Scripture Focus: Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord.  
Praise the Lord, you his servants; 
praise the name of the Lord. 
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, 
both now and forevermore. 
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, 
the name of the Lord is to be praised. 
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, 
his glory above the heavens. 
5 Who is like the Lord our God, 
the One who sits enthroned on high, 
6 who stoops down to look 
on the heavens and the earth? 
7 He raises the poor from the dust 
and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 
8 he seats them with princes, 
with the princes of his people. 
9 He settles the childless woman in her home 
as a happy mother of children. 
Praise the Lord. 

Student Writers Month is here: The student writers featured from July 15 to August 9 have received free coaching, ministry training, and seminars by special guests in addition to this publishing opportunity, the ability to re-publish their work elsewhere, and a stipend/scholarship for their work. A portion of all donations during these dates will be applied to the students’ stipends/scholarships. Find out more about the students at this link or give a one-time or recurring gift at this link.

Reflection: Biblical Worship Reflects God 
By Jacque Jordan

There is beauty in structured biblical worship. A psalm with cadence, rhythm, syllabic mirroring, and rich theology not only helps the orator remember the song of praise, but it allows us to be present while remembering who God is, what He does, and who we are in relationship to Him.

Worship is a response to our overwhelming belief in God and it takes many forms. For example, in the Gospels, some kneel before Jesus in worship. In Chronicles, David lies prostrate and dances glorifying the Lord. However, worship does not start with a song or end when you sit down—worship is a heart posture we carry with us.

Psalm 113 walks us through how to biblically worship the Lord beginning with a call for all to praise the Lord forevermore. Verses 4-6 tell us why the Lord is worthy to be praised. He is exalted over all the nations, glorious, eternal, unmatched, and devoted in the pursuit of His creation. Through God’s character and love for us, He restores our identity by raising up the poor, lifting the needy, and giving barren women children.

This Psalm parallels Revelation 4 and 5, where John is lifted up in the Spirit and witnesses heavenly worship. John sees everything and everyone around the throne worshiping the Lord, praising His character. John, suddenly overcome with sorrow, realizes no one is worthy to open the scroll and take on the sins of the world. But then the Lamb that was slain appears and ransoms the world. Every tribe, nation, and tongue proceeds to worship Jesus and God for who they are, what they’ve done, and their relationship to creation.

The Lord is searching for worshipers. God does not need our worship but asks for it. God instills a desire in our hearts to worship Him, knowing that there, at his feet, we will find rest. May we write these truths from Psalm 113 on our hearts and speak them over ourselves during the day. When we are at work, waiting, or in the woes of suffering, we can lean on the words we’ve been given in the Psalms. When our heart’s disposition is to worship the Lord, it gives meaning to all that we do.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
My mouth shall recount your mighty acts and saving deeds all day long; though I cannot know the number of them. — Psalm 71.15

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

​Today’s Readings
Isaiah 45 (Listen 4:39)
Psalms 112-113 (Listen 1:49)

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Donations during Student Writers Month support our ministry and these students. A portion of every donation goes to stipends/scholarships for these students.

Read more about In The Face of Wonder
Mary’s powerful confession, prayer, and prophecy, shows her familiarity with the scriptures and an intimate connection with God

Scripture Focus: Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord.  
Praise the Lord, you his servants; 
praise the name of the Lord. 
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, 
both now and forevermore. 
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, 
the name of the Lord is to be praised. 
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, 
his glory above the heavens. 
5 Who is like the Lord our God, 
the One who sits enthroned on high, 
6 who stoops down to look 
on the heavens and the earth? 
7 He raises the poor from the dust 
and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 
8 he seats them with princes, 
with the princes of his people. 
9 He settles the childless woman in her home 
as a happy mother of children. 
Praise the Lord. 

Reflection: He Stoops to Raise
By John Tillman

The psalmist sees God exalted over the heavens, over the glorious phenomena of visible space. We learn of his vast, majestic glory in this way, through telescopes. But the psalmist also sees God stoop…

To understand God fully, we need a microscope, not just a telescope. The equally interesting, intimate glory of God is how infinitely small he is willing to shrink in order to meet us, save us, and lift us up.

This poem from two years ago explores Christ’s life as a process of descending and ascending. In every aspect of his life, and death, he intentionally moves from the highest place, to the lowest place. And why does he do this? So that, gripping our hands, he may ascend, raising us from dusty ash heaps to a glorious place, prepared for us.

He Stoops to Raise
He strips himself.
He lays aside
His Heaven
His throne
His clothes
His life

He lowers himself
Steps down, descends
He stoops
He kneels
Head bowed
He bends

He sinks, He digs
He slides, prostrates
Below
Our sin
Below
Hell’s gates

And then he lifts
His eyes, His face
Begins
To rise
To claim
His place

With him we rise
Gripped in His hand
The lost
The dead
No more
The damned

No more to die
Held by His side
Faithful
Redeemed
Raptured
We rise

Then he returns
All things in place
Restores
Rebuilds
Redeems
Remakes

He then ascends
His throne above
Worthy
The lamb
Our king
Our judge

Divine Hours Prayer: The Cry of the Church
O God, come to my assistance! O Lord, make haste to help me!

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Today’s Readings
Deuteronomy 23 (Listen – 3:10)
Psalm 112-113 (Listen – 1:49)

This Weekend’s Readings
Deuteronomy 24 (Listen – 3:21), Psalm 114-115 (Listen – 2:18)
Deuteronomy 25 (Listen – 2:38), Psalm 116 (Listen – 1:34)

Read more about The Gospel is an Uprising
The Anastasis can be understood as “already and not yet.” It is both completed in the past, coming in the future, and happening now, in our midst.

Read more about Greater Footstool, Greater God, Greater Redeemer
Christ, who is higher and greater than anyone has imagined, would become less and lower than anyone would imagine, to do for us what no one could imagine.