Proper 15 / Pentecost 13 / Ordinary Time 20
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
(See Epiphany 4/Ordinary Time 4, Cycle B, for an alternative approach.)
Psalm 111 is a carefully crafted, alphabetic acrostic. The subject of the acrostic is the praise of God, for all that God is and does. This theme is developed by 22 lines of Hebrew poetry, each one of which begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The content of this psalm makes it very clear that it was written by someone who wanted to give thankful testimony about God's goodness to the worshiping community.
The psalmist begins with a call to the community to praise the Lord. This praise is expected to give attention to the way God has blessed those who worship. The psalmist leads the worshiping community through a litany of confession about the great deeds of God.
The psalmist gives significant attention to God's character, which is described as the motivation for the great deeds God does. The Lord is described as "gracious" and compassionate (v. 4). God is also a nurturing presence among the people. The Lord remembers the covenant promises and always works for the well-being of those who approach in faith.
The psalmist is also concerned about the character of the worshiping community. He tells them thanks should be offered with the "whole heart" (v. 1). In order to grasp the full meaning of what the psalmist is calling for here, we would need to add "and our whole mind." The heart in ancient Israel was believed to be the source of human thought.
The main point, of course, is that a God as great as Israel's Lord deserves more than half-hearted worship.
The psalmist also informs worshipers that proper thanksgiving takes place in "the company of the upright" (v. 1). This is not to suggest that worshipers are expected to be morally perfect; that would be impossible. It is possible, however, for the words and actions of the community to have integrity. In order to properly worship a God who faithfully keeps promises and is always attentive to the needs of the people, the least we can do is make sure there is consistency between what we say and what we do.
In fact, the psalmist suggests that when worship of a God with integrity is carried out by people of integrity, the result is a level of spiritual and ethical maturity, or what the psalmist calls "wisdom." In short, worshiping God with integrity leads to wisdom that allows for meaningful living (v. 10).
-- J. E.
Psalm 111 is a carefully crafted, alphabetic acrostic. The subject of the acrostic is the praise of God, for all that God is and does. This theme is developed by 22 lines of Hebrew poetry, each one of which begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The content of this psalm makes it very clear that it was written by someone who wanted to give thankful testimony about God's goodness to the worshiping community.
The psalmist begins with a call to the community to praise the Lord. This praise is expected to give attention to the way God has blessed those who worship. The psalmist leads the worshiping community through a litany of confession about the great deeds of God.
The psalmist gives significant attention to God's character, which is described as the motivation for the great deeds God does. The Lord is described as "gracious" and compassionate (v. 4). God is also a nurturing presence among the people. The Lord remembers the covenant promises and always works for the well-being of those who approach in faith.
The psalmist is also concerned about the character of the worshiping community. He tells them thanks should be offered with the "whole heart" (v. 1). In order to grasp the full meaning of what the psalmist is calling for here, we would need to add "and our whole mind." The heart in ancient Israel was believed to be the source of human thought.
The main point, of course, is that a God as great as Israel's Lord deserves more than half-hearted worship.
The psalmist also informs worshipers that proper thanksgiving takes place in "the company of the upright" (v. 1). This is not to suggest that worshipers are expected to be morally perfect; that would be impossible. It is possible, however, for the words and actions of the community to have integrity. In order to properly worship a God who faithfully keeps promises and is always attentive to the needs of the people, the least we can do is make sure there is consistency between what we say and what we do.
In fact, the psalmist suggests that when worship of a God with integrity is carried out by people of integrity, the result is a level of spiritual and ethical maturity, or what the psalmist calls "wisdom." In short, worshiping God with integrity leads to wisdom that allows for meaningful living (v. 10).
-- J. E.
