Engaging Church

Psalm 24 (NIV)

Of David. A psalm.

 ¹ The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it,
   the world, and all who live in it;
² for he founded it on the seas
   and established it on the waters.

 ³ Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
   Who may stand in his holy place?
⁴ The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
   who does not trust in an idol
   or swear by a false god.^[a]

 ⁵ They will receive blessing from the LORD
   and vindication from God their Savior.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
   who seek your face, God of Jacob.^[b][c]

 ⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates;
   be lifted up, you ancient doors,
   that the King of glory may come in.

Theme: The Lord is Creator and King, requiring fidelity of those who would approach him.

Reflection: It’s as if [the psalmist] was walking among them as they were calling out to the city, “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (24:7). Today the Messiah calls his church to worship and communion: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me” (Rev. 3:20).

Psalms on Sunday is a weekly blog series that highlights one Psalm in correspondence with lectionary cycle A as found in The Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal Church. The Psalm is accompanied by text from The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms by Brian Webster and David Beach.

Psalm 146:4-9 (New International Version)

⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
   on that very day their plans come to nothing.
⁵ Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the LORD their God.

 ⁶ He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
   the sea, and everything in them—
   he remains faithful forever.
⁷ He upholds the cause of the oppressed
   and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
 ⁸ the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
   the LORD loves the righteous.
⁹ The LORD watches over the foreigner
   and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
   but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

Theme: Trust in the Lord, who is faithful, just, and compassionate, rather than in human leaders.

Reflection: As there is no other god and no other power, so there is not really any other help besides the Lord. Here God is contrasted not with false gods, idols who cannot see or speak or act, but with humanity, who can…People may do good things to help others, or they may not. Regardless of whether they do or do not, they pass away. Only God endures.

- Webster and Beach, p. 181

Psalms on Sunday is a weekly blog series that highlights one Psalm in correspondence with lectionary cycle A as found in The Book of Common Prayer for the Episcopal Church. The Psalm is accompanied by text from The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms by Brian Webster and David Beach.