Trinity 19

Intro

There is that old saying that a joke is like a frog…if you cut it open to see how it works you kill it. I have to imagine the Psalms are the same way. On the other hand, the worship of Israel and then of the church after her absolutely saturated its worship with the praise and laments of the Psalms.

If you look at the Psalms in our prayer book they are labeled to be able to ready every 30 days fi you do a morning and evening Psalter. The Offices use them as sung hymns of praise for everything from celebrations of the open of the day to celebrations of hearing God’s word sung aloud. Our worship services use Psalms as songs of praise and songs of confession.

So as we continue in the journey of Trinity season, learning what the church filled with the Holy Spirit ought to do let us dissect today’s Psalm, learn its parts then I will finish by rereading it aloud for us.

Psalm

Todays Psalm begins with an inscription. It is a Psalm of David as a Hymn of thanksgiving...

The opening 3 couplets has 6 acclimations. 3 ways the speaker will praise God and three ways the speakers tells us to praise God. Bless, Praise, Boast, Be Glad, Magnify, Exalt.

We then move to 4 couplets that tell a narrative, assuring the hearer of God’s faithfulness.

I sought, he delivered, those who look are radiant and unashamed.

This poor man cried, was heard, was saved and protected by angels.

Now a new series of imperative verbs, commands, Taste and see…poetic language. Fear the Lord. Those who do are blessed and lack nothing. Look at Young Lions…God’s people have it better.

Now a section that reads like the proverbs…the wise sayings that pass from father to son. God has acted, lets be changed lets be a different kind of people bc of God’s goodness.

If we are the kind of people who live different in view of God’s preserving work the next 4 couplets give us the out come. Eyes and ears towards us , and his face against the wicket who will be cut off.

God will save the righteous that cry for help. God is near the broken heart. There are still broken hearts in God’s presence but at least they have nearness to God.

Let’s read this last part with the Death of Christ in mind. Yes it is a promise to the righteous and a warning to the wicked…but we know only Christ is righteous and that we are in sin…but Jesus will make the math work in our favor....

Thinking of this Psalm let us remember today’s Gospel account. A man with no prospects and no way to help himself, is brought before the Lord.

The Gospel records no appeal of this man, But Jesus forgives his sin and heals his disease. God is close to the broken hearted, In all the ways he promises healing and proximity in this Psalm the man on the matt experiences.

Yet unlike the Psalm and the Gospel reading where the beneficiaries of God’s care seem to be a regional people called Israelites, we gentiles also know the love of God. In light of that St. Paul the Apostle to the Nations outside Israel gives us an admonition of how we should live as transformed people benefiting from God’s love. Let no corrupt speech...

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus has given us all the promises of this Psalm and has taken all the punishments it promises. Not only that he meets with us at the table every week. So as we gather today to have this family meal in his presence let us not forget to do what this Psalm tells us to do…to praise him in this space...and to go declare him to the rest of the space we in habit…and as you eat and drink of Christ this day I will say these words…this is the body of Christ broken for these preserve they Body and Soul… exact promise the paraplegic experienced today. Take this in remembrance that Christ body was broken for thee and feed on him in your heart with what the Psalmist demands of us…thanks giving.

Brothers and sisters hear now Psalm 34.