Once again we see Jesus having dinner at the house of one of the Pharisees. Although not all the Pharisees were hostile to him (think of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus), on this occasion they were watching him carefully, ready to spring on him if they caught him breaking the law.
Jesus knew what they were thinking (compare John 2:25).
Read More praise, humility, pride
When I’m reading the Bible I often imagine the characters mentioned as the real life women and men they were. Historical people who lived daily lives far beyond the scope of their write-ups in the Bible. I wonder what they looked like. How did their voices sound? I even think, if I was going to paint one of them, who amongst the people I know would l ask to model for a particular Bible personality?
Read More praise, faithfulness, God’s promisesYears ago in England, I had a delightful demonstration of authority being used to protect the vulnerable. Picture with me a policeman standing in the traffic circle in front of Buckingham Palace holding up his hand against the flow of traffic. As every vehicle came to a stop, we watched with smiling faces as a mother duck confidently led her brood of young ones across the street in safety. One simple hand signal was all it took to save their lives.
Read More gratitude, praise, protectionI stared at the small card on the breakfast tray and laughed out loud. I had just given birth to my first child and my heart felt like it might burst. And there, in black and white, was the cry of my heart: Psalm 103: “Praise the Lord O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
How could I do anything else?
Read More joy, God’s love, praiseThere is a musical cadence to this psalm, evoking a picture of the psalmist as a conductor cueing each part of the natural world to join in a great celestial chorus. With a sweep of his baton he commands the stormy winds to hold the bass line. With a gentle gesture he calls upon the birds to add soprano trills. Hail adds percussive rhythm.
Read More creation, praise, joy, aweTo keep an attentive audience it is easier to speak of joy than of judgment.
If a church introduced a new worship song based on the words of this psalm I expect the congregation would readily respond to the first half, singing praise to God and worshiping with lifted hands,
Read More justice, praise, humility, double-edged swordThe final contribution recorded in Israel’s book of worship is a joyful, all-encompassing call to praise. We are commanded to bring voice, instruments and dance to join in the holy melody of heaven and earth.
The psalmist declares that we are to praise God in all places, at all times, in all ways.
Read More Holy Spirit, praise, discouragement
God is our help in times of trouble. That’s the good news! But there’s good news and bad news. The rest of the story is that God doesn’t exempt us from trouble (compare John 16:33).
This world will never be free from sin and suffering.
Read More praise, thanksgiving, help in troubleWhy should we praise the Lord? Why shouldn’t we just eat, drink and be merry? (see Luke 12:19). Why shouldn’t we simply live an entitled life? In a free-wheeling, sex-loving, ambition-driven, selfie-focused world, why should we waste time exalting, extolling and glorifying the Lord?
Read More praise
