Sermon preached on 2021-02-07 by Rev. John Conway. Worship series, "God is Holding Your Life." Sermon, "“We Wait, We Hope, We Stay.” Scripture, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c.
Today’s Psalm comes late in the Book and offers a glimpse of a time when the exiledoutcasts are gathering back together and seeing their world built back up. We too, yearnfor a re-gathering and a day when we sing our praises and play our instruments withabandon together again. We wait, we hope, we stay firm in our faith, knowing as ourancient ancestors did, that God is indeed holding our lives.
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (Lukan Psalter translation)
Alleluia! How good it is to praise our God!
How pleasant and how fitting to sing God’s praise!
ADONAI rebuilds Jerusalem,
and gathers Israel’s exiles.
God heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
God knows the number of the stars
and calls each one by name.
Great is ADONAI, and mighty in power;
there is no limit to God’s wisdom.
ADONAI lifts up the oppressed,
and casts the corrupt to the ground.
Sing to our God with thanksgiving;
sing praise with the harp to our God—
who covers the heavens with clouds,
who provides rain for the earth,
who makes grass sprout on the mountains
and herbs for the service of the people,
who gives food to the cattle,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
God does not thrill
to the strength of the horse,
or revel in the fleetness of humans.
ADONAI delights in those
who worship with reverence
and put their hope in divine love.
Alleluia!