Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.
Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered;
let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
as wax melts before the fire,
let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be joyful;
let them exult before God;
let them be jubilant with joy.
Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds—
his name is the Lord—
be exultant before him.
Father of orphans and protector of widows
is God in his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
Selah
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain
at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad;
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord,
Selah
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
Reflection
As this week unfolds and we draw our eyes upward towards the heaven and see Jesus rising into the clouds, we recall his presence with us. We remember the times that God was by our side. Even throughout history God has always been with his people. Leading them out of slavery. Giving them kings when they didn't need human kings. Permitting his Word to be proclaimed through all the prophets. And in the coming of Jesus, his birth, his ministry, his healing, his teaching, his suffering, his death, his resurrection and his gracious gift of life freely given to all people. Yes, as this week unfolds and we come to look to the heavens to see the risen Christ ascend into heaven to sit by the Father in all glory... we gaze... yes we remember... yes we worship our God.
We reach out heavenward with our arms outstretched to touch once again the robe of Jesus as he ascends into heaven. We open our arms, our hands, our hearts to feel his presence close once again. He was just with us and walking the dusty roads by our sides and now he is disappearing into the clouds out of our sight. How the memory of all the acts of God come to us strongly and clearly now that we see Jesus ascending to the Father.
Our minds wander to that promised time when we will see Jesus return once again in the clouds. When Jesus comes back this sinful place in which we live to take us home with him to the Father. How our minds pretend that this day is only moments away and each time we look to the clouds we think we see the image of Jesus returning. How richly do we feel the presence of Jesus saving grace in our hearts and in our lives.
Yet, it's not quite time yet. It's not that day yet. We wait, yet somehow we feel Jesus' presence so closely that we can smell him, and feel the cloth of his robes in the clothes of those near and dear to us, here and now.
Yes, how we feel Jesus and hear his voice in the homeless person, in the addicted, in the hungry, in the preachers and teachers of God's Word all around us. How we see Jesus presence in the Bread and the Wine and in the servers of the soup kitchens and in the nurses and doctors that care for our every human need. How we hear the compassion of Jesus in the counselors and in the friends that take the time to hear our every fear and pain and problem in life. How we know the presence of Jesus in spouses and daughter and sons and relatives as we gather together in family. Oh... how we know the presence of Jesus in the men and women with whom we gather together at churches and sanctuaries and coffee shops and pubs all over this world to discuss God's Word and the life saving actions that Jesus has done for all the people.
Yes, we look to the heavens and see Jesus disappear into the clouds, yet we know his presence and his Spirit is still with us and in us and among us so strongly. We are left here to spread this Word... this life saving Word... this Word... this Command... this Law... this Love of God that God has come to us to stay with us because God loves us too much to let us die in our sin.
What a contrast of feelings. From illness and weakness and death to life in Jesus. What a contrast as we see Jesus ascending out of sight, our feelings of his presence are so close we burst forth into spontaneous praise and worship of God. Yes... as we see Jesus disappear into those clouds we know the Love of God and sing with One voice.
"O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel;
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!"
Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO7KVCGQRyQ
Prayer
Lord, as I gaze towards heaven and see the clouds of this day, I feel your presence in your people and in your creation and in your love. May I eternally proclaim to all you give to me the Love you have shown to all the world... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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