Difference between revisions of "Sermon for June 7th, 2020"
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==Psummer of Psalms - Psalm 45== | ==Psummer of Psalms - Psalm 45== | ||
| + | Exactly one month and one day from now, Amy and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary. Almost twenty years ago, we stood at the front of a church that was *almost* as beautiful as this one (it was First Baptist over on Montana) in front of the pastor--Amy's childhood pastor, the Rev. Levi Price--and he said a lot of words that I don't remember. I'm sure they were profound and meaningful, but there was so much going on that day, so many emotions, so much music, so much joy and beauty, and when Amy walked down the aisle to stand next to me, I'm pretty sure my brain turned into pure mush. | ||
| + | I like to keep that fact in mind when I conduct wedding services these days--it's not my words that make the magic happen. It's the beauty, the pageantry, the love in the eyes of the couple, and the love of God that brings people together. All of those things permeate throughout Psalm 45, our scripture passage today. It is a wedding psalm--in fact the only one in all of the 150 Psalms. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I think it's a great way to kick off our annual summer series on the Book of Psalms, because it is a joyful, exuberant Psalm, and we could use a little bit of joy and exuberance in the midst of what has been a pretty bleak year so far. | ||
| + | |||
| + | That's not why I originally chose this Psalm, however. Some of you know that I celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago, and each year I like to spend time studying the Psalm that corresponds to my age. It's actually a great way to jump into the Psalms--unless you are 151 years old, there's a Psalm for every year of your life. Of course this approach does have its drawbacks: When I was 22 years old, my birthday Psalm began with the words, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" And of course, if you are an ageless beauty life my wife Amy, you might be stuck reading the 27th Psalm for many years. | ||
And daughter of Tyre, bring this gift--seek your favor among the richest (noblest) people. | And daughter of Tyre, bring this gift--seek your favor among the richest (noblest) people. | ||
Revision as of 17:34, 5 June 2020
Psalm 45:1-17
To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.
1 My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
2 You are the most handsome of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your glory and majesty.
4 In your majesty ride on victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
5 Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
7 you love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8 your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9 daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
10 Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father’s house,
11 and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
12 the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people 13 with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
14 in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
15 With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16 In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
17 I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
Psummer of Psalms - Psalm 45
Exactly one month and one day from now, Amy and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary. Almost twenty years ago, we stood at the front of a church that was *almost* as beautiful as this one (it was First Baptist over on Montana) in front of the pastor--Amy's childhood pastor, the Rev. Levi Price--and he said a lot of words that I don't remember. I'm sure they were profound and meaningful, but there was so much going on that day, so many emotions, so much music, so much joy and beauty, and when Amy walked down the aisle to stand next to me, I'm pretty sure my brain turned into pure mush.
I like to keep that fact in mind when I conduct wedding services these days--it's not my words that make the magic happen. It's the beauty, the pageantry, the love in the eyes of the couple, and the love of God that brings people together. All of those things permeate throughout Psalm 45, our scripture passage today. It is a wedding psalm--in fact the only one in all of the 150 Psalms.
I think it's a great way to kick off our annual summer series on the Book of Psalms, because it is a joyful, exuberant Psalm, and we could use a little bit of joy and exuberance in the midst of what has been a pretty bleak year so far.
That's not why I originally chose this Psalm, however. Some of you know that I celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago, and each year I like to spend time studying the Psalm that corresponds to my age. It's actually a great way to jump into the Psalms--unless you are 151 years old, there's a Psalm for every year of your life. Of course this approach does have its drawbacks: When I was 22 years old, my birthday Psalm began with the words, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" And of course, if you are an ageless beauty life my wife Amy, you might be stuck reading the 27th Psalm for many years.
And daughter of Tyre, bring this gift--seek your favor among the richest (noblest) people.
