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January 2, 2018

God Our Redeemer

Stephen B. Chapman   |   Read Psalm 148:1-14

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Lectionary Week
January 1–7, 2018
Scripture Overview

The beginning of the New Year reminds us of God’s love for all peoples through the celebration of Epiphany. Isaiah uses imagery of a wedding and a garden to declare that the beauty arising from Israel will go to all nations. The psalmist praises the Lord on behalf of everything and everyone on the earth, including men and women from all peoples. Paul proclaims that Christ fulfills the expectations of Israel; he is the open door for all to become children of God. In Luke, Simeon and Anna speak prophetically over the infant Jesus in the Temple, declaring him the light to the Gentiles. God’s promises made in love are fulfilled in love.

Questions and Suggestions for Reflection

• Read Isaiah 61:10–62:3. How are you daily becoming Zion, a person of justice?
• Read Psalm 148. How does your connection to God connect you to creation?
• Read Galatians 4:4-7. How confident are you that God listens to your prayer?
• Read Luke 2:22-40. When have you experienced sacrifice as gain rather than loss?

Respond by posting a prayer.

Psalm 148:1-14

1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from heaven! Praise God on the heights! 2 Praise God, all of you who are his messengers! Praise God, all of you who comprise his heavenly forces! 3 Sun and moon, praise God! All of you bright stars, praise God! 4 You highest heaven, praise God! Do the same, you waters that are above the sky! 5 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because God gave the command and they were created! 6 God set them in place always and forever. God made a law that will not be broken. 7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all you ocean depths! 8 Do the same, fire and hail, snow and smoke, stormy wind that does what God says! 9 Do the same, you mountains, every single hill, fruit trees, and every single cedar! 10 Do the same, you animals—wild or tame you creatures that creep along and you birds that fly! 11 Do the same, you kings of the earth and every single person, you princes and every single ruler on earth! 12 Do the same, you young men—young women too! you who are old together with you who are young! 13 Let all of these praise the LORD’s name because only God’s name is high over all. Only God’s majesty is over earth and heaven. 14 God raised the strength of his people, the praise of all his faithful ones that’s the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible. Used by permission.

Faith sometimes leads believers to focus on spiritual realities to the neglect of earthly cares. The psalmist never does so. For the psalmist, a vital awareness of God reminds believers of the spiritual significance of their everyday lives and their kinship with every living creature. Modern people tend to think...

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Creator God, in you all things live, move, and have their being. Raise up a horn for your people once more, that we may join in the chorus of praise being sung all around us. Amen.


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