OUR SCRIPTURE INTRO

Week Of: July 8, 2024
Speaker: Pastor Will Hagenbuch
Scripture: Psalm 85:8-13, NRSV
July 9, 2024

 

Recall your childhood or teenage years. After an inevitable misstep, you heard someone who knows and loves you say, "This isn't who you are. This isn't what you do."

This person (who is usually a parent, close family member or teacher) has said these words to align you because they know you. They know your character. They know what you're capable of doing. They know who you truly are.

Your response to these aligning words isn't shame or anger. It's gratitude. You may not immediately share how grateful you are, however. After all, you've moved in a wrong or unhealthy direction. 

While you know what you'll do next, the first words out of your mouth may not be, "Thank you." But you'll correct or redirect yourself because you've been reminded of who you are.

I share this because God who knows who you are. When we know who we are by way of our God of love, we sound very much like the author who wrote Psalm 85, our lectionary text for this Sunday, July 14th. 

Yes, God knows who you are (better than you do, if you're honest). Because of this, you understand more of how the following verses truly become words you yourself think and say. When we are oriented in the understanding that God wants what is best for us because God knows us best, then we hear ourselves sound (or begin to sound) like our writer who shares the following:

 

Psalm 85:8-13, NRSV

 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

for he will speak peace to his people,

to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,

that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;

righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,

and righteousness will look down from the sky.

12 The Lord will give what is good,

and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before him,

and will make a path for his steps.

 

PRAYER: 

Dear Lord who knows us, the very One who knit us together in our mother's wombs, let Your righteous and peace kiss each other. Let Your faithfulness spring up from the ground. Give us what is good, so that our land and our loves and our laughter will increase not by our way, but Yours.

Amen.