All Scriptures are from The Message Version
It is helpful to use this blog as a discussion starter for two or more people but it will also stimulate some thoughts if used by one reader. The material is used by a Sunday Study Group at Hamilton Christian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek.com through this link http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm111.htm
The liturgical season of Epiphany continues with another psalm which is the writer’s reflection on the reality of God’s presence in the life of the nation of Israel and in his own life. Last week in Psalm 62 that reality came from the disappointments the psalmist had experience in his interactions with other people. This week Psalm 111 is positive, it speaks to the real blessings that flow from God’s grace and love.
Few read and there was little to read in ancient times so that memorization played an important role in the transmission and use of the important liturgical and historical writings of the ancient Jews. This psalm is written as an acrostic with first line beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet and each subsequent line beginning with a subsequent letter (impossible to see in translations). This memorization aid was one of many used in other places in scripture.
Psalm 111:1
Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got— Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
He begins with a resounding word, Hallelujah, to express his enthusiasm for the blessings of his relationship with God:
• What feelings do you associate with the word hallelujah? Have you ever felt moved to express yourself in this way – what had occurred? When have hallelujah moments happened during your faith journey?
• How and where is the Lord to be praised? What does praising God “with everything I’ve got” mean to you? How do we normally express our praise and thanksgiving and what do these sentiments suggest we should also consider?
• Where do you feel comfortable thanking and praising God? What is the value of verbalizing our praise and feelings of thanksgiving to others? Is it part of giving thanks “with everything I’ve got”?
He now tells us about the kind of blessings flow from God:
God's works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!
Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—
• How are God’s works described? What words does he use to describe them? Should they be taken for granted – why not, what is the benefit for us of a “lifetime of study”?
• What words would you use to describe those things that have flowed to you throughout your faith journey? Reflect on your “hallelujah” moments and those times you reached out to God, what are your feelings about them?
• Where have you seen splendor and beauty which flow from God’s work? What other relationships or resources do we count on for strength and support in our lives? What are some ways we nurture these relationships and how might that apply to nurturing our relationship with God?
He continues with a reflection on God and some specific examples of God’s gifts to Israel:
This God of Grace, this God of Love.
He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.
All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.
In the first stanza the psalmist reminds the nation of Israel of the blessings God has brought to them. They are part of the heritage of the people and we find them referred to repeatedly in the Old Testament with Psalms 105 and 106 being examples.
• Some he specifies apply to us also. What do you relate to and feel that flow from God to us today? Do you see God in terms of words like “personal”, “worthy of respect”, the source of “truth and justice”?
• If you were to pass on in writing the blessings of your relationship with God to your descendants what would you be certain to include? Are there some things that would have meaning for them as well as yourself? How would you describe God to them?
• The description of God’s “products” flow from contemporary advertising culture, how do you react to the words?
The Psalmist concludes with an admonition common to the Old Testament:
The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you'll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!
• How do you react to the psalmist’s statement about the good life and fear of God? Have you ever had a relationship with someone with whom there is a measure of fear (military, work, legal, family)? How did it impact the relationship?
• The American Heritage Dictionary definition of fear is as follows:
To be afraid or frightened of.
To be uneasy or apprehensive about: feared the test results.
To be in awe of; revere.
Should a healthy relationship with God include all of these elements? Should being afraid of God color some of it? How about unease or awe?
• For me one of the best examples of renewed fear/awe in a relationship with God comes as Job (42:1-6)reflects on his confrontation with God over Job’s feelings of God acting unjustly towards him:
Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.
Nothing and no one can upset your plans.
You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,
ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'
I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.
You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking.
Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'
now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!
I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!
I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."
• Last week you were asked to write down the reasons that your relationship with God was important to you. This week write down some of the specific blessings that have flowed from that relationship or put it in letter form to your descendants including both blessings and a description of your relationship with God.
Closing Litany
All believers, come here and listen,
let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn't turn a deaf ear,
he stayed with me, loyal in his love.
AMEN
Psalm 66:16-20
Next Weeks Lectionary Scriptures: Mark 1:29-39, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Psalm 147:1-12, 21c, Isaiah 40:21-31
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