In doing so, I am fully aware that I am only entering in on a historic practice, followed by God’s people in every age. My hope is simply to learn myself from the discipline how to better enter into God’s sovereign presence and be filled with his Spirit.
Week of May 3 (Fourth of Easter) - Psalm 23
Why, Lord, given the glory of Easter and this whole season celebrating your Son's resuurection, do we so often assign ourselves to false shepherds, even after Christ's warning concerning them? Is it out of fear or pride? Or is it simply caving in to cultural pressures? Augustine once wrote of the difference between the City of God and the City of Man. Why is the temptation so strong in us to give more everyday credence to the latter than to the former?
Many say the shepherd image is no longer known in the world, but the truth is it is still very much alive in most places on earth. Are we beyond admitting what Scripture says of us, "all we like sheep have gone astray"? And are we too proud to admit that the Good Shepherd laid down his life, taking upon himself "the iniquity of us all"?
Thank you for who you are, even when we fail to remember who we are. Help us, Lord, to hear our true Shepherd's voice in all the confusing and degrading sounds that everywhere summon our attention day by day and even hour by hour. Lead us rather to those truly green pastures and quiet waters that you alone know how to provide. Let your goodness and mercy, as well as your powerful presence, draw us out of ourselves and into your will for all of life. Amen.
Week of May 10 (Fifth after Easter) - Psalm 22:25-31
From the strong shepherd to the Lord of all hsitory these words carry us now, dear God. Tenderness is but part of your character as our Shepherd. We must experience and tust in you as Sovereign too. And, with the psalmist, "from you comes my praise in the great congreation"--which extends to the end of the earth and includes all the families of the nations, indeed, even all who now sleep in the earth.
Because you are Sovereign, we also know with the psalmist that "future generations will be told" about you, and being told, will "proclaim [your] del;iverance to a people yet unborn." And so will the songs of praise in us go on forever.
What a comfort to be in your care who cares for all. Help us this week and throughout our lives to be grateful that you are God, and that we can trust in you to accomplish your will not only in our lives but in all life--as you have accomplished it in times past and surely will in generations yet to come. Amen.
Week of May 17 (Sixth of Easter) - Psalm 98
Moving toward Pentecost through the tides of Easter we are reminded by the psalmist of the central role that remembering your might acts, Lord, pl;ays in our ongoiing faith and life. Without sacred memory we are left with little more than our own meager resources to face life from day to day. But drawn into memories we share with you people in every age trust grows in our hearts because of the marvelous things you have done. Truly your right hand and your holy arm have already gotten you the vistory
Lord, as we are thus blessed, help us "make a joyful noise" to you--and not only we but "all the earth. Let thesea roar, and all that fills it ... Let the floods clap their hands, and the hills sing together for joy" at your presence.
Thank you that confused as we often are by how to sort through the living of our days, we can trust with the psalmist that you "will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity." may we live joyfully and expectantly in that faith. Amen.
Week of May 24 (Seventh of Easter, Ascension) - Psalm 47
Thank you, Lord, for your providence. We are reminded of it when in this passage the psalmist witnesses to more than he realized. That "God has gone up with a shout" clearly referenced for him the Sovereign power you showed in the history of his people and well as his own. But the refernce for us is a reminder of your continuing work in taking your resurrected Son home to heaven on Ascension Day.
Thus is his song of praise and ours made one in the larger theater of life, marked by your providential will and hand. What was is also now and is yet to come in ways we will never see until, looking back, it is revealed to us by you.
Keep us waiting for that, God, and expectant. Help us not to go asleep on our marvelous faith. Keep us young in spirit, both by recalling your mighty acts in times before us and anticipating them in times yet to come. And while we bnoth remember and anyicipate, help us see your footprints in our lives as well , here and now. Amen.
Week of May 31 (Pentecost) - Psalm 104:24-34
Why a psalm about creation, Lord, in the week of Pentecost? As I think of it, why not? Isn't that what the coming of the promised Holy Spirit was all about--your creation of a whole new life estate in Jesus Christ. Clearly you have not abandoned the old estate, creation as it was from the beginning and is even now. But your Spirit, bringing to mind the things of Christ, clearly breathed new life into it.
How wonderful that in your economy, all of nature participates. As the hymnwriter has it, "All nature sings and 'round me rigs the music of the spheres." I nature all things look to you for life, just as we must, and when you withhold it "they are dismayed" and so are we.
Singing your praise, especially as we get to know you and experience your power and grace, should be increasingly natural, so totally dependent on you as we are. Breath into our whole being the praise we owe, and as long as life endures--in nature and for us--renew us in the Holy Spirit. Amen.
