We have some responsibility either way, the difference is in the view of God. For the psalmist, God can be provoked into moving away from us. In the other view, we move away from God and are left to pay the consequences. God is always with us, always available to us, it is we who choose to ignore that God is with us. Even then, God seeks us out, invites us, calls us into a relationship that seeks out God’s abiding presence among us.
November 11, 2013
Twenty sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 17, 2013
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.
(NRSV)
The psalmist believes that our actions have a direct effect on the way God treats us. If we turn away from proper practice of our faith God turns away from us and leaves us to the consequences of our sin. As long as we do the right thing, go through the proper rituals and have some personal investment in the process God will be good to us. As soon as we stop doing what God has asked of us we are left alone.
I too believe that our actions have an effect on the presence of God in our lives but in a different way. As we fail to live out of love, forgiveness and generosity we wander away from the way that leads to the presence of God. It is not that we are abandoned so much as we lose the ability or the willingness to see and experience the presence of God in our lives. Once we stop practicing the presence of God we begin to lose the ability to see God in all times and spaces.
Both viewpoints acknowledge that we are separated from God as a consequence of our actions. In one view God walks away from us, in the other we walk away from God. We have some responsibility either way, the difference is in the view of God. For the psalmist, God can be provoked into moving away from us. In the other view, we move away from God and are left to pay the consequences. God is always with us, always available to us, it is we who choose to ignore that God is with us. Even then, God seeks us out, invites us, calls us into a relationship that seeks out God’s abiding presence among us.
November 11, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
Psalm Meditation 699
Twenty fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 10, 2013
Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
There are folks who will say that God does not need our praise, that God really does not need anything from us. In one sense that is true. We have nothing that does not come from God, so if God wanted what we have it would simply be a matter of not giving it to us so that God would have it. On the other hand, as a believer in free will, I believe that God finds deep joy in anything we return freely. I imagine that God is particularly pleased when we offer praise and love of our own free will.
When we offer something to our children, especially young children, and do not let go completely until they say those magic words, ‘thank you.’ it is not because we are unfulfilled without their thanks. Our intent is to teach them the words that will one day be attached to the sentiment of thankfulness. While God does not have an ego that needs to be stroked by our constant words of praise, it may be that God enjoys our praise in the same way our hearts are gladdened when our children don’t have to be coached into saying, ‘thank you.’
The definitions of thanks and praise that I was given years ago is that thanks are given for what is done while praise is given for who one is. We thank God for all the gifts we receive on some regular basis. The psalmist reminds, invites and encourages us to offer our praise for who God is among us.
November 3, 2013
Twenty fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
November 10, 2013
Psalm 148
1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)
There are folks who will say that God does not need our praise, that God really does not need anything from us. In one sense that is true. We have nothing that does not come from God, so if God wanted what we have it would simply be a matter of not giving it to us so that God would have it. On the other hand, as a believer in free will, I believe that God finds deep joy in anything we return freely. I imagine that God is particularly pleased when we offer praise and love of our own free will.
When we offer something to our children, especially young children, and do not let go completely until they say those magic words, ‘thank you.’ it is not because we are unfulfilled without their thanks. Our intent is to teach them the words that will one day be attached to the sentiment of thankfulness. While God does not have an ego that needs to be stroked by our constant words of praise, it may be that God enjoys our praise in the same way our hearts are gladdened when our children don’t have to be coached into saying, ‘thank you.’
The definitions of thanks and praise that I was given years ago is that thanks are given for what is done while praise is given for who one is. We thank God for all the gifts we receive on some regular basis. The psalmist reminds, invites and encourages us to offer our praise for who God is among us.
November 3, 2013
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)