The lectionary Psalm for this coming Sunday (February 7, 2021) is Psalm 147.
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
147:1 Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
147:2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
147:3 He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
147:4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.
147:5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
147:6 The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.
147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.
147:8 He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.
147:9 He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.
147:10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
147:11 but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
147:20c Praise the LORD!
Today I just want you to read this Psalm alound and really hear the action verbs in here.
First off, what does God do?
God builds up. He gathers. He heals. He binds up. He determines. He gives names. He understands. He lifts up. He casts out. He covers. He makes preparations. He gives life. He gives food. He takes pleasure (in you!)
Now look at what we do.
We praise. We sing. And we praise.
Sometimes I think we get the roles a little mixed up. Who we are is found not so much in the doing, but in the being and responding to what God is doing.
Today I would encourage you to find one or two of those action verbs that God does, the ones that speak most personally to you right now, the ones that you can see God working in your life, or that you desperately need God to begin anew in your life, and respond to those today with an appropriate response. Praise Him. Sing to Him. And then praise Him again!
As I write these words, I am deeply drawn to God's action in verse 3.
Heart-breaking, earth-shattering events that disorient our direction like walking into a deep fog where we simply can not find our way. The pain that hits us in the gut and takes our breath away and we aren't really sure if we will ever be able to breathe again normally.
But God will heal. God will bind up. God will bandage.
It is only a broken heart that can be bound together. It is only shattered hopes and dreams that can be bandaged. It is only a life that has been seemingly ripped apart that can be healed.
If you found yourself drawn to this verse today, then praise the promise, even if you can't feel it yet. Work through the grief you feel, rely on friends and family who love you, cry out to God (yell if you need to!), and put what hope you have in the steadfast love of the God who is holding you today.
Monday Prayer:
Lord God, today help us praise you. Bandage us, bind us up, and heal us from what has broken us. We ask this in your name and because of your great love for us. Amen.
