Not a Genie, But…

  • July 18, 2024
  • /
  • Park Forum

Scripture Focus: Psalm 116:1-2
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; 
he heard my cry for mercy. 
2 Because he turned his ear to me, 
I will call on him as long as I live. 

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Reflection: Not a Genie, But…
By Laura Hamilton Hui

You’ve probably heard some preachers say we shouldn’t praise God for what he does for us but for who he is. And it’s true. We shouldn’t treat God like a magical power that gives us what we want—like Santa Claus or a genie. Yet sometimes we overcorrect our theology and imagine God as a distant, cosmic collection of attributes. But that’s not the God the Bible describes.

What strikes me about Psalm 116 is how personal it is. The author praises God because God came through for him. Verse 1 is clear: “I love the Lord, for (or because) he heard my voice.” In verse 5, the author names important characteristics of God—gracious, righteous, full of compassion—but he knows them because he has experienced them. 

Do you know someone who has experienced God like this? They often can’t help but share how God saved them from their dire situation. But a crisis doesn’t have to be life-threatening for this psalm to resonate with you.

Individual Israelites often sang this psalm while giving a thank offering to God for delivering them from an “overwhelming crisis” and declared their loyalty to Him through ceremonial vows and sacrifices (Word Biblical Commentary Vol 21). 

In the same way, we can use this psalm to share our own stories of God’s goodness and declare our loyalty to Him in response. Consider how the words of Psalm 116 ring true in your life. How has God heard your voice, protected you, or delivered you from distress and sorrow?

Whatever your crisis, you have a personal God who sees you. He hears you when you cry out to Him (v. 1). He has grace and compassion for you and will always do what’s right (v. 5). In return, follow the psalmist’s example of praising God for what He’s done for you and honoring Him in the way you live (vv. 12-19). Since our lives are now our sacrifice of worship (Romans 12.1), our most honorable response to God’s goodness is to let Him transform us (Romans 12.2). 

God is not a far-off deity but an up-close, personal God who cares about the crises of your life. There’s no one more deserving of our daily allegiance than Him. What transformations do you need to make in your heart, soul, or mind in response to God’s goodness to you? 


Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
May God give his blessing, and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him. — Psalm 67.7

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

​Today’s Readings
Isaiah 47 (Listen 2:52)
Psalms 116 (Listen 1:34)

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Read more about What to Expect when Suffering
Don’t be surprised or ashamed of the emotions that come in times of struggle and pain. 

What to Expect when Suffering :: A Guided Prayer

Hymn of Hope — Hope of Advent

  • December 8, 2023
  • /
  • John Tillman

Scripture Focus: Psalm 116.1-2
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.

Reflection: Hymn of Hope — Hope of Advent
By John Tillman

Advent isn’t shy about acknowledging pain and darkness. Advent happens as the world gets darker specifically to remind us that it is into the darkest dark that Jesus came and from the darkest dark that Jesus ignites the light of salvation. Psalm 116 is a lament that never loses sight of salvation’s light and cycles continually back to thankfulness and praise.

Hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote a hymn based on Psalm 116 in 1719. The hymn was later adopted and adapted by African-American churches and the gospel tradition. In 1990, gospel music artist Richard Smallwood wrote new music to the adapted text based on versions he experienced. The work was featured on the soundtrack of the Whitney Houston Christmas film The Preacher’s Wife. The opening phrase closely follows the psalm and Watts’s interpretation.

“I love the the Lord
He heard my cry
And pitied every groan
Long as I live
And troubles rise
I hasten to his throne”
 — I Love the Lord, sung by Whitney Houston on The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack

The psalmist agrees with Watts that troubles rise. The psalmist was “greatly afflicted” and alarmed, saying, “Everyone is a liar,” still, they trusted in the Lord. (Psalm 116.10-11). Death features repeatedly in Psalm 116. The psalmist has been delivered from death to the land of the living. In the end, despite darkness and trouble, the psalmist hastened to the temple courts to give an offering of thanks, praise, and obedience.

Thanksgiving and love are connected to lament. One often leads to another. When we love the Lord, rising troubles lead us to raise laments to God. When we lament, we reflect not only on the suffering of the moment but the salvation of the past. When we remember how good God has been to us and his promises for the future, we respond in hope with thanksgiving.

In this season and every season, no matter what your troubles are, the Lord pities every groan. His Holy Spirit groans with ours when we have no words. (Romans 8.26) Our hope is not only that we can hasten to his temple and throne of mercy but that Jesus hastens to us in response. His Advent brings his presence, compassion, and care.

Reminding ourselves of what Jesus has done and that he hastens to us, we can say, as the psalmist does, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” (Psalm 116.7)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
For god, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. — 2 Corinthians 4.6

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

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 8 (Listen 3:02)
Psalms 116 (Listen 1:34)

Today’s Readings
2 Chronicles 9 (Listen 5:07) Psalms 117-118 (Listen 2:52)
2 Chronicles 10 (Listen 3:01) Psalms 119.1-24 (Listen 1:34)

Read more about What to Expect when Suffering
Don’t be surprised or ashamed of the emotions that come in times of struggle and pain.

What to Expect when Suffering :: A Guided Prayer

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Facing a Biblical Disaster — Readers’ Choice

  • August 18, 2021
  • /
  • John Tillman

Readers’ Choice Month:
In August, The Park Forum looks back on our readers’ selections of our most meaningful and helpful devotionals from the past 12 months. Thank you for your readership. This month is all about hearing from you. Submit a Readers’ Choice post today.

Today’s post was originally published, October 23, 2020, based on readings from Daniel 8 and Psalm 116.
It was selected by reader, Jerome from Golden
“Thank you for these words and the refreshing breath of the Holy Spirit that they represent. You are spot on; turning our eyes to Jesus instead of on the drama du jour will bring us peace in the storm.”

Scripture Focus: Daniel 8.26-27
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. 

Psalm 116.8-11
8 For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, 
my eyes from tears, 
my feet from stumbling, 
9 that I may walk before the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
10 I trusted in the LORD when I said, 
“I am greatly afflicted”; 
11 in my alarm I said, 
  “Everyone is a liar.”

Reflection: Facing a Biblical Disaster — Readers’ Choice
By John Tillman

For some people the only use of the word “biblical” they are familiar with is as an adjective to describe the proportions of disasters. 2020 has brought multiple disasters described as being of “biblical proportions.”

Along with physical disasters, this year has brought the exhausting mental and emotional disaster of trying to sort out truth from the storm of misinformation and lies. Every problem we face seems to have competing sets of “facts” that conveniently paint one political side or the other as being the problem.

The unnatural disaster of conspiracy theories getting injected into churches by mainstream and fringe news outlets has caused spiritual and emotional trauma for many. How is it people who claim to know the truth that will set us free, have become unable to agree on basic truths? 
Christians have been filling up on bread with the yeast of conspiracy theories rather than the bread of life, and we are belching up harmful and hateful lies as a result. As Ed Stetzer has said, “Gullibility is not a spiritual gift.”

Too many Christians follow political pundits more closely than Jesus Christ. Their spiritual diet depends more on news programs than Bible passages. They are more concerned with the status and power of their political party, than the health and productivity of the body of Christ, God’s Church. Many Christians would rather change churches (or fire their pastors) than face uncomfortable truths from the Bible that conflict with their political worldview. 

This is the true biblical disaster of 2020.

Many ask, “Are we in the end times?” I don’t know. I do think we are seeing what they are like. Visions of the end, as Daniel can attest, are exhausting and terrifying. Daniel tells us, wisely I think, that visions of the end are “beyond understanding.” Even with Gabriel’s explanation, he still couldn’t understand. 

May we mimic Daniel’s faithfulness through confusion and weariness, his caution in not sharing what he didn’t understand, and his focus on prayer and the scriptures.

Rest and trust in Christ. Your exhaustion and confusion is real and justified.

Lay anguish, rage, and sadness from this crisis-filled year at the feet of Jesus, rather than weaponize it against your brothers and sisters.

Go about our king’s business. Love one another well and share the good news (the gospel) that unites us rather than news that conspires to divide us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons
Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne; love and truth go before your face. — Psalm 89.14

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

Today’s Readings
1 Samuel 10 (Listen – 4:34)
Romans 8 (Listen – 6:22)

Read More about Readers’ Choice 2021
Have we heard from you yet? Tell us about posts from the past year (September 2020 – July 2021) that have helped you in your faith.

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Read more about Worship and Politics
I have never heard anyone say that a politically tinged sermon which agreed with their politics was “too political.”

Worship and Politics

Facing a Biblical Disaster

  • October 23, 2020
  • /
  • John Tillman

Scripture Focus: Daniel 8.26-27
26 “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.” 
27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. 

Psalm 116.8-11
8 For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, 
my eyes from tears, 
my feet from stumbling, 
9 that I may walk before the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
10 I trusted in the LORD when I said, 
“I am greatly afflicted”; 
11 in my alarm I said, 
  “Everyone is a liar.”

Reflection: Facing a Biblical Disaster
By John Tillman

For some people the only use of the word “biblical” they are familiar with is as an adjective to describe the proportions of disasters. 2020 has brought multiple disasters described as being of “biblical proportions.”

Along with physical disasters, this year has brought the exhausting mental and emotional disaster of trying to sort out truth from the storm of misinformation and lies. Every problem we face seems to have competing sets of “facts” that conveniently paint one political side or the other as being the problem.

The unnatural disaster of conspiracy theories getting injected into churches by mainstream and fringe news outlets has caused spiritual and emotional trauma for many. How is it people who claim to know the truth that will set us free, have become unable to agree on basic truths? 

Christians have been filling up on bread with the yeast of conspiracy theories rather than the bread of life, and we are belching up harmful and hateful lies as a result. As Ed Stetzer has said, “Gullibility is not a spiritual gift.”

Too many Christians follow political pundits more closely than Jesus Christ. Their spiritual diet depends more on news programs than Bible passages. They are more concerned with the status and power of their political party, than the health and productivity of the body of Christ, God’s Church. Many Christians would rather change churches (or fire their pastors) than face uncomfortable truths from the Bible that conflict with their political worldview. 

This is the true biblical disaster of 2020.

Many ask, “Are we in the end times?” I don’t know. I do think we are seeing what they are like. Visions of the end, as Daniel can attest, are exhausting and terrifying. Daniel tells us, wisely I think, that visions of the end are “beyond understanding.” Even with Gabriel’s explanation, he still couldn’t understand. 

May we mimic Daniel’s faithfulness through confusion and weariness, his caution in not sharing what he didn’t understand, and his focus on prayer and the scriptures.

Rest and trust in Christ. Your exhaustion and confusion is real and justified.
Lay anguish, rage, and sadness from this crisis-filled year at the feet of Jesus, rather than weaponize it against your brothers and sisters.
Go about our king’s business. Love one another well and share the good news (the gospel) that unites us rather than news that conspires to divide us.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Of Jesus, it is written; “In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house and went off to a lonely place and prayed there.” — Mark 1.35

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle

Today’s Readings
Daniel 8  (Listen – 4:39)
Psalm 116 (Listen – 1:34)

This Weekend’s Readings
Daniel 9  (Listen – 5:22), Psalm 117-118 (Listen – 2:52)
Daniel 10  (Listen – 3:18), Psalm 119:1-24 (Listen – 15:14)

Read more about Worship and Politics
I have never heard anyone say that a politically tinged sermon which agreed with their politics was “too political.”

Worship and Politics

Read more about The Seductive Idolatry of Politics
Politics is the most powerful new religion of this millennium…politics poses a greater threat to the gospel than any other religion.

The Seductive Idolatry of Politics :: Readers’ Choice

What to Expect When Suffering :: Readers’ Choice

  • August 20, 2019
  • /
  • John Tillman

Selected by reader, Wendy, from Northfield, MA
I have long loved the Psalms, prayed through them, and let them express for me when my heart can’t find the words I need. This post helped me do so again when I needed it. 

Scripture Focus: Psalm 116.11
…in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”

Reflection: What to Expect When Suffering :: Readers’ Choice
Originally published October 23rd, 2018
By John Tillman

When in suffering, we can at times be surprised by the emotions that are stirred. We can encounter deep sadness, anguish, and even rage.

Suffering comes in many forms and many intensities. But our response follows a predictable pattern. Hope, impatience, despair, rage, doubt, rejection, redemption, and praise are all a part of the template of prayer that the psalmists show us. There is comfort in acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster that is the psalmists’ testimony.

Don’t be surprised or ashamed of the emotions that come in times of struggle and pain. With faith in God, we can move through cycles of emotions to the peace that God gives us in his presence.

Today we will follow a guided prayer with portions of Psalm 116 from today’s reading.

What to Expect When Suffering
The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came over me;
I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Oh God, in times of stress, despair, and struggle
We are overcome and need your comfort.

I trusted in the Lord when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”

But the world frustrates us, teaching us that any degree of suffering is waste.

in my alarm I said,
“Everyone is a liar.”

You are the only trustworthy one, Lord,
But in our alarm, amidst fear and emotion
We sometimes call the wrong things lies

May we not reject community, simple kindness, praise, and loving words from those around us.
May we not reject being reminded that we are loved.

Instead, we call the world a liar.
When they say a good life is pain-free
When they say pain proves God is not with us

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful servants.
Truly I am your servant, Lord;

Rarely are our current sufferings deadly.
But, Oh God, even when they are…
You are with us now and in the hour of our death
We are precious to you at all times and in every outcome

And if the worst the world can imagine should happen to us
In our death, we simply enter your precious presence in “the courts of the house of the Lord.”

May we not wait until death to experience the peace of walking in your courts.
Help us to live, bringing the reality of your courts, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: “I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth whom the world can never accept since it neither sees nor knows him; but you know him, because he is with you, he is in you,” — John 14.16-17

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

Today’s Readings
1 Samuel 12 (Listen – 4:19) 
Romans 10 (Listen – 3:21)

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Read more The Crucible of Suffering
In the midst of suffering—when we don’t sense any positive change in our circumstances—we can start to question God’s goodness and his love.

The Crucible of Suffering