April 7, 2011

Psalm 75 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 2:13-17, 1 Corinthians 4:8-21, Joshua 13-14

Journal Entry

Scripture

1We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.
2"At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.

Observation

The people of God give thanks to God for what he has done. From the psalm it seems that God has given them some sort of victory. The psalmist tells boastful people not to boast and that God is the judge. The people of God recognize that God will deliver his judgment. And, the psalmist concludes this psalm with thanksgiving.

Application

Again and again I am formed by the prayer and worship of the psalms. They often, like this one, begin with giving thanks to God and end with giving thanks to God. “Your name is near,” is very encouraging because we know that name is not just the word or sound you use to call someone, but the character of God. The people of God were aware of his closeness and nearness. I wonder about the relationship of giving thanks and the experience of God’s nearness. It is likely that when we give genuine thanks we experience him as close to us.

One comment on God as the judge. The times I am very grateful to God being judge is when I see some obvious injustice, like the story of someone getting beat up at Dodger stadium who was a fan of the other team. I want God to be the judge. And, I know that one day I will have to stand before him as my judge, there is no other judge that I would rather stand before. He is the one I can completely trust to do what is good and right.

Prayer

Loving Father and honest and good judge, help me to see the good that you bring to the people of God, not just my small group of people, but the larger body of Christ as well. Help me to be a part of telling of your goodness in our daily lives. Release me from being the judge so that I can be free to love you and love others knowing that you will be the most competent judge the world has ever seen. As the psalmist begins and ends with giving thanks I want to be continually formed by your word. I give thanks to you for always providing for my family, giving us a community that spurs us on to love and good deeds. You are so good. Thank you!

--P. John Loppnow