Thursday Psalms: Dance Every Morning!

We read today's psalm through the lens of our own struggles, those times of suffering in body and mind.  Some suffering God has healed; some not yet.  

PSALM 30     A Psalm of David

¹ I will extol You, O Lord, for you have drawn me up

        and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

² O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me.

³ O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;

        You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

⁴ Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints,

        and give thanks to His holy name.

⁵ For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime.

        Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

⁶ As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

⁷ By Your favor, O Lord, You made my mountain stand strong;

        You hid Your face; I was dismayed.

⁸ To You, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

⁹ “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit?

        Will the dust praise You?  Will it tell of Your faithfulness?

¹⁰ Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!  O Lord, be my Helper!”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

        You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

¹² that my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.

        O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever! 

In verse three David speaks of "Sheol", which refers to the state or the abode of the dead.  David speaks of being restored, being brought up from the dead.  This is different healing than for what we usually pray, to be healed from sickness, depression, loneliness, and other bodily suffering.  Of course, this verse points the Christian to  the Last Day, when Jesus Christ will return to earth and physically bring up from Sheol the bodies of all who have died.  On that day of judgement, If you confess your sins and believe that Jesus forgives them, Jesus will give you eternal life in heaven.

But verse 3 also encourages us in the "here and now".  Every time you confess your sins to God the Father, He forgives you because Jesus His Son has already taken your punishment for you!  God the Father's anger [v4] was poured out on Jesus in the moment of His death, so you and I enjoy God's favor for a lifetime!  Forgiveness brings you up from the Sheol [death] of guilt and shame.  When forgiven, you're set free from your sins, you're restored to God the Father, made perfect again because of Jesus!  

As God's forgiven & loved child, follow David's example [vv 11-12].  Dance every morning in gladness, singing thankful praises to the Lord forever! 

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5  

Pilgrim Worship Sunday June 23, 2024

Woodcut by Gustave Doré (1832-1883)

  Pilgrim Lutheran Church

The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 23, 2024

We're thankful you've come here to watch our service and to worship the one true God!

This was another exciting Sunday at Pilgrim Lutheran Church!  Once again, we had lots of great activities going on, starting with our Adult Bible study at 9:00 am, then our 10:00 am Worship service.  Afterward, we gathered for food and conversations, while the children enjoyed Sunday School.  These classes are full of activities and teaching, so the children learn how much God loves them!

If you live in the Burton area, please consider joining us on Sunday mornings!  Anyone can watch our services live on Facebook or later on Pilgrim's website.

Here is information about this worship service:

BIBLE READINGS FOR SUNDAY

   Old Testament:  Job 38:1-11

                Psalm:  Psalm 124
               Epistle:  2 Corinthians 6:1-13
               Gospel:  Mark 4:35-41

THEME FOR WORSHIP

St. Mark the Apostle describes your Savior Jesus asleep in the back of their boat as the storm rages and their lives seem in great danger.  For many of us, this is a favorite miracle of Jesus; it reminds us that Jesus rules over all things with complete power and command.  We know Jesus can & often does step into our storms and calm them.  Still, what encourages us as we live day-to-day between the two questions in this text?  

To watch the video of today's service, please click HERE.

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

       Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5 

Thursday Psalms: God's On Your Side!

Today we consider Psalm 124, a song of encouragement and remembering God's care for us.

PSALM 124         A Song of Ascents. Of David.
   ¹ If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—
          let Israel now say—
   ² if it had not been the Lord who was on our side
          when people rose up against us,
   ³ then they would have swallowed us up alive, 
          when their anger was kindled against us;
   ⁴ then the flood would have swept us away, 
          the torrent would have gone over us;
   ⁵ then over us would have gone the raging waters.
   ⁶ Blessed be the Lord, 
          who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
   ⁷ We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
          the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
   ⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord,

          who made heaven and earth. 

In this psalm, David is calling Israel to remember something:  their "help is in the name of the Lord".  David reminds them what would have happened to them, if the Lord had not been "on our side".  Today, pause for a few moments, and consider this in your own life.  As you look back "in the rearview mirror", when can you see God's hand helping, protecting, or defending you?  Take the time to thank God for His care and provision!  This is a very important lesson in this psalm for us, and I encourage you to do this often.

But what about those times when you've felt like the Lord was not with you?  What about those times when we want or think we need certain outcomes from God, and it appears like He is nowhere to be found.  Does this psalm teach us about that also?  

Consider the final verse: "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  God doesn't say our help might be in Him, nor does He say our help sometimes will be in Him.  God clearly says our help is in Him.   ...at all times.  ...in all situations.  And then He reminds us who He is:  "...who made heaven and Earth."  In this verse, God reminds us that He has the power, and wields His power to be our help in every situation, as it pleases His will not ours. 

Give thanks for God's help that you can see clearly, and always cling to the name of the Lord in all situations.  God is on your side!

Peace in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Pilgrim Lutheran Church, LCMS    Burton, Michigan

office:  810.744.1188     mobile:  248.881.7627

We are Pilgrims with a Purpose:  

     Sharing God’s Love & Mercy with Each Other & the World.

Pilgrim Website

Pilgrim Facebook page

Soli Deo Gloria

"For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5