Coffee With The Lord

Over the next several days I’m reading in one of my favorite parts of the Bible – Psalms 146-150 – “Hymns of Praise”… they all have a strong vertical orientation focusing on God, His character, His worthiness of praise! (Just a sidelight for those who are involved in leading worship in a local church… My recommendation: Always try to begin your “worship set” with music that points people upward and leads them to focus on the awesome character of God! Reason? It prepares them to respond appropriately to Him later on as the worship experience develops… From the “for what it’s worth” department of an ol’ pastor and prof)

I used to tell my students when they’re studying a passage… “Always start by identifying the central truth of a passage (and as much as is possible, try to identify it in the very words of the Biblical writer!).” Sometimes repetition reveals it (as in this passage – Psalm 146), at other times the logic of the passage points to it, at other times the writer just comes out and says it. So what about Psalm 146 – what’s the “key idea?”…

IT’S “PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL!’ (verses 1 and 10 – a bracketed emphasis)

The reasons the Psalmist gives? Check out Verses 6–10

“He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever – your God … for all generations!”

Wow! What a wonderful, awesome God, eh?!!

The resulting exhortation? “Do not put your trust in princes – in human being who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground – on that very day their plans come to nothing!” (verses 3-4)

Back to the key idea! … PRAISE THE LORD! (vs. 10b)

After I wrote this, I thought to myself … This sounds too much like an ol’ prof!! … Aw phooey! Once in a while it’s OK I guess, eh? 

Just a great “sip” from “Coffee with the Lord” this morning… (at the very end of 2 Thessalonians)!

“Now may THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF give you peace at all times, in every way!  The Lord be with you!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!”  Hey, someone needed that today!!

I remember as a child sitting with my brothers on the edge of an adult conversation… the topic?  The goodness of the Lord – the awesome things He had done – His miracles, His provision, His protection, His leadership!  We’d listen to Mom and Dad and their friends from the local church trade story after story … and then, from the sidelines we’d beg them… “Tell us more!  Tell us more!”

What a marvelous experience that was!  As children we looked forward to the day we’d have our own God-stories to tell! … Now we do!!  And our children tell us those “story-times” were some of the most inspiring, uplifting, and faith engendering things they ever experienced!

I really hope they’re sharing them with their children!  (I know they are!!)  That’s one important way “the faith” – the Christian adventure – gets perpetuated!!  That picture came to mind this morning as I read these words from Psalm 145…

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.  Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.  ONE GENERATION COMMENDS YOUR WORKS TO ANOTHER; THEY TELL OF YOUR MIGHTY ACTS!  They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.  THEY TELL OF THE POWER OF YOUR AWESOME WORKS— and I will proclaim your great deeds.  THEY CELEBRATE YOUR ABUNDANT GOODNESS and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”  (Psalm 145:1–7)

Let me tell you… The Bartel boys treasure to this day the wonderful privilege of sitting on the edge of those adult conversations, listening to the stories (and we retell them too… in fact I’ve got a few of them running through my mind right now! … In fact, there was the time…) Hey, why not give your children some memories like that?