Back from the wilds of Maine, I came to worship and our opening song was an old (70's) praise song: I love you Lord. What a joy to enter into the words and music of that song as a preparation for our time of worship.
It got me thinking about praise songs. If you'd asked me quickly I would have said that Luther Memorial doesn't do praise music, but how wrong I would have been. Every week we share the psalm, and psalms are the ancient songs that were used in worship.
Psalms come in a variety of types: lament, praise, distress, thanksgiving. Of their many gifts, the psalms give language to the whole range of our human emotions. The psalmist speaks to God in happy words, angry words, grieving words, and words of fear. You will notice that the psalms have a shape or form - usually beginning with an address to God, mentioning God's gifts and attributes (you are almighty, or, you are the rock on which I take shelter). Often the center of the psalm introduces the desires of the psalmist - a plea for protection, thanks for deliverance, hope for tomorrow, food for the hungry, protection from our enemies. Then the psalm ends with a re-assurance that God is listening and will act on behalf of God's people.
So we move from 1) acknowledging that God is God and we are not (and what kind of God God is) to 2) speaking opening and clearly of our needs/desires in this relationship between God and us and then 3) no matter how bad things are we once again affirm our faith in God's power and mercy.
The psalm we will be using at the beginning of worship on 8/21 is primarily a psalm of praise - the most ancient form of praise music. In fact, many of our contemporary praise music uses phrases and passages from the psalms with newer music.
This psalm is worth taking the time to read slowly, with great pauses, and much returning to the beginning. What joy can be ours when we join with the author in the praise and thanks expressed here. This is why the psalms have traditionally been used as personal devotions - so we can take the time to really enter into the space of this believer.
Enjoy, pray and give thanks with these words....................
I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart
Before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness;
for you have exalted your name and your word above everything
On the day I called, you answered me,
You increased my strength of soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
For they have heard the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord
For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly;
But the haughty he perceives from far away.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
You stretch out your hand,
And your right hand delivers me.
Ps. 138.1-7
Blessings
PW
