Elmhurst CRC

Daily Dose of Lent - Psalm 32: 7,11

February 23, 2023 Elmhurst CRC Season 1 Episode 2
Elmhurst CRC
Daily Dose of Lent - Psalm 32: 7,11
Show Notes Transcript

Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor

Gregg DeMey  0:07 

Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the word of God. It's Thursday, February 23 and this is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at ECRC. This week we're journeying with Jesus toward the cross, stumbling along with John the Baptist. Today's reading, from Psalm 32, will be lingering on verses 7 and 11. Please notice the musical references in the Psalm of David.

Gregg DeMey 0:31 

You are my hiding place. God, you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad you righteous. Sing, all you who are upright in heart.

Gregg DeMey  0:46 

When Jesus shows up, people can't help but to sing for joy. It doesn't matter who you are, what's going on. Experiencing Jesus presence, his mere nearness, transcends whatever is going on. Psalm 32, was written by David as a Psalm of confession. He struggled deeply with sin, but God's salvation turned his groaning into songs of deliverance. John the Baptist - our character from the Gospel of John this week - when he was still in the womb of his mother (Elizabeth), leapt for joy and danced in-utero when his cousin Jesus came near. You can check it out in Luke 1, verse 44. And then as an adult, when John the Baptist encountered his cousin Jesus, he identified him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." While John the Baptizer, didn't know it at the time, he had just composed one of the great song lyrics of all time. For more than 1000 years, the lyrics 'Agnes Day' (which means, the Lamb of God in English), has been part of worship services, even here at ECRC.

Gregg DeMey  1:58 

And what about us? Do we regularly overflow, like King David, like John the Baptist, with a kind of joy, with a kind of dancing, movement or musical outbursts that characterize people who have really been around Jesus? Now, not all of us are going to be professional dancers, musicians, songwriters or composers. That's not where it's at. What matters is being filled up with the joy and presence of the Lord. If you haven't found yourself bubbling-over recently with the joy of a free and forgiven person, I encourage you to pray and ask God for this gift; no matter what your circumstances.

Gregg DeMey  2:40  

Let's pray right now. Lord Jesus, you promised that you will fill your disciples with the Spirit and with springs of living water that will overflow out of us. So fill us today and give us the kind of healthy inhibition that is willing to sing for you, dance for you to come more and more alive for you. Thank you, Jesus, that your presence makes all the difference. In your name we pray, Amen.