Psalm 148
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
Object:
What better way to begin a new year than with unqualified praise for our God! As the minutes of the old year tick quickly by and we contemplate a new beginning in the form of a new year, it is an appropriate time to stop and drop everything as we give all of our praise to God. What better way to give praise than to pray this psalm together?
New Year's resolutions are a great thing. Making a vow to be a better parent or spouse, promising to do better at work, pledging to be a more faithful church member, resolving to lose those few extra pounds, all these are good.
Before we step into it all, let's lay the foundation of praise.
In this psalm, the poetry of God's wonder is a riot of images and glory. We are called in an almost sacred recklessness to list out God's wonderful doings. God commanded it was created! God set the limits and boundaries ... and expects us to observe them. All creation, according to this psalm, praises the Lord. And what better grounding for the beginning of a new year?
If we begin with praise, everything else comes a little differently. If our relationships, our work, our fulfillment of duties are begun in an aura of praising God, imagine how things might be different.
Praising God for the gift of children, for example, will have an impact on how we parent and guide them. Praising God for the gift of productive work will flavor the way we approach our jobs. Giving thanks, even, for the difficulties and challenges that come our way will shape the ways in which we respond to these things.
Laying a foundation of praise is not an easy thing to do, but it will make a difference in the lives we lead in the New Year. Just as the foundation of a house is laid out before the carpenters and framers come into the picture, so, too, do we lay out the foundation of praise.
The foundation stones here are those of thankful prayer and focusing upon God. How many times a day do we stop and simply say, whatever our situation, "Thank you, God"? To some, such focus might seem immature or even silly. But it is the stuff of new life. Read this psalm over several times. Breathe in the air of praise that comes from the powerful language. Imagine how you might utter a psalm of praise. Indeed, grab a pen and sit down and write one!
Whatever our hopes and dreams for this New Year might be, there is a call to us to found these visions and aspirations upon grateful hearts rooted in God's love.
Happy New Year.
New Year's resolutions are a great thing. Making a vow to be a better parent or spouse, promising to do better at work, pledging to be a more faithful church member, resolving to lose those few extra pounds, all these are good.
Before we step into it all, let's lay the foundation of praise.
In this psalm, the poetry of God's wonder is a riot of images and glory. We are called in an almost sacred recklessness to list out God's wonderful doings. God commanded it was created! God set the limits and boundaries ... and expects us to observe them. All creation, according to this psalm, praises the Lord. And what better grounding for the beginning of a new year?
If we begin with praise, everything else comes a little differently. If our relationships, our work, our fulfillment of duties are begun in an aura of praising God, imagine how things might be different.
Praising God for the gift of children, for example, will have an impact on how we parent and guide them. Praising God for the gift of productive work will flavor the way we approach our jobs. Giving thanks, even, for the difficulties and challenges that come our way will shape the ways in which we respond to these things.
Laying a foundation of praise is not an easy thing to do, but it will make a difference in the lives we lead in the New Year. Just as the foundation of a house is laid out before the carpenters and framers come into the picture, so, too, do we lay out the foundation of praise.
The foundation stones here are those of thankful prayer and focusing upon God. How many times a day do we stop and simply say, whatever our situation, "Thank you, God"? To some, such focus might seem immature or even silly. But it is the stuff of new life. Read this psalm over several times. Breathe in the air of praise that comes from the powerful language. Imagine how you might utter a psalm of praise. Indeed, grab a pen and sit down and write one!
Whatever our hopes and dreams for this New Year might be, there is a call to us to found these visions and aspirations upon grateful hearts rooted in God's love.
Happy New Year.
