Psalm 1 & Psalm 150 The Framing of our Lives
Blessings of the week
We were greatly blessed this week to spend time in Colorado Springs with so many wonderful friends. First, the Clarkson's opened their home, their heart, and their kitchen. What a taste of heaven. I can only imagine what it is going to be like—fellowshipping, learning, creating, worshipping, enjoying, and just awestruck by the beauty and presence of God Himself. After enjoying the hospitality of the Clarkson's and a night of Scrooge at Woodman Valley Chapel, we were met by Kevin of Focus on the Family who gave an entire day escorting us around to the various inner workings of Focus. It was through this connection that we were able to meet with the Adventures in Odyssey crew and set in motion Lamplighter Theater—i just can't wait. Then Deb and i were able to participate in two days of strategic planning at Focus for a forthcoming event that i wish i could tell you about, but will have to wait till we are given the green light. If this event does indeed take place, which i believe will, there is a potential for national family revival! And if this wasn't enough, we ended the evening at our good friends Kay and Julie's enjoying more fellowship and food than i can describe.
The paradoxical joy and burdens of life
As i write about all of these good blessings from above, i need to also express that all is not perfect; i hurt like some of you do. I carry the pain of the loss of a loved one during this time of year; I carry the financial pressures of making sure payroll will be there for my staff; I carry the burden of unsaved loved ones. We all carry the paradoxical joy and burdens of life. I was reminded this morning while reading Abraham Wright's insights on the Psalms, that life is framed with blessings for those who walk with God, but in the midst of the framing, there is suffering, uncertainty, betrayal, tears, discovery, mystery, and victory. There is little known of Abraham Wright who was born in London in 1611, but his insights were atypical of his day and ours. I have studied the Psalms extensively but never saw the framing that David crafted with Psalm 1 beginning with the Blessing of Man and ending in Psalm 150 with the Praise of God. God gives good gifts to his children and in return, His children praise Him.
In the midst of broken lives
If you look at Psalm 1 & 2 and Psalm 150 closely, you will see a larger framing. Psalm 1 & 2 begin and end with the Blessing of Man and Psalm 150 begins and ends with the Praise of God. Now that is literature at its best! What a creative God! And in the midst of this framing we are introduced first with David's son trying to kill him (Psalm 3); from there we are introduced to betrayal, love lost, love found, fleeing for one's life, and a host of anguish that is just too much for the life time of one person. What can we learn from this framing? In the midst of broken lives, broken dreams, and shattered lives, our choices to live within reach of God's blessings (Psalm 1) will allow us to enjoy the incredible praise of a God (Psalm 150).
Happily Confined
This truth is further strengthened when we unveil the meaning of the word "Blessed" in Psalm 1. In Hebrew it means to be happy…it also means to be confined. A prisoner who is confined is not very happy. But children who are confined on a play ground will play more happily because they have protective boundaries. Marriages are strengthened when we live within the boundaries of faithfulness. Children are blessed when they live within the boundaries of honoring their father and mother. Singles are blessed when they live within the boundaries of physical purity…and the list never ends. When we live our lives within the protective boundaries that God has placed, we are blessed…and this blessing leads to the praise of an all wise God (Psalm 150). If we began to live within the blessings of God taught in Psalm 1, our praise of God on Sundays and every day would be uncontainable—even in the midst of life's disappointments.
We were greatly blessed this week to spend time in Colorado Springs with so many wonderful friends. First, the Clarkson's opened their home, their heart, and their kitchen. What a taste of heaven. I can only imagine what it is going to be like—fellowshipping, learning, creating, worshipping, enjoying, and just awestruck by the beauty and presence of God Himself. After enjoying the hospitality of the Clarkson's and a night of Scrooge at Woodman Valley Chapel, we were met by Kevin of Focus on the Family who gave an entire day escorting us around to the various inner workings of Focus. It was through this connection that we were able to meet with the Adventures in Odyssey crew and set in motion Lamplighter Theater—i just can't wait. Then Deb and i were able to participate in two days of strategic planning at Focus for a forthcoming event that i wish i could tell you about, but will have to wait till we are given the green light. If this event does indeed take place, which i believe will, there is a potential for national family revival! And if this wasn't enough, we ended the evening at our good friends Kay and Julie's enjoying more fellowship and food than i can describe.
The paradoxical joy and burdens of life
As i write about all of these good blessings from above, i need to also express that all is not perfect; i hurt like some of you do. I carry the pain of the loss of a loved one during this time of year; I carry the financial pressures of making sure payroll will be there for my staff; I carry the burden of unsaved loved ones. We all carry the paradoxical joy and burdens of life. I was reminded this morning while reading Abraham Wright's insights on the Psalms, that life is framed with blessings for those who walk with God, but in the midst of the framing, there is suffering, uncertainty, betrayal, tears, discovery, mystery, and victory. There is little known of Abraham Wright who was born in London in 1611, but his insights were atypical of his day and ours. I have studied the Psalms extensively but never saw the framing that David crafted with Psalm 1 beginning with the Blessing of Man and ending in Psalm 150 with the Praise of God. God gives good gifts to his children and in return, His children praise Him.
In the midst of broken lives
If you look at Psalm 1 & 2 and Psalm 150 closely, you will see a larger framing. Psalm 1 & 2 begin and end with the Blessing of Man and Psalm 150 begins and ends with the Praise of God. Now that is literature at its best! What a creative God! And in the midst of this framing we are introduced first with David's son trying to kill him (Psalm 3); from there we are introduced to betrayal, love lost, love found, fleeing for one's life, and a host of anguish that is just too much for the life time of one person. What can we learn from this framing? In the midst of broken lives, broken dreams, and shattered lives, our choices to live within reach of God's blessings (Psalm 1) will allow us to enjoy the incredible praise of a God (Psalm 150).
Happily Confined
This truth is further strengthened when we unveil the meaning of the word "Blessed" in Psalm 1. In Hebrew it means to be happy…it also means to be confined. A prisoner who is confined is not very happy. But children who are confined on a play ground will play more happily because they have protective boundaries. Marriages are strengthened when we live within the boundaries of faithfulness. Children are blessed when they live within the boundaries of honoring their father and mother. Singles are blessed when they live within the boundaries of physical purity…and the list never ends. When we live our lives within the protective boundaries that God has placed, we are blessed…and this blessing leads to the praise of an all wise God (Psalm 150). If we began to live within the blessings of God taught in Psalm 1, our praise of God on Sundays and every day would be uncontainable—even in the midst of life's disappointments.
posted by Mark Hamby | 4:23 PM
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