The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and what echoes in my ears:
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. (NRSV)
These words come from Psalm 118:24 and have been part of my life as long as I can remember, whether it was from my mom’s mouth or from a pastor’s, these words seem to express the joy I feel for the world which surrounds me.
As I finished reading and studying the Psalms this past week, I found that my thoughts and my mood just seemed to soar as I read through the final ones. I cannot imagine ending these weeks of study and not want to express myself in a joyful manner.
Turns out according to the Wesley Study Bible, the final (of five) books in Psalms are filled with psalms of praise. That piece of information made me stop to think. So much of the Old Testament seems filled with despair, and yet in the hymnal of the ancient Israelites, the emphasis is on praising God.
Placing this into the 21stcentury world, I think we need to remember this too. Despite everything that circulates in the media and all the horrendous news that seems to open each newscast (and just an aside, my first degree is in journalism, BJ’76 from MU) so I tend to be a “newsaholic.” Still, I delight on the day the Lord has made.For me, praying the psalms includes always praising God for some element of the day whether it is a personal relationship that brings me joy, whether it is the love from my pets, whether it is a warm embrace, or something
Susandoodles Weblog 