Word for the day by Christina Education Forum

-
Lord: Who Led into and out of Egypt
Psalms 81
Subi Rachel Mathew (W/O Rev. Denny Philip)

Carmel MTC, Boston  MA

10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
Psalm 81 is a song arranged in a melody called Gittith, a music style of Gath. The song was meant to be sung together on a festival day (v. 3). It evokes varied feelings and experiences that are essential for spiritual growth. The song portrays a God, worthy to be praised and adored. Adoration has to be a natural response resulting from an exceptional experience. We are sometimes filled with awe and wonder on seeing a beautiful landscape which may find its expression through acclamations, verbal or nonverbal.  Similarly, adoration to God shall also come from a spiritual experience.  Here, we see two experiences in the life of Israel that fill the heart of the psalmist as well as the later singers as they adore the God of Jacob, Joseph and Moses.
1. Adoration to God who led them to the land of Egypt: The psalmist is praising God for what He is and for what He has done (v.1-7). The call to sing aloud, playing different musical instruments show the overwhelming joy in the presence of God.  Adoration and Thanksgiving comes in remembrance of the hand of God which led  Israel into the land of Egypt following the famine. God, in His mercy, sends Joseph beforehand to prepare the land for famine. Through Joseph, He uses the political power of Pharaoh to save the people. So the journey into Egypt shows the pervading protection that God offers His people and through them to the people of Egypt.

 
2. Adoration to God who led them out of Egypt: Irony of history is that the very same place of shelter that was intended for protection becomes a place of slavery. Those who are to be the protectors turn out to be the persecutors. They put innocent people into misery. God hears the cry of His people and intervenes in history through Moses and liberates the slaves from the land of bondage into the land of freedom which He had promised.
God protects and uses His people to protect the world. God through His people intervenes when the defenders become the oppressors.

PRAYER

Dear God, we praise You for Your wonderful interventions and submit ourselves to be Your instruments of protection and liberation. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
  Do we often oppress others instead of protecting them?

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more