Our Sunday Worship this past Sunday (August 19) was an outdoor service. We haven't had an outdoor service yet this year due to the weather, but Sunday we beat the odds and had a nearly perfect day. Had the humidity been a bit lower it would have been perfect.
The sermon focused upon two of the Psalms, the 112th, and the 111th. These two Psalms are really twins, likely written together and really should be considered together. Both are 'Alphabetical Acrostics' meaning that both consist of 22 lines each starting with a successive letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. The 111th focuses upon God and the 112th focuses upon humans, particularly, our response to God and the benefits of faith and righteous behavior.
Righteousness is a theme in both Psalms, but we need to remember that even though the 112th talks about 'our' righteousness, it is ultimately only a reflection of the righteousness of God. It's God and our relationship with Him that is what allows any of us to be considered 'righteous'.
I closed the sermon with the following prayer and I'll allow it to be the closing of this brief blog post as well.
Be a blessing to someone today!
In His Righteousness,
Roy
We worship the God who saves, delivers, heals, provides, rescues, conquers, and reigns! We worship the God whose Word works in our lives... Amen!
Psalm 112 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Blessings of the Righteous
1 Praise the Lord!
Happy are those who fear the Lord,
who greatly delight in his commandments.
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
and their righteousness endures forever.
4 They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
they will be remembered forever.
7 They are not afraid of evil tidings;
their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever;
their horn is exalted in honor.
10 The wicked see it and are angry;
they gnash their teeth and melt away;
the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.
Psalm 111 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Praise for God’s Wonderful Works
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it[a] have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever.
Footnotes:
a) Psalm 111:10 Gk Syr: Heb them
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| photo by Christian Begeman |
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