- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 17,518
22 May 2007
Psalm 68:4-10
Sing to God; sing praises to his name.
Prepare the way for him who rides through the desert, whose name is the LORD.
Rejoice before him.
God is in his holy Temple.
He is a father to orphans, and he defends the widows.
God gives the lonely a home.
He leads prisoners out with joy, but those who turn against God will live in a dry land.
God, you led your people out when you marched through the desert.
The ground shook and the sky poured down rain before God, the God of Mount Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
God, you sent much rain; you refreshed your tired land.
Your people settled there.
God, in your goodness you took care of the poor.
What have you found to be the hallmarks of God? What marks God out as authentic and resonating with our deepest hopes and sense of rightness?
Packed into these verses from one of the hymns of praise used in worship at the Temple are some of the qualities of the true and living God:
He's a pioneer and a leader, inspiring his followers with personal involvement through the desert places.
His compassion reaches out in practical care and provision for those who need "family-style" warmth and support, like anyone else, but are often rejected by society.
He's into the business of setting free those imprisoned whether by wrong-doing or political walls; those trapped and locked into guilt or resentment.
He refreshes and renews wherever people or lands are empty and desolate.
You can feel the overwhelming relief and joy the psalmist feels in remembering these wonderful qualities of God, and that leads us on to praise God with every moment given to us.
If we choose with our God-given free will to turn against all this blessing we can hardly be surprised to find ourselves deeply unsatisfied, and living, by our own choice, "in a dry land". That's the consequence of turning your back on what God is and the blessings he loves to pour into your life.
Pray with real spiritual thirst for God's blessing to be poured out on the country you live in and the planet we share.
Pray with passion for those who need God to set them free.
Pray with humility for God's grace to transform and refresh you.
Written by Susan Sayers
Psalm 68:4-10
Sing to God; sing praises to his name.
Prepare the way for him who rides through the desert, whose name is the LORD.
Rejoice before him.
God is in his holy Temple.
He is a father to orphans, and he defends the widows.
God gives the lonely a home.
He leads prisoners out with joy, but those who turn against God will live in a dry land.
God, you led your people out when you marched through the desert.
The ground shook and the sky poured down rain before God, the God of Mount Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
God, you sent much rain; you refreshed your tired land.
Your people settled there.
God, in your goodness you took care of the poor.
What have you found to be the hallmarks of God? What marks God out as authentic and resonating with our deepest hopes and sense of rightness?
Packed into these verses from one of the hymns of praise used in worship at the Temple are some of the qualities of the true and living God:
He's a pioneer and a leader, inspiring his followers with personal involvement through the desert places.
His compassion reaches out in practical care and provision for those who need "family-style" warmth and support, like anyone else, but are often rejected by society.
He's into the business of setting free those imprisoned whether by wrong-doing or political walls; those trapped and locked into guilt or resentment.
He refreshes and renews wherever people or lands are empty and desolate.
You can feel the overwhelming relief and joy the psalmist feels in remembering these wonderful qualities of God, and that leads us on to praise God with every moment given to us.
If we choose with our God-given free will to turn against all this blessing we can hardly be surprised to find ourselves deeply unsatisfied, and living, by our own choice, "in a dry land". That's the consequence of turning your back on what God is and the blessings he loves to pour into your life.
Pray with real spiritual thirst for God's blessing to be poured out on the country you live in and the planet we share.
Pray with passion for those who need God to set them free.
Pray with humility for God's grace to transform and refresh you.
Written by Susan Sayers
