A WORD FOR TODAY, September 27, 2024
Peggy Hoppes
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Blessings. Peg
A WORD FOR TODAY, September 27, 2024
“But you, Yahweh, will remain forever; your renown endures to all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for it is time to have pity on her. Yes, the set time has come. For your servants take pleasure in her stones, and have pity on her dust. So the nations will fear Yahweh’s name, all the kings of the earth your glory. For Yahweh has built up Zion. He has appeared in his glory. He has responded to the prayer of the destitute, and has not despised their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come. A people which will be created will praise Yah, for he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary. From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are condemned to death, that men may declare Yahweh’s name in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem, when the peoples are gathered together, the kingdoms, to serve Yahweh.” Psalm 102:12-22, WEB
I love to visit churches. Some of my most profound religious experiences have happened in incredible worship spaces in England. I enjoyed our visits to churches during our trip to Germany. One of my favorite places to take visitors to Texas are the painted churches of the Schulenburg area. As an artist, I enjoy looking at the art in the architecture, furnishings, and objects used to decorate the space. The cathedrals of Europe are filled with items of spiritual and historical significance and meaning. There is a church in Fairford, England that has an extraordinary set of Medieval stained-glass windows, which were saved from destruction during the Reformation and World War II. The builders of the painted churches wanted to remember their European homelands, so they painted the walls, altars, and arches of their simple buildings with colorful patterns and images. These spaces, and many more for their own unique reasons, are breathtaking.
We put a lot of time and money into the design, building, and maintenance of our worship spaces. This bothers some people who would rather spend the money on caring for people than inanimate objects, but there is a long history of creating impressive and inspirational worship spaces. It is not just a matter of making donors or congregations happy, but it is also about honoring the God that we worship with our best.
The temple in Jerusalem was spectacular, made with the best materials to honor the God who was worshipped in its precincts. The stone used was mostly a local white meleke limestone from Jerusalem with a veneer of marble and gold. The blocks were finely cut and dressed that fit together without mortar and polished to reflect the sunlight. It is said that you could see the Temple from a distance because it glowed much like a snow-covered mountain. Travelers were often pilgrims on their way to the Temple, but the sheer beauty of it drew them into the presence of God.
Psalm 102 is a penitential, individual lament that sings about community suffering and eschatological hope. It is a model prayer for those who are afflicted in some way, a song that can help us focus during those days when we struggle with the problems of this world of which there seem to be many. It is likely that the psalm was written by David during Absalom’s rebellion. The prayer is divided into three parts. The first verses (1-11) is filled with David’s complaints. He had no appetite, his years were passing too quickly, he was malnourished, lonely, abused by his enemies, and sad. David is heartsick and says a prayer for mercy, like Job and Jeremiah. In the final verses (23-28), David meditates on the brevity of human life and the eternity of God. He repeats his individual struggles and nots that life is short and fragile. This leads him to reflect on God’s eternal nature. God is the opposite of all human frailty; everything will perish but God is imperishable. God will be here for future generations. When the future generations remember the great works of God, they will worship Him. There is hope; though we are fragile, God is eternal. David is aware of his approaching death but he is full of assurance in the everlasting God.
In between his complaints and lament, David praises God for His mercy. He anticipates deliverance and asks God to show His favor. He has certainty and hope that God will act in His time. Zion, which can mean the city of Jerusalem or God’s people, needs restoration. David is confident that God will be faithful, and that His people will notice His mercy. God is King and will hear the prayers of His people. The promise that the destitute will be blessed encouraged and persuaded outsiders to believe and strengthened the faith of the descendants of God’s people. God does not just see the needs of His people, He acts. David wrote the psalm so that they would know. God’s acts in David’s day would elicit future worship. Just as the beauty of the Temple drew people into her precincts, David’s praise of God would draw people into His heart so that they will see His will help and respond with thanksgiving and praise. Eventually the whole world will join in the praise.
Our God is Creator, the sustainer and the immutable LORD of heaven and earth. All will gather to serve the King of Kings. We may not need beautiful spaces to worship, and there may be better ways to spend our money, yet the art in the architecture, furnishings, and objects used to decorate the space, does help tell the story of God’s mercy to future generations of believers and those outsiders who need to hear the Gospel. There is nothing but brokenness without Jesus and they need to draw near to God to hear His promises. His Kingdom means eternal life. Jesus is outside and over all time: He participated in creation and lives forever. He is unchangeable. This psalm reminds us of the everlasting nature of the Godhead despite our complaints and laments about today’s struggles. Jesus was there from the beginning; through Him all things were made (John 1:3). He is with us now and has promised to be with us forever no matter what happens to us today. So let us join together in praise, honoring God with words, deeds, and even the tangible aspects of our world so that others will see Him and seek His mercy and grace.
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