November 8th Reflection - Hands and Arms - by Bill Lynch

Psalm 98
Praise the Judge of the World
A Psalm.
O sing to the Lord a new song,
   for he has done marvellous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
   have gained him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
   he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
   the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
   with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
   make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
   let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
   to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
   and the peoples with equity.

Reflection - Hands and Arms
This psalm was written for a celebration. Possibly for the Feast of Tabernacles. A celebration when the Israelites would build some huts to live in in a hasty manner. This would remind them of the time they spent in the wilderness with God. A feast of food would be in the huts to celebrate God's saving and gracious acts. It would become in later years a fall feast to celebrate God's blessings and honor God's saving acts throughout all time. It became an eight day feast and celebration filled with food and singing and acts of kindness. A celebration to remember God's salvation.

In this psalm we witness the entire earth and all of the spiritual world praising God with one voice. It can be noted that it is the hand and the arm of God that saves the people. How obvious this is to think of the hands and the arms of Jesus saving all people. The hands, pierced by the nails of the suffering brought on by our sin. The outstretched arms of Jesus that open wide his saving and gracious act of love to all people. Arms that open up in acceptance to those who come to him and to those Jesus reaches out to in his love. God's hands and arms reaching out in salvation, not just for the Israelites alone but to all people throughout all time.

Yes, this act of salvation by God through Jesus evokes spontaneous response of the Feast of Tabernacles, a fall feast when all people see God's love on display, a Feast that calls out for the singing of praises by all the world, all the people, all the saints, all the sinners, throughout all time in honor of the hands and the arms and the love of God. Yes, a Feast! Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, hear the song of praise as I join with the birds, the hills, the mountains and valleys, the rivers the oceans and the sands, as I join with the saints, the angels and all the sinners; to sing of your glorious love you have shown to all creation through Jesus... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen