“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:1-7
“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalm 34:1-7
Years ago, a memorable invocation for a Sunday were selected verses from Psalm 34 and our opening hymn was “Awake my Soul, and with the Sun” and words seemed to point my thoughts to Haiti and how much time is left to feed children on this journey. Isn’t it amazing how sometimes memories seem crystal clear? The words of this hymn were written by Thomas Ken in 1674 when the established church believed only Scripture should be sung as hymns with an emphasis on the Psalms. Some theologians of that period considered it sinful and blasphemous to write new lyrics for church music as it was like adding to the Scriptures. Thomas Ken wrote this and several other hymns for the boys at Winchester College, with strict instructions that they use them only in their rooms, for private devotions. The first three verses are as follows;
“Awake, my soul, and with the sun thy daily stage of duty run; shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise, to pay thy morning sacrifice. Thy precious time misspent, redeem, each present day thy last esteem, improve thy talent with due care; for the great day thyself prepare. By influence of the Light divine let thy own light to others shine. Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways in ardent love, and cheerful praise.”
How many opportunities will you and I have to help prepare a child in Haiti to go and share the news of Salvation with the lost in Haiti? How many more opportunities will we have to put oil into the young lighthouses attending Lutheran schools in Haiti? In the darkness of Haiti a bright light is starting to shine, bringing the news of a Risen Savior into the ears, eyes and hearts of lives that have been living in the lies of the vodou priest.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay