OzThoughts – Thursday, 30th April, 2009.

OzThoughts – Thursday, 30th April, 2009.

People love to tell their stories. I often sit with someone I have never met before and I just say to them “Tell me your story”. Sometimes, I find they need another question like “have you always lived here” to get them started. As long as I am prepared to listen and show my interest by little comments or further questions, they will continue to tell their story.

David, the Psalmist, must have enjoyed telling not only his story but the story of his people. He was very aware of the significant times in his people’s past. Theer was not only the good times but also the bad times. In so many Psalms we see that Davis is aware the bad times have been made good because God was watching over the people or God intervened on their behalf.

Today’s Psalm is just like that. David praises God and encourages others to praise God not only for who he is but because of what he has done in the past. He gives them confidence that God will still act on their behalf.

Psalm 66

1-4 All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, "We've never seen anything like him!"
When your enemies see you in action,
they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
it worships you, sings to you,
can't stop enjoying your name and fame.

5-6 Take a good look at God's wonders—
they'll take your breath away.
He converted sea to dry land;
travelers crossed the river on foot.
Now isn't that cause for a song?

7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don't dare
raise a finger against him.

8-12 Bless our God, O peoples!
Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn't he set us on the road to life?
Didn't he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
to this well-watered place.

13-15 I'm bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
I'm doing what I said I'd do,
What I solemnly swore I'd do
that day when I was in so much trouble:
The choicest cuts of meat
for the sacrificial meal;
Even the fragrance
of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make it an ox
garnished with goat meat!

16-20 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.

Prayer: (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book) :

[Listen: (Bnad and songsters ): http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4435.mp3 ]
or
Look and Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtfkyyPQLAE (The Old Hundredth arr by R.V.Williams sung by the choir of Westminster Abbey. The music is put to pictures of various cathederals around the UK enjoy). ]

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his flock, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? The Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
Author: William Kethe (d 1594)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 3

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