Psalm
34:2–4, 17; antiphon, Psalm 48:1—The Introit calls upon us to praise the Lord for His
deliverance of His righteous ones out of all their troubles. Who are the
righteous? We learned in the Old Testament reading from last week that those
who place their trust in the Lord are the ones who are righteous—by their
faith.
Psalm 48:1 - Great is the
LORD, and greatly to be praised. The
psalmist began simply describing the greatness of God and His worthiness to be
praised. He connected this praise with a place: Jerusalem, described as the
city of our God, in His holy mountain.
Great is the LORD: He is great indeed.
He is greater: For God is greater than man (Job
33:12).
He is greatest of all: For the LORD is the great God,
and the great King above all gods (Psalm 95:3).
He is greatness itself: His greatness is unsearchable
(Psalm 145:3).
In His holy mountain: The idea of Jerusalem as a holy
mountain is a thought-provoking contrast to another holy mountain – Mount
Sinai. Sinai was so holy that a fence kept God’s people from it, lest they die
(Exodus 19:12-13). The New Testament develops this comparison and contrast
between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion (Jerusalem) in Galatians 4:24-26 and Hebrews
12:18-24.
This reminds us that though the psalmist certainly had
the literal, historic city of Jerusalem in mind, he was also carried away by
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to also see the idealized city of Jerusalem,
the city of God, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12 and 21:2). The two aspects
do not cancel each other out; they complement each other.[2]
Faith Returns
Thanks to God and Worships Him in the Person of Christ Jesus
Jesus comes in mercy, and by His Word heals you in
body and soul. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” for you are
cleansed (Luke 17:14), and you are granted access to the Lord’s Temple. It is “at
Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:16), that you worship God, for
Christ Jesus is your great High Priest; His Body is the true Temple. In Him you
“find rest, each of you in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:9), for the
Lord has “visited His people and given them food” (Ruth 1:6). The person of
Jesus Christ lodges Himself in holy food—bread and wine for believers to eat
and drink. You lodge where Jesus lodges; His Father is your God, His people are
your people. Death cannot part you from Him, because His death and resurrection
are eternally yours through Holy Baptism. “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from
the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8–9). As surely as death could not hold Him, so surely
“the Word of God is not bound” (2 Tim. 2:9). His Gospel is entrusted “to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2), so that
you “may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:10).
Such is the confession of faith for all the saints, who believe, teach, and
confess the one Lord and Savior—Jesus Christ.
Collect for
Psalm 34: Lord, graciously hear us, for we seek you alone. Calm our bodies and
minds with the peace which passes understanding, and make us radiant with joy;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [3]
Collect for Monday of the week of Pentecost 17: Father in heaven, the perfection of justice is found in your love and all mankind is in need of your law. Help us to find this love in each other that just may be attained through obedience to your law. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen [4] 03 October 2022
[1] The Ten Lepers copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 34, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] Ibid, Collect for Monday of the week of Pentecost 17,
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