Reading for September
25, 2012 Psalm 147
In previous meditations (Psalm 11
and 125), I have referred to the Age of Enlightenment, which was birthed with
the scientific and industrial age, approximately three hundred years ago. With the coming of this Age, there was a
seismic shift in the worldview of the Christian faith in Western Civilization.
This shift was manifested in two ways. First, the Christian faith contained at
its core, an affirmation of the core foundation of Judaism, which is known as
the “The Shema Yisrael.” Based on Deuteronomy 6:4, this prayer proclaims, “Hear
O Israel, the LORD our God is One LORD.”
In succeeding generations since the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment,
Christian worldview has shifted away from the uniqueness of God the Father
Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. In today’s culture, God, the Father of
our Lord, Christ Jesus, is just a generic god, one of many.
The second shift was in the
nature of God’s involvement in the affairs of humankind. Prior to the
Enlightenment, the Christian faith believed God directed the course of human
affairs, as well as the ebb and flow of nature. Post Enlightenment, God is
viewed as more of a watchmaker. He created all that is, wound it up and left it
to run on its own. Psalm 147 is an eloquent reminder that God, who established
His people Israel, “has
not done this for any other nation” (Psalm 147:20). God’s relationship with
Israel, and His children, the followers of Jesus, is most assuredly unique in the
entire universe. The psalmist celebrates that God is not far from us, uncaring
about our lives:
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back
to Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
He covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth,
and makes the grass grow in
mountain pastures.
He sends peace across your nation
and satisfies your hunger
with the finest wheat.
Psalm 147:2-3, 8, and 14
The Age of Enlightenment has
produced blessing after blessing for humankind, not the least of which is
overcoming the power of superstition that crippled the development of
civilization. However, respect for the depth of human intellect is not mutually
exclusive with a deep and abiding faith in God
the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only
Son our Lord. Perhaps greater than any other theologian, John Wesley was
able to find a mutually inclusive faith when he ordered his theological studies
through a balance of: Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Experience (Known as the
Wesleyan Quadrilateral).
Praise the Lord!
Sē’lah
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What word or phrase
in today’s reading of the Psalms
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word
or phrase.
What insights come to
you?
How does this passage
touch your life today?
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(Selah is a word that appears in the
Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my
correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about
these things.)
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