Hello friends! Welcome back to another day of studying the scriptures together. As yesterday's reading finished with the re-affirmation of the Israelites to be in covenant with God, today is the day to ratify that and make it official. It's sorta like the. Declaration of Independence or when a bill is made into a law and everyone signs it and feels fancy and good about themselves. So, be prepared for lots of difficult to pronounce names ahead! From the psalm perspective, you're going to be reading one the most (in)famous psalms today. After your time of studying nearly the entire Old Testament I'm curious how you feel about David's words to God in Psalm 51. Is it fair? Is it not? Etc.
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about God?
What does this reveal to me was happening at the time of this writing?
What, if anything, feels applicable to today? What change or action does it inspire in me?
- My Thoughts -
So as mentioned above I find that this reminds me a bill being turned into law or something like that. Specifically, I'm thinking of the times when the president signs a bill and uses like 3497534982438957324832 pens and hands them all to people that played a part in the bill's conception, a symbol that their efforts are eternally inscribed into the paper. Even if the bills are stupid, like when a room full of creepy 2 minutes till the grave white dudes makes a decision about a woman's body, the gesture is still a powerful symbol. I see this in how Nehemiah makes a point to mention all of the people in the room with him as the edict is signed. From the leading priests, to the leaders of the people, and so on the room was full of different people with different backgrounds and different responsibilities. Once it was signed, the people made their vows too, and the rebirth of God's 'church' began anew. In some ways you can say it's one of the first "revivals" of the church.
But I also find this applicable to us as well today. We have a church council of elected leaders of our congregation who makes decisions on behalf of the congregation and at the end of the year all of those decisions are made into a 'vow' at charge conference with our DS. In essence, we are saying, we are committing all of these actions from the last year as a witness to how God moved through us in the past and how we will use these decisions to spring board us with enthusiasm as we evangelize our faith through word and program. When you think of that way, it adds some weight to the decisions we make, and some challenge to make each meeting "worth it" and not just another obligation to nod our heads to and go back home. Complacency is what caused the Israelites to fall apart in the past, and I believe a complacent church is a dead church walking.
How can you be moved to help make effective changes at our church body that helps add your name to the list of "legends" that helped secure this churches future?
Praying the Hymns
Our prayer for today is inspired by hymn 206 in our United Methodist Hymnal - I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light. I hope you'll join in voice or meditative prayer as you give God a moment of glory and gratitude.
I want to walk as a child of the light I want to follow Jesus God sent the stars to give light to the world The star of my life is Jesus
In Him, there is no darkness at all The night and the day are both alike The Lamb is the light of the city of God Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
I want to see the brightness of God I want to look at Jesus Clear sun of righteousness, shine on my path And show me the way to the Father
In Him, there is no darkness at all The night and the day are both alike The Lamb is the light of the city of God Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
I'm looking for the coming of Christ I want to be with Jesus When we have run with patience the race We shall know the joy of Jesus
In Him, there is no darkness at all The night and the day are both alike The Lamb is the light of the city of God Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus