27-28
Jan 2018, Christ Mountain Top
Jan 2018, Christ Mountain Top
Call
to Worship, Psalm 111
to Worship, Psalm 111
Children,
Mark 1.21-28
Mark 1.21-28
Message,
Psalm 111, read from The Message
Psalm 111, read from The Message
Psalms:
Hymn book, prayer book
Prayer schedules for morning and
evening prayers, 30 days
evening prayers, 30 days
Voice of another becomes our prayer
Joan: Sing is to pray twice
To read another prayer – a
God-inspired prayer
God-inspired prayer
Psalm
111:
111:
No historical setting, musical notation
Alphabet song, an acrostic
First
perfect acrostic psalm, Spurgeon, 5
perfect acrostic psalm, Spurgeon, 5
Not counting the first line
“Halleluyah” (praise the Lord)
“Halleluyah” (praise the Lord)
Each of the 10 verses has two lines
Each line begins with successive
letters of the Heb aleph-bet
letters of the Heb aleph-bet
Psalms
are poetry (like songs)
are poetry (like songs)
Rhythm, though the ancient meter is
unclear
unclear
Rhyme: not sounds, but ideas “parallelism”
One line builds on another,
interprets the other
interprets the other
The
works of his hands are faithful and just;
works of his hands are faithful and just;
all
his precepts are trustworthy.
his precepts are trustworthy.
They
are established forever and ever,
are established forever and ever,
to
be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
He
sent redemption to his people;
sent redemption to his people;
he
has commanded his covenant forever.
has commanded his covenant forever.
God’s works & precepts are parallel
Like the Creation: The LORD said …
and there was.
and there was.
Word and Work for God are the same
(not always for us)
(not always for us)
Redemption and Covenant are parallel
One the word, the other the work
Both are salvation themes
Today’s
focus, from v 2 and v 10:
focus, from v 2 and v 10:
God’s
works are so great, worth
works are so great, worth
A
lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
MSG
Great
are the works of the LORD,
are the works of the LORD,
studied
by all who delight in them.
by all who delight in them.
NRSV
The
good life begins in the fear of God—
good life begins in the fear of God—
Do
that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
MSG
The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all
those who practice it have a good understanding.
those who practice it have a good understanding.
NRSV
Studied
– Seek out. The kind of study that involves worship and prayer, our full
devotion to God, our deep trust and personal appeal. Not merely an intellectual
pursuit, but a pursuit by our whole selves, of the word and works of God.
– Seek out. The kind of study that involves worship and prayer, our full
devotion to God, our deep trust and personal appeal. Not merely an intellectual
pursuit, but a pursuit by our whole selves, of the word and works of God.
Wisdom – also “skill”. No wonder it
requires “practice” (NRSV for do/make). It requires DOING stuff, not simply
KNOWING stuff. About a life aligned with the word and works of God. In The Message, the translator offers the
expression, “The good life begins in the fear of God” instead of “the fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
requires “practice” (NRSV for do/make). It requires DOING stuff, not simply
KNOWING stuff. About a life aligned with the word and works of God. In The Message, the translator offers the
expression, “The good life begins in the fear of God” instead of “the fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”
God’s “great works,” when studied with
delight, when practiced with skill, gives us “good understanding.”
delight, when practiced with skill, gives us “good understanding.”
Which
works? All the works of God are great, even if they seem small and
insignificant. The psalm is full of general expressions, “The works of his
hands are faithful and just,” and those general expressions generally point to
God’s work in Creation and Providence. That is, in the way God has made
everything and the way God sustains everything.
works? All the works of God are great, even if they seem small and
insignificant. The psalm is full of general expressions, “The works of his
hands are faithful and just,” and those general expressions generally point to
God’s work in Creation and Providence. That is, in the way God has made
everything and the way God sustains everything.
There are also some specific expressions,
all of which refer to the redemption story. “He sent redemption to his people;
all of which refer to the redemption story. “He sent redemption to his people;
he
has commanded his covenant forever.” That is, God delivered a nation of slaves
from Egypt and made them God’s holy nation, a priestly people. In the
expression “he provides food,” the word food is also translated as the “prey”
of a lion or “spoil” from battle. It appears to be a reference to Israel
plundering the Egyptians as God set them free (Exodus 3.22; Spurgeon, 3).
has commanded his covenant forever.” That is, God delivered a nation of slaves
from Egypt and made them God’s holy nation, a priestly people. In the
expression “he provides food,” the word food is also translated as the “prey”
of a lion or “spoil” from battle. It appears to be a reference to Israel
plundering the Egyptians as God set them free (Exodus 3.22; Spurgeon, 3).
In
creation:
creation:
· Autonomic
nervous system
nervous system
· Sense
of smell of a shark or a hound
of smell of a shark or a hound
· Multiple
facets of the eye of a fly
facets of the eye of a fly
· Incredible
strength of the ant
strength of the ant
· Uniqueness
of a million snowflakes – just counting those in Mountain Top this winter
of a million snowflakes – just counting those in Mountain Top this winter
· Uniqueness
of each species of orchid, each one matched to a different pollinating species
of each species of orchid, each one matched to a different pollinating species
· The
ability of our DNA to copy itself to create a new cell to replace those that die
so that the whole body can live
ability of our DNA to copy itself to create a new cell to replace those that die
so that the whole body can live
God
loves variety! God delights in it. God loves fit – of orchid and pollinator, of
lover and beloved, of glass and liquid, of garlic and bread. But often, I don’t
embrace variety and change even half as much as God does. And I want people to
be the way I want them to be instead of the unique person God made them to be.
And, sometimes, I don’t even care about God’s creation, to say anything of
caring for it. It is time for me to study, to find wisdom, for my life to be aligned
with the word and work of God.
loves variety! God delights in it. God loves fit – of orchid and pollinator, of
lover and beloved, of glass and liquid, of garlic and bread. But often, I don’t
embrace variety and change even half as much as God does. And I want people to
be the way I want them to be instead of the unique person God made them to be.
And, sometimes, I don’t even care about God’s creation, to say anything of
caring for it. It is time for me to study, to find wisdom, for my life to be aligned
with the word and work of God.
In
redemption:
redemption:
· Delivered
a nation of slaves and gave them a land
a nation of slaves and gave them a land
· Fed
the hungry by despoiling the powerful
the hungry by despoiling the powerful
· Established
truth and justice
truth and justice
· Kept
promises – covenant
promises – covenant
· Chosen
us, not because we are superior but because God wanted to – despite how much of
a mess we are.
us, not because we are superior but because God wanted to – despite how much of
a mess we are.
God
loves the poor and oppressed. God loves folks in jail – whether they are
murderers or drug dealers or abusive. God loves slaves. And too often, I’m too
good to associate with folks like that, let alone really love them. It is time for me to study, to find wisdom, for my life
to be aligned with the word and work of God.
loves the poor and oppressed. God loves folks in jail – whether they are
murderers or drug dealers or abusive. God loves slaves. And too often, I’m too
good to associate with folks like that, let alone really love them. It is time for me to study, to find wisdom, for my life
to be aligned with the word and work of God.
Jesse
Fine, cabinet in the dumpster. “It will be beautiful Mom”
Fine, cabinet in the dumpster. “It will be beautiful Mom”
Resources:
C. H. Spurgeon. The Treasury of David.
