Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
“God mounts His throne amid shouts of joy.”
This Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord,
who was taken up to heaven to be seated at the right
hand of the Father, far above every principality,
with authority over every nation, as our 2nd reading
tells us (Ephesians 1:17-23).
With such an awesome God on His throne, what hope
do we have as mere human beings that He will have
anything more to do with us? How far removed can
we be if this Jesus is taken up to heaven and has all
things put beneath His feet (including us)?
Fortunately, for us men, Jesus leaves us with a way
to share in His divinity, through the Holy Spirit
which He gives to us. His power and presence remain
within us, so long as we repent from our sins and
believe in Him.
Power is often associated with arrogance and brutal
treatment, but our God uses His power to work
miracles, and bring about healing. He is risen, and
is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
Knowing this, we shout with joy, and we praise Him.
As today's Gospel tells us, after Jesus' ascension, the
disciples begin their active ministry, empowered by
the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 16-20). That same power
is given to us so long as we believe; we too are called
to ministry. And for that we are inspired to praise
the Lord, as the psalmist says, “Clap your hands,
shout to God with joyful cries; sing praise to God!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm speaks of God mounting His throne and reigning over
the nations. If God is raised up so far above us, how do you go about
having a relationship with our Lord so that He is present to you?
2. The Psalm's verses tell of God as the great king over all the earth,
and we are urged to sing praise to our king. Describe how our Lord's
ascension inspires you to celebrate with shouts of joy.
Back in July of last year, we had 3 rental properties in the town of Hemet. The tenants had just left a rental in fair condition, and Carol and I were over there doing clean up and fixup in the 95 degree hot sun. And we said why are we doing this? We’re too old to be doing this physical work. We prayed to the Lord and asked for help. Over the past 10 months, we’ve sold the 3 rentals, and feel as if the weight of
ReplyDeletethe world has been lifted from our shoulders, and we sleep a lot better at night! Praise the Lord…we are very thankful.
As we grow older, most of us learn to contain our joy, expressing it, perhaps, in a smile or a high-five or even a quick shout of delight, but not too many of us are known to “jump for joy,” even when every fiber of our being cries out to do just that. Joy must find expression. It may be expressed in physical and verbal ebullience or in more subtle and structured forms, for joy is more than happiness; joy is a contentment of the soul anchored in the sovereignty and providential goodness, love, and mercy of God.
ReplyDeleteThe psalm for today is one that praises God as the sovereign of all creation. “The Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. . . .Sing praises to God, sing praises to our King, sing praises.” Some of us may not clap our hands and shout, as the psalmist encourages; some of us may not even sing, but the joy of knowing that God is the ruler of all, that God has “the whole world in his hands,” is one that can never be completely contained. It must find expression in the way most appropriate to who we are and in the knowledge of whose we are.
Ever since God raised His son, Jesus Christ, up from death, and after His ascension, we could share in His divinity. We have our inheritance and became a coheir with Him. His power and presence remain within us through the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteWe are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the same things which His disciples did, such as healing, working miracles and preaching the Gospel. We could witness to the World that He is a awesome God above all. Knowing this, I clap my hands, shout to God with cries of joy and with a thankful heart, because He saved me through His Mercy and Grace.