Blessed Thursday to each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior!
Today's psalm is all about praise and glory for the Lord! We live and breathe and find our purpose for living in Him and in His works, which are established forever and ever. But there are a few phrases in this psalm to which the Holy Spirit draws my attention today.
PSALM 111
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is His work,
and His righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear Him;
He remembers His covenant forever.
6 He has shown His people the power of His works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of His hands are faithful and just;
all His precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is His name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
First, we're reminded that the Lord is gracious and merciful. We are completely undeserving of His care, even His attention, as Psalm 8:4 reminds us: "...what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?"
Yet we see God's mercy from the very beginning. After creating His perfect world, including Adam & Eve who He valued the most, God then promised their Savior (Gen 3:15) after they turned away from Him. And His mercy remains with us, as He remembers His covenant forever! He sent redemption to His people in the person God's only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was born and fully lived the life of a man, yet He was perfect, without sin. This allowed Him to be the perfect sacrifice, the perfect scapegoat for you and for me. God our Father poured out all His wrath and punishment for all sins upon Jesus, so you and I do not need to bear our own.
Holy and awesome is His name! Join with me in this: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart!
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Mark
Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS Burton, Michigan
office: 810.744.1188
mobile: 248.881.7627
Soli Deo Gloria
"Blesséd be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.” Psalm 68:19
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