Day 103 | Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Day 103 | Tuesday 30 June 2020

Here we are on the last day of June.  Even though we are still under COVID watch, this month seems to have flown by.  As we are on the doorstep of July, I thought Psalm 98 would be a good closing for June.  I am sharing from both the CEB and the Message.  It is always good to sing to the Lord either a new song or a very familiar song, an old standby.  Admittedly, there are a couple struggles with some portions of the psalm.  I find it difficult to Be Happy when we are thinking about 127,000 deaths in this country.  I cannot be happy that so many states are increasing in their COVID cases and deaths.  I do rejoice in the Lord and the Lord’s righteousness.  We need to make joyful noise to the Lord for God is still doing wonderful things.

Psalm 98 CEB                                                                                                                  
Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done wonderful things!  His own strong hand and his own holy arm have won the victory!

2 The Lord has made his salvation widely known; he has revealed his righteousness in the eyes of all the nations.                                                                                                                         
3 God has remembered his loyal love and faithfulness to the house of Israel; every corner of the earth has seen our God’s  salvation   

4 Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!  Be happy!  Rejoice out loud!  Sing your praises!

5 Sing your praises to the Lord with the lyre—with the lyre and the sound of music.

6 With trumpets and a horn blast, shout triumphantly before the Lord, the king!

7 Let the sea and everything in it roar; the world and all its inhabitants too.

8 Let all the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains rejoice out loud altogether                               

9 before the Lord because he is coming to establish justice on the earth!  He will establish justice in the world rightly; he will establish justice among all people fairly.

The Message                                                                                                                                     
1 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience.        
                                             
2 You hear the prayer in it all. We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt,

3 Our sins too much for us - but you get rid of them once and for all.

4 Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest at home in your place! We expect our fill of good things in your house, your heavenly manse.

5 All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,

6 Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,

7 Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash, of mobs in noisy riot -

8 Far and wide they'll come to a stop, they'll stare in awe, in wonder. Dawn and dusk take turns calling, "Come and worship."

9 Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this!

10 Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods With rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit.

11 Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths,

12 All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing,

​13 Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout! Oh, oh, let them sing!
 
Lord, today receive our joyful noise as we sing praises to you for your wonderfulness.  Yes, we may have to find reasons today to shout triumphantly due to so many deaths and so many cases of the corona virus.  We wonder if and when we will ever feel safe.  We know of your goodness, so we sing praises.  Lord, calm our spirits and hear our prayers.  Amen
 
Today: health care providers in those states experiencing high cases of the virus.