Tag: Psalms

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On What Are You Meditating?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 1 Kings 2 Listen: (7:45)  Read: Psalms 19 Listen: (1:52)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 19.1-4b, 14

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

2 Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they reveal knowledge.

3 They have no speech, they use no words;

no sound is heard from them.

4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world…

14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight,

Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Reflection: On What Are You Meditating?

By John Tillman

John Lennox says, “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.” (God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?) It doesn’t make sense that the universe makes sense unless there is a mind behind it.

In Psalm 19 the universe speaks. Heavens and skies pour forth speech, despite having no speech, words, or sound. Soundless voices and wordless words echo on earth as the heat of the sun gives everything life. How can a languageless universe lecture us and what could we learn?

Perhaps it is not that mathematics, physics, and other sciences don’t say anything about God. Perhaps we have forgotten how to read their alphabet and decode their vocabulary and grammar. But God doesn’t leave us with only this forgotten language to guide us. What is revealed by the universe leads us to discover God’s law, principles, and prophets.

The rest of the psalm describes the effects of remembering our “letters” to read the speech of the universe and the other means God uses to speak to us.

The ways of God affect our thinking, reasoning, and action. God’s law refreshes our souls and minds. God’s statutes cause the simple to act like the wise. God’s principles bring joy to our hearts. God’s commands brighten our eyes. The fear of the Lord sustains us forever. From our inner emotions and thinking, to our outward actions and perceptions, God’s law shapes us.

Pleasing God begins with meditation and continues with communication and action. The results of this meditation are rewarding. God’s words become more valuable than anything we treasure and more pleasing than anything we might taste. They protect us by warnings, detect hidden faults, and free us from the tyranny of our willful rebellions.

Divine means guide us to God’s blessings to make us a means of God’s blessings. By meditating on, speaking about, and acting in ways consistent with God’s truth, we bless ourselves and others.

On what are you meditating? Your meditations affect your speech and actions like seeds in soil—words and actions are their fruit. If we do not start with good seed, we will never blossom with good words or actions. Give ear to better “speech” than that of the algorithms that send you messages, news, and politics.

If speechless stars can speak, so can you. If wordless heavens can teach, so can you. Meditate on his glory so that your words and actions propagate his gospel.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” — Psalm 14.1

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

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Read more: Meditation in Spiritual Rhythm

Meditation is a breathing apparatus to help us survive in a poisonous atmosphere polluted by anxiety and fear.

Meditation in Spiritual Rhythm :: Readers’ Choice
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Whose Victory Songs?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 22 Listen: (5:22)  Read: Psalms 13-14 Listen: (1:43)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 23 Listen: (5:38)  Read: Psalms 15-16 Listen: (2:03)

Read: 2  Samuel 24 Listen: (4:48)  Read: Psalms 17 Listen: (1:58)

2 Samuel 22.1-37

1 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said:

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield  and the horn  of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent people you save me.

Psalm 18.1

1 I love you, Lord, my strength.

Reflection: Whose Victory Songs?

By John Tillman

David’s victory song from 2 Samuel 22 is also recorded as Psalm 18, with one added line: “I love you Lord, my strength.”

“Victory songs” in the Bible aren’t like “fight songs” from your favorite sports teams.

This past weekend, retired NFL center Jason Kelce made a surprise cameo playing saxophone in the “Marching Ravens” band. The Ravens went on to win the game. Like Kelce, I played saxophone in my high school band. Unlike him, I continued in college.

Marching bands play the same songs regardless of the outcome on the field. Bands play fight songs even when their teams have very little fight. Bands play victory songs even when the team is losing. Fight songs proclaim their team’s might, even when they are weak and threaten defeat to opponents that, short of a miracle, the team will never outscore. Sometimes, we had such a great time playing, the score didn’t matter. Bands raise the spirits of the crowd, not the score on the board.

Even though victory songs in the Bible are not focused on the earthly scoreboard, they are not oblivious to or disconnected from the outcomes on the field like stadium fight songs are. They aren’t just trying to raise spirits and ignore the score. They acknowledge crushing losses. They tell the truth about hopeless situations. They do not downplay the dominating strength of our opponents or the imminent danger of defeat.

David’s victory song is honest. He was in trouble. There was no escape. His strength was gone. Then, God showed up. God shook the foundations of the earth with his steps, scattered lightning from his fists, and spewed smoke and fire from his nose and mouth. There was no doubt whose victory this was.

David testified that the Lord became his strength. Biblical victory songs are about God’s victories, not ours. However, when we trust in God, he gives to us from his strength and shares with us his victories. You don’t need strength when life is easy. Muscles atrophy without strain. Therefore, you can only experience God’s strength when life is impossible without it.

Whatever your life’s scoreboard reads, sing biblical victory songs to God without skipping any stanzas of hymns of heartbreak. Let harmonies of hardships ring. When God brings you his victory and strength say with David, “I love the Lord, my strength.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek his face. — Psalm 105.4

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

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Listen to: Victory Over Violence

Violence is not a solution to disputes or conflicts. It normally escalates rather than de-escalates.

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Take Refuge in Hope

Links for today’s readings:

Read: 2  Samuel 21 Listen: (4:34) Read: Psalms 11-12 Listen: (1:59)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 11

1 In the Lord I take refuge.

How then can you say to me:

“Flee like a bird to your mountain.

2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;

they set their arrows against the strings

to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

3 When the foundations are being destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord is on his heavenly throne.

He observes everyone on earth;

his eyes examine them.

5 The Lord examines the righteous,

but the wicked, those who love violence,

he hates with a passion.

6 On the wicked he will rain

fiery coals and burning sulfur;

a scorching wind will be their lot.

7 For the Lord is righteous,

he loves justice;

the upright will see his face.

Reflection: Take Refuge in Hope

By John Tillman

David knew these poetic images in a raw and real, physical sense.

In the psalm, someone tells David to “flee like a bird to your mountain.” In the Asia Bible Commentary, Federico Villanueva notes the ostracization inherent in this advice. They say “flee to your mountain” as if David doesn’t belong where he is. Go away. You don’t belong here.

David knew what it was like to be a refugee fleeing to the mountains and wilderness. He knew the terrible power of wicked leaders attacking him. When David described being shot at, it was more than a metaphor. He knew the sound of arrows from the dark ripping through the air.

For David, and many who sang this psalm after him, violence was a physical reality, not merely a metaphysical parable. David also knew what it was like to stand up to unjust, unrighteous, wicked power.

My youthful fistfight-level dealings with violent bullies were tame compared to others’ experiences. But even those with no direct experience of violence can feel the hopelessness of David’s first three lines. When foundational things such as justice, compassion, empathy, and righteousness are attacked before our eyes, what can the righteous do?

Hopelessness can affect areas of our lives beyond the spiritual. We may hide or flee from problems with work, our health, our family conflicts, or our communities. Villanueva connects the hopelessness of verses 1-3 to the political hopelessness of some in his native country of the Philippines. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and those who can often flee the country. But if everyone flees, Villanueva asks, who will work for needed changes?

David imagines standing firm instead of fleeing—taking refuge in the Lord. Rejecting hopelessness, David focused not on the mountains but on the true temple of God in heaven. The help David sought would come from there.

No matter the seriousness of the situations we face, we share David’s source of hope. We can focus our mind and hopes on the same temple David did. Not one injustice will go unnoticed by God. Not one careless, callous word will go unheard by him. Not one victim’s tear will go unfelt by his finger wiping it away.

But gospel hope is not pie-in-the-sky, do-nothing hope. It is hope that dares to make a difference, despite earthly opposition. Take refuge in hope. Take action in righteousness. Be a blessing to others.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly, my hope is in him. — Psalm 62.6

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

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Read more: David’s First and Last Giants

In David’s first battle, he felled a giant. In his last, he fell before one. Both times, he praised God.

David’s First and Last Giants
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Walk-on Roles

Links for today’s readings:

Read:  Genesis 14 Listen: (4:04), Read: John 13 Listen: (5:06)

Scripture Focus: Genesis 14.18-20

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Psalm 110.4

4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7.1-3

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

“I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own.” — Aslan in The Horse and His Boy, by C.S. Lewis

Reflection: Walk-on Roles

By John Tillman

The camera of scripture “zooms in” on Abram, cropping out the rest of the world, but occasionally others who know of God or follow God walk into the frame. One of the most notable and intriguing “walk-on” God-followers in the Old Testament is Melchizedek.

What is the rest of Melchizedek’s story? How did he come to know “God Most High”? How did he become king and priest? There’s no definitive answer within scripture.

In The Horse and His Boy, Aravis asks Aslan what will happen to her family’s servant, whom she drugged to make her escape. Aslan says that he will not tell her someone else’s story.

When Jesus tells Peter about his own death, Peter asks Jesus “What about him?” referring to John. “What is that to you?”, Jesus responded. (John 21.18-22) Jesus refused to tell Peter about the rest of John’s story.

No matter how much we ask God, scripture, or each other, “What about him?” regarding Melchizedek, we will come up empty. The Melchizedek mystery is intriguing and intractable. However, there is something we can learn from the story.

God is working even when you don’t see it. Much of what God does is outside of our limited knowledge. Therefore, when it seems like God is doing nothing, it just means he is doing something we can’t see.

God is working through people outside your group. Whether outside your church, city, denomination, or country, God is working among and using people you don’t know and probably using some you wouldn’t approve of. When we encounter God’s work, we can bless it even if the workers are “not part of our group.” (Luke 9.49-50)

God is working through you where you are. Melchizedek didn’t join Abram’s daring rescue but he was still part of God’s work. Meanwhile, Melchizedek was king of a city while Abram was a migrant, living in tents. Both stood for and established righteousness in God’s name. Your position or role doesn’t make your part of God’s work less valuable. God wants to work through you to stand for and establish righteousness where you are in the role you have.

Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and, as priests under Jesus, we are priests in Melchizedek’s line. We are all walk-ons in God’s work. Serve your role, whether as priest, ruler, servant, or “walk-on.”

When it seems like “the action” is somewhere else, you are still part of God’s story.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord when he comes, when he comes to judge the earth. — Psalm 96.12

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Last Priest Standing

Jesus’ high priestly ministry on our behalf is perpetual, never-ending. If we could grasp the full ramifications of this reality, it would radically impact our daily lives.

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Jesus is the fulfillment of every era and every need. Today, his body, the church, is called to live out the era of love and service.

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Sing to the Beasts — Love of Advent

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Nehemiah 5 Listen: (3:29)
Read: Revelation 14 Listen: (3:51)

Scripture Focus: Revelation 14.1-3

1 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

Psalm 42.8

8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

1 John 4.8

8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

“When he awoke, the song was there.
Its melody beckoned and begged him to sing it…” — The Singer, by Calvin Miller

Reflection: Sing to the Beasts — Love of Advent

By John Tillman

Throughout the Advent story, angels, shepherds, and prophets express themselves poetically. The scriptures, strummed by the Spirit, vibrate into song.

The scriptures, especially the gospels, were not written by documentarians but by artists.

The gospel writers did not merely take Jesus’ driver’s license photo or mugshot to record his identity. They didn’t simply take evidence photos of his birth, deeds, death, or resurrection. They painted portraits of each moment of his life that are more true than photographs and wrote songs that are more real than transcripts of speeches.

Songs go beyond entertainment in scripture. Songs are lessons, prophecies, sermons, memory aids, and weapons of the truth. John’s Revelation looks far into the future to see a choir of chosen followers who will stand with the Lamb and learn to sing a new song. This song pierces the universe, proclaiming the truth and defeating the beast. (Revelation 15.2)

We have beasts to be defeated around us. Beasts of lies. Beasts of violence. Beasts of abuse. Beasts of despair. Beasts of doubt. We don’t defeat their growls with our own. Instead of growling back at beasts, we must sing the song of the gospel. Music helps defeat the Beast of Revelation. The beasts around us can be tamed and transformed by the gospel’s tune. We must keep singing the tune of God’s love.

Some may scoff at the idea of singing at beasts. They think singing of God’s love is weak, diminishing, or enabling, or that it ignores reality.

Singing of God’s love is not weakness because God’s love demonstrates his strength. Singing of God’s love does not diminish him because God’s love makes him glorious. Singing of God’s love is not enabling sin because God’s loving-kindness pulls us toward holiness. Singing of God’s love is not ignoring reality because God’s love is the central reality upon which the universe spins.

God’s love is his distinguishing characteristic. It should be ours. Don’t allow the world’s beastliness to bristle your brow. Don’t allow the world’s brutality to make you a brute. Don’t allow the din of battle to cause you to trade your musical instrument for an instrument of hate or violence. If we are discipled by beastly methods, instead of fighting beasts, we become them.

Sing to beasts about their defeat.
Sing to liars about the truth.
Sing to haters about God’s love.
Sing.

Music: “How Can I Keep from Singing?” — Author unknown, recording by Enya.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, “the Lord had done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negev.
Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. — Psalm 126

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Truth and Love — Love of Advent

Make us instruments of your peace…prophets of your hope…singers of your love…founts of your joy.

Truth and Love — Love of Advent

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