Lent 3
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Alternate Image
The Singer has built a new house. It is a wonderful place and
she is delighted with its layout and design. The entrance is
inviting and spacious. The living and dining rooms are richly
carpeted with nice visiting and eating centers for gracious
living. Each bedroom has its own bath and plenty of closet space.
The kitchen has lots of counter space, the latest appliances and
a cozy eating cove. There is a recreation room downstairs
with exercise equipment and an entertainment center. There is a
three car garage. The house is air conditioned and has an
efficient furnace. It is everything she has wanted in a house.
The house is situated in a meadow surrounded by trees and a
babbling brook. There are large windows in each room facing the
beautiful landscape. However, all the windows are covered with
bricks. The Singer offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God for her
wonderful new home and the inspiration God has given her to build
it. In answer to her prayer, an explosion occurs and knocks the
bricks from all her windows. "Oh!" says the Singer.
Reflection
The Psalm speaks about revelation. It would seem that the
glory of God is revealed in creation. However, we are prone to
blocking out that revelation. We block God out of our lives by
focusing on our own activities as though we were independent,
self-sufficient entities. We block God out of our lives by
closing our eyes to anything other than our own glory. We call
that blocking sin. God knows all about our sin. God also knows
how to defeat sin. God breaks through our walls with his
revelation. God crashes through our bricked up windows and
exposes us to the wonders of the universe. God breaks into our
lives by becoming the living Word, by becoming one of us and
living in our midst. When we are privileged to receive God's
revelation, we see God throughout all creation on a daily basis.
When God reveals those truths we stand awestruck and say, "Oh!"
the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple;
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Alternate Image
The Singer has built a new house. It is a wonderful place and
she is delighted with its layout and design. The entrance is
inviting and spacious. The living and dining rooms are richly
carpeted with nice visiting and eating centers for gracious
living. Each bedroom has its own bath and plenty of closet space.
The kitchen has lots of counter space, the latest appliances and
a cozy eating cove. There is a recreation room downstairs
with exercise equipment and an entertainment center. There is a
three car garage. The house is air conditioned and has an
efficient furnace. It is everything she has wanted in a house.
The house is situated in a meadow surrounded by trees and a
babbling brook. There are large windows in each room facing the
beautiful landscape. However, all the windows are covered with
bricks. The Singer offers a prayer of thanksgiving to God for her
wonderful new home and the inspiration God has given her to build
it. In answer to her prayer, an explosion occurs and knocks the
bricks from all her windows. "Oh!" says the Singer.
Reflection
The Psalm speaks about revelation. It would seem that the
glory of God is revealed in creation. However, we are prone to
blocking out that revelation. We block God out of our lives by
focusing on our own activities as though we were independent,
self-sufficient entities. We block God out of our lives by
closing our eyes to anything other than our own glory. We call
that blocking sin. God knows all about our sin. God also knows
how to defeat sin. God breaks through our walls with his
revelation. God crashes through our bricked up windows and
exposes us to the wonders of the universe. God breaks into our
lives by becoming the living Word, by becoming one of us and
living in our midst. When we are privileged to receive God's
revelation, we see God throughout all creation on a daily basis.
When God reveals those truths we stand awestruck and say, "Oh!"
