Psalm 16, 17, 22
Amos 5:1-17
Jude 1-16
Matthew 22:1-14
Throughout the Bible are tales of invitations extended and
rejected with some kind of response from the one doing the invitation. They are
cautionary tales that warn us toward or away from some kind of behavior. They
can be unsettling as the passage in Amos and the parable in Matthew. Even the Psalms sometimes remind us of
persecution of destruction at the hands of enemies or those who believe
differently than we do.
Other tales, like the praise in Psalm 16 can be some of the
most beautiful writing in the Bible as the author rejoices in a right
relationship with the Lord. Verse 8, “I keep the Lord always before me; because
he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” The line speaks confidence. No
doubt. No hesitation. Pure confidence.
Looking back earlier in the Psalm, it is clear that the
writer has accepted the invitation to draw close to God and to keep his ways.
This time the invitation was not rejected, but accepted and the blessings came
along with it. Throughout this Advent season, let us prepare our hearts for the
coming gift of Christ so that we are fully ready to accept His invitation when
we hear it.
No comments:
Post a Comment