October 10th Reflection - Praise - by Bill Lynch

Psalm 66:1-12
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
   sing the glory of his name;
   give to him glorious praise.
Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!
   Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth worships you;
   they sing praises to you,
   sing praises to your name.’
          Selah

Come and see what God has done:
   he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.
He turned the sea into dry land;
   they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him,
   who rules by his might for ever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
   let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
          Selah

Bless our God, O peoples,
   let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept us among the living,
   and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
   you have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net;
   you laid burdens on our backs;
you let people ride over our heads;
   we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

Reflection
In this psalm we come from an occasion that proclaims a world-wide event. A world-wide event of deliverance that is celebrated in joy. An experience of some sort that was of great significance. Perhaps in today's thinking like the end of WWII. It was an event that displayed God's glory and might. An event attributed to God and not the power of man.

So, the people... all the people... praise God for his glory and honor and power and majesty. A proclamation to come and see what God has done in this world in which we live.

But, as we know, the largest event in history and for all people, was God sending Jesus into this world to save a fallen race of people. Jesus, journey from heaven to earth. God coming to all the people and each of the people to save from sin, death and the devil.

God coming in flesh to rescue all and each of us. God coming to deliver us from ourselves, sin and death. We celebrate and praise God for coming to us in flesh and in spirit. We celebrate all creation. We celebrate God in flesh in Jesus. We celebrate God in spirit in the Holy Spirit. We celebrate God!

In this psalm God is affirmed as the One God of all that saves all. One God that provokes us to respond in joyous praise and song of God's glory.

Prayer
Lord, I can't help myself, neither can all the people help themselves but to respond to your glory in a joyous song of praise. Hear our song... hear my song of joy in you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen