Scripture Text (NRSV)
Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19
80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a
flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
80:2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
80:8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and
planted it.
80:9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled
the land.
80:10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars
with its branches;
80:11 it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the
River.
80:12 Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass
along the way pluck its fruit?
80:13 The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the
field feed on it.
80:14 Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine, 80:15 the stock that your right hand
planted.
80:16 They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may
they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
80:17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one
whom you made strong for yourself.
80:18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we
will call on your name.
80:19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine,
that we may be saved.
Comments:
"Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be
saved."
Save us from what? Does "Restore us" imply that we are in a state in
need of restoration?
Rick in Va.
Well, Rick, I agree. But hesitate to cast the first stone. Confessions
I have heard that shall never leave my lips..... Saw a disgusting
movie "Something about Mary" last weekend, made me want to vomit.
"Black (not African) humor. As to restoration, I hope to offer God my
own heart first. I have turned here as a possible preaching text. What
does my little church want God to restore, and what is he likely to
restore? Be careful what you pray for, perhaps? Restoration is needed
in our diocese as well. Give us life, and we will call on your name.
What do we pray for? Why? Grant us a clean heart, Oh God...... Other
thoughts? Hw in Hawaii
Hw in Hawaii,
I walked out of the same movie on Sunday evening. Family and friends
had said it was sooo funny and thought I should go. I thought the
movie was indicative of how base our culture has become. I was
completely disgusted.
Later, I felt so terribly alone. I don't understand how my own family
members can encourage people to see this kind of movie. My mother and
I had quite a discussion over it last night and it didn't end well.
She thought the movie was a great escape from the stresses of life.
I'm encouraged to hear that others find it to be disgusting. There is
still hope.
Thanks for the encouragement...
By the way, I think there's quite the difference in pointing out sin
and casting the first stone. As preachers, it's part of the job to
steer people away from destructive behavior (i.e. sin). It's not our
job to condemn (cast the first stone) but it is our job to speak
against that which separates us from God (rebuke... in love).
Rick in Va.
Re: branches and trees (but having no otherconnection with the passage
whatsoever!) - Saturday we attended a "Singing Christmas Tree"
production at a local church - what a spectacle - found myself
mournful and hungry upon leaving, despite the several threads of the
story - the birth story, and the disbeliever made into a believer
through the story. The tree itself was full of flashing lights and
lovely faces and beautiful voices singing contemporized versions of
some old Christmas songs, and lotsa new songs I never heard before.
The overwhelming tree of Christmas celebration.
In my mind the whole time was another tree. In a very plain chapel
attached to a Catholic church, someone has placed, during Advent,
several deciduous trees, about 12 ft tall, absolutely bare of leaves.
One can sit in the chapel and watch them in absoute silence, with a
small light at the peak of the chapel creating shadow trees standing
just as strongly beside the real ones. Those trees are what I bring to
the eye of my memory whenever I feel my spirit crowded by what seems
to accompany Christmas.
Trying to decide why the second image is so fertile, and the first so
estranging - perhaps the singing Christmas tree represents all we do,
and the bare Advent trees represent our longing for God . .
Nothing to do with the paassage, really - but I wanted to give you all
an Advent gift - maybe you will take with you the bare tree picture
and forgive my digression on this fairly undervisited portion of dps.
blessings to all . . especially those of us who are without leaves,
and who are wanting . . kbc in sc
kbc,
Thanks...
Rick in VA
-
Well here's another off the passage post.
kbc, thanks for the interesting thoughts on the living Christmas tree.
I kind of get the same impression whenever I watch a Protestant
service on Christmas eve, and watch the Mass from St. Peter's. It
seems one is geared toward entertaining and the other toward mystery.
You've got me thinking about that silly singing Christmas tree that
can be found in toy stores etc. Not that I want to buy one, but ought
to be a neat idea for a children's sermon...describing how creation
will shout and sing to the Lord.
-John near Pitts.
