.JPG)
Psalm 3:3-6, Antiphon,
Psalm 3:8, Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessings be on Your people! Though
threatened by many foes, the psalmist prays confidently to the Lord. A common
feature in the prayers of the Psalter is a concluding expression of confidence
that the prayer will be heard. David’s confidence becomes a testimony to God’s
people. As he stands before God, the psalmist, King David, prays on behalf of
the nation.
Psalm 3 –
Peace in the midst of a storm
This is the first psalm with a title: A Psalm of
David when he fled from Absalom his son. James Montgomery Boice points out that
since these titles are in the canonical text of the Hebrew Bible, “They are to
be taken with absolute seriousness throughout.” The events are recorded in 2
Samuel 15-18, but the heart of David at that difficult time is recorded in this
psalm.
Salvation
belongs to the LORD: David understood that salvation – both in the ultimate
and immediate sense – was God’s property. It isn’t the property of any one
nation or sect, but of the LORD God. To be saved, one must deal with the LORD
Himself.
Your
blessing is upon Your people: This showed David’s heart in a time of
personal calamity. He wasn’t only concerned for God’s hand upon himself, but
upon all God’s people. He didn’t pray for preservation and victory in the trial
with Absalom just for his own sake, but because it was best for the nation.[1]
The Theme for Lent 5, “Forecast of the Future,” helps us see the purpose and the necessity
of the cross. It is a one-time act but has eternal consequences. In the Old
Testament lesson (Isaiah 43:16-21), God will do a new thing for His
people. He promises to do a new thing
for His people, something good. In the Epistle lesson (Philippians 3:8-14),
Christians strain forward to the future goal of Christ. Paul says that he
forgets the past and looks forward to the future. In the Gospel lesson (Luke
20:9-19), judgment will come to those who reject God’s Son. This is brought out
in the parable of the wicked tenants. The Hymn of the Day Stricken
Smitten, and Afflicted is a
contemplative hymn, which focuses on Christ’s crucifixion. It is one of the
most powerful hymns in our hymnal.
[2]
Collect for Psalm 3; For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church,
Vol. I © 1994 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
No comments:
Post a Comment