Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor
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Welcome to Elmhurst CRC's daily dose of the Word of God. It's Thursday, May 4, and this is Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor at ECRC. This week, we're journeying with Jesus from the tomb of Easter, stumbling along with Peter and in today's reading, we will linger on Psalm 31, verse 16.
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Smile on your servant; deliver me because of your faithfulness.
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Psalm 31 is a classic Psalm of King David. In it, David is asking (and pleading) for God to save him from his enemies, from those who would seek to hunt him down and take his life. And while King David was an original, and a creative poet, in Psalm 31: 16, he borrows some earlier language from Aaron and Moses, who came hundreds of years before and through whom God passed on this blessing - see if it sounds familiar: "The Lord bless you, the Lord keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you." In the NET Bible that I read from today - NET meaning, New English Translation, and NET also meaning internet - you can find this entire Bible at NET bible.com, which has amazing footnotes for English readers. In today's reading, there's an insightful little footnote in the NET Bible on Psalm 31, verse 16, which says this, "smile can also be translated from Hebrew quote, "cause your face to shine, smile on your servant, or make your face shine on your servant.""
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In church at the close of worship, sometimes when I speak that old blessing from Aaron and Moses over you (the people of God), I sometimes use either translation interchangeably when offering those words. Either way, it's a powerful, beautiful image: God's smiling face shining over his beloved family and children. God's love is so strong that all it takes is a glance to change our world. God's word is so strong that the mere utterance of a name or a command from God's lips, shakes the foundations of the world. A look, glance, or word from God is all it takes to win the day. David knows it, so he simply prays, "smile on your servant." Perhaps there's a part of our lives today, where we know we need God to look, to smile, to shine and to radiate his light and love. Yes? Psalm 31: 16 also clues us into why God loves to answer this prayer. It's not that we are worthy, or well-behaved. No, it's because God is faithful. "Smile on your servant," the Scripture says, "deliver me because of your faithfulness."
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Let's pray. Oh God, there is darkness. There are shadowy places and corners where we will enter today. And then there's the darkened corners of our own souls. Won't you for the sake of your great name, look into these places, with your face shining and full of love? for Jesus sake we pray, Amen.