I Will Bless the Lord (Doxology)

Wrote this yesterday before our Granbury Gatheirng.  We sang it together and it sounded pretty good.  If you want to try it or use it in your worship, feel free. Just be sure to include copyright information and "Used with Permission."

Download Score here

Oxygen from Psalm 27 (Lulav)

BACKGROUND:

Psalm 27 is clearly intended for use during the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot).  A literal translation of verse 5 clearly references the little huts or booths of the Jewish Thanksgiving holiday.  Another clear reference visible only in the Hebrew is the first word in verse 13 is Lula.  This may have been an instruction to wave the lulav (like Selah was an instruction in some Psalms for a musical interlude).  The Lulav is a sheif of myrtle branches, willow branches and a palm leaf bound with a golden threat that is waved during this special Feast.

Still another tradition around this feast was the special illumination of the Temple at night (perhaps seen in verse 4).  Finally, for each of the seven days of the Feast, a large golden jar filled with water and another filled with wine were poured into the large basin at the foot of the altar.  The mixture would run down the side of the Temple Mount into the Kidron Valley.  This was accompanied with prayers for rain and provision for crops in the months ahead.  But verses 2 and 10-13 show the continuing theme of Psalm 26 -- being unfairly persecuted.

Yahweh is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

Yahweh is my stronghold,

of whom shall I be afraid?

When my wicked enemies drew near to devour my flesh (see Psalm 26:1)

my foes stumbled and fell.

Even if an army should encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear.

Through war should erupt against me,

I go on trusting (Yahweh).

One thing I desire of Yahweh,

One thing I am seeking;

that I may live in Yahweh's house

all the days of my life,

to witness Yahweh's beauty,

to make petition in His Temple.

When trouble comes He will hid me in His hut (booth),

he will conceal me in the tabernacle's secret hiding place,

then set me high upon the Rock.

From this vantage point, high above my enemies,

I offer the sacrifices of joy,

singing and praising tabernacled Yahweh.

Hear my voice, Yahweh, as I call;

be gracious and answer me.

He answered, "Seek my face."

Your face, Yahweh, I am seeking.

Do not hid your face from me.

Do not turn aside from your servant in anger.

Become my help.

Do not abandon me or forsake me,

God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me,

Yahweh will gather me up.

Direct me in your way, Yahweh;

guide me in your level paths

because of my enemies.

Do not deliver my life to my foes;

false witnesses rise up against me

breathing violence.

{Lula} 

I believe I will see the goodness of Yahweh

in the land of the living!

Wait expectantly upon Yahweh!

Courage! Yahweh will strengthen your heart!

Wait expectantly upon Yahweh.

(Psalm 27  DKB Interplation)

Lord Jesus,

We make procession on this festal day

waiving lulavs, twigs bound with golden thread,

anticipating Your glorious harvest of the earth.

As my light, you are the world's true Light!  (John 8:12)

You are my only hope of heaven,

my fortress strong and secure.

As light, You show the way to the Father;

Your enemies stumble in foul darkness

while I walk by faith a straightened path.

Not without trouble is Your way,

but Your promises set ablaze

the trail of tears with incandescent hope.

As salvation, I await Your Day,

when by death or trumpet sound

I shall transcend this shabby hut

to find my life, once hid with Christ,  (Colossians 3:3)

our true Tabernacle raised in glory,.

no longer secret, now set on high with Him.

You invite us each to pray 

and find the fortress of your grace,

"Leave all to me, seek my face."

O help me wait, Lord Christ,

not with thumbs a-twiddle

but with faith and courage kindled,

love and mercy lulav-bound

with the golden thread of prayer.

Amen.

Oxygen from Psalm 26 (Integrity in Worship)

Psalm 25 and Psalm 26 are very similar and may represent a liturgical unity.  Both are concerned with integrity (25:21, 26:11), both contain prayers for redemption (25:22, 26:11), and both indicate the significance of feet (25:15, 26:12). Psalm 25 was about God knowing the way (v.4,8,9,10,12); Psalm 26 about walking on that path (1,3,11).  Psalm 25 was probably a song to sing approaching the tabernacle on Mount Moriah and Psalm 26 the song the worshiper sang standing beside the altar of sacrifice witnessing God's judgement on the worshiper's sin through the shedding of blood.

(He approaches the altar.)

Judge me, O Yahweh, that I walk in integrity

and trust you, Lord, without wavering.

(He hands his sacrifice to the priest who examines it.)

Examine, me, Yahweh.  Try me.

Are my entrails, my heart and mind, refined?

(The priest throws the sacrifice on the fire.)

I see your covenant love before my eyes.

I walk in your Truth.

(From the elevated altar on Mt. Moriah David sees the unrighteous in Israel.)

I do not sit with death-doomed do-nothings.

I enter not with pretenders.

I hate the assembly of evil-doers.

(The worshiper washes his hands.)

I wash my hands in innocence.

(The worshiper walks around the altar.)

I circle your altar, Yahweh.

announcing with a thankful voice

all your marvelous deeds.

(Coming down from the altar, he looks toward the Holy Place.)

Yahweh, I love your house,

the place your glory tabernacles.

(Prayer of commitment.)

Do not lump me in with sinners,

nor my life with men of bloodshed,

in whose hands is crime,

their right hand full of bribes.

(Leaving the temple precinct.)

But I will walk in my integrity.

Redeem me.  Be gracious.

My foot stands on level ground.

In the assemblies I will bless Yahweh.

(Psalm 26  DKB Interplation)

God of Judging Fire:

Each time I come to worship You

I practice for The Judgement Day.

If I go to worship just to be seen,

then in Your Judgement all will know

      my every sin displayed

      as on a giant screen.

If I go to worship just to be with friends,

then in Your Judgement are we all condemned

      together and consigned

      to deepest darkness for all time.

If I go to worship to feel religious

then in Your Judgement I shall be liable

      for every prayer omitted,

      every rule ignored and broken.

But if I come to worship to be judged,

to lay my life a living sacrifice

upon the altar stained with blood,

judged by Word and found wanting Christ,

      then in Your Judgement I shall be found

      possessing integrity not my own,

      but Christ's alone.

So,

as I sit and pray and sing,

as I to Your altar come,

      run me through with grace's sword

      and let my confessions overflow

'til offenses turn to praise,

'til longing turns to overflowing,

'til self is lost in love and mercy,

      redeemed from religion's uphill grind

      to stand again on Moriah's level ground.

Amen.

Oxygen from Psalm 25 (Terminus)

Yesterday Carol Robinson and I stood in a hospital room with a family who watched their mother die.  Outside a strong storm was building.  I don't know that I would have thought of Psalm 25 as appropriate for such a moment, but David's song ministered to me as I thought of my own future, taken off the respirator when medicine has run out of options. 

I lift up my life to You, Lord.

My God, I trust in You.

Do not let me be disgraced.

Do not let my enemies triumph over me.

More than me, let everyone trusting You

not be disgraced.

Disgrace the treacherous who come to You empty-handed.

Make Your ways known to me, Lord.

Teach me how to get from here to there

by following You in Your truth.

You are the God of my salvation;

Every day I wait for You.

Remember your tender mercies, Lord,

your acts of covenant love through all time.

Do not remember the sins of my youth

nor the transgressons of my later life.

Remember Your covenant love to me, Lord.

You are so good.

Good and upgright are You, Lord.

You show sinners the way.

You guide the meek in judgement

You teach the humble your ways.

These paths all lead to kindness and truth

for those who keep your covenant and Word.

On account of Your covenant name, Yahweh,

pardon my utter depravity.

Who reverences Yahweh?

Yahweh chooses whom He directs.

His life is lodged in goodness;

His family is given land.

His circle of friends come into covenant with Yahweh.

My eyes are focused continually on Yahweh.

If my feet get entangled he will not let me fall.

Let me see your face and grace

for I am lonely and disgraced.

My troubles multiply.

Free me from my distress.

Look! Lift me from the disgrace and pain

of all my sins.

Look! My enemies multiply and they hate me violently.

Guard me!  Rescue me!

I dare not be disgraced having come to You for shelter.

Integrity and uprightness shall preserve me

as I trust in You.

Ransom Israel, God, from all their distresses.

Pslam 23 (DKB Interplation)

Lord of the Ageless Covenant:

I saw slack-jawed Death yesterday,

witnessed its dark shadow sway

the destinies of families,

slap children with its icy hand,

bring them to tears in that dark land

where only Christ escaped alive.

Respirator removed, life leaking away,

beneath the waxy sleep of ages,

how disgraced we all appear,

when, like the vulture,

Death comes to claim our carrion;

mouth left agape, Satan mocks our helplessness.

Outside, the storm-lowered sky

drives before it every thing

not nailed down or under shelter.

Hide me, Lord, in the refuge of your love

that when my walk on earth is done

I follow Christ, my Pathfinder through the storm.

Remember not the sins committed

while I lived, but Your mercy remitted

be my only claim in Jesus' name,

Who paid the ransom to this Wraith

who holds my body slack-jawed for a time,

but emptied of the prize within.

Amen.

Why I Hate Religion and Love Jesus

Here's a video about what we discussed in our Gathering Saturday.
Jesus came to do away with religion.

When Heaven Comes Down: Theology from my Granddaughter

Here's a wonderful post that will not only allow me to boast about my granddaughter, but will also greatly bless you.
http://crazyforcaroline.blogspot.com/2012/03/when-heaven-comes-down.html

Oxygen from Acts 9:1-9 (Flashes)

1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. 

   And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

 7 The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

(Acts 9:1-9)

Heavenly Father:

Saul left Jerusalem, warrants in hand,

cursing all Christians who scattered the land,

threatening, walking bent forward, intense,

his travel companions could barely keep up.

"Onward," he yelled with Zealot-like fury.

Those who were with him said, "Why the big hurry?"

But Saul was a man of rarified passion,

strong, short and stocky, and full of fierce madness.

He will let nothing stop him on his mission,

putting in chains every one called a Christian.

Saul is possessed with a fiery ambition,  

leaps from his eyes, burns in his gut. 

Then a bright light, like none ever seen,

eclipsed his fire, and brought to his knees,

hands over eyes, Saul drops the decrees,

High Priest authority means nothing here.

So Saul's companions, by lagging behind,

evade the explosion that made Saul's eyes blind.

Seeing him down on the ground like a beggar,

brings them a-running to render him aid.

"Saul," says a voice from above this odd scene,

"Saul," it repeats, "Why persecute Me?"

Those who bent over the Inquisitor,

heard the voice speaking but saw not a thing.

"Who are you, sir," the Benjamite gasps.

"I am Jesus whom You harass.

Get up and go into Damascus now.

I will send help and restore your vision."

Saul, with no help from his travelling friends,

clambors with effort to rise from his knees.

Blind and confused, he limps into town

warrants a-scatter, blown to the breeze.

Precious Lord Christ, I confess with no guile,

I have been walking a road quite a while

headlong and focused on having my way,

holding resentments and anger and fury,

Warranting rushing toward goals not worth having,

pushing past people who got in my way,

challenging others to keep up if able,

leaving behind the folks too dumb to play.

Then in a flash You made Yourself known, 

speaking through Scriptures or one of Your own,

You drove me down to my knees overwhelmed,

opening heart and my mind to Your vision.

Lord, make us ready when Your Gospel breaks

upon the sinner who confession makes,

then struggles to walk in Your will and Your way,

help us provide a steady assurance.

Smite us with kindness, eclipse doubt with hope,

send us to town on the arms of some dopes

chosen by You to reveal our dependence

on grace and mercy and Your Sovereign Love.

Amen.