Week Four 

The first month passes by and one 3rd of the sabbatical is complete. 

Deep rest and nourishment takes time  - it is a conscious stepping away from the demands of life to reconnect with God, self and allowing restoration. It is a conscious shift of rhythm.

The Model of sabbath sets a rhythm and pattern for working and resting affirming rest is holy and necessary. When is your sabbath?

Jesus offers an invitation which is divine, gentle and humble in Matthew 11:28-30  
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

All that we carry often feels heavy and rarely light. Jesus' invitation is to step away from the busyness, demands and chaos.

In keeping with the Psalms - Psalm 127:2 we are reminded  "In vain you rise early
and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves".

Refresh, replenish and restore

This week we attended Manchester Cathedral and attended Luminiscence - music, art and technology collide and you are immersed in history of Manchester's development.   No mention of God though it was a holy and sacred space that invited a spiritual response. Excellent




Psalm 35 - simply entitled a psalm of David this is a psalm known as a "Imprecatory" psalm - in strong terms asks God to defeat and destroy the enemies of His people. Not the strongest of mildest it is possible it is written around the time when David is pursued by Saul - possibly around 1 Samuel 24:15. David Speaks to Saul 15 “Therefore let the LORD be judge, and judge between you and me, and see and plead my case, and deliver me out of your hand.”

Psalm 35:1-3 
Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me;
Fight against those who fight against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
And stand up for my help.
Also draw out the spear,
And stop those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation.”

It feels as though David needing reassurance - "Say to my soul - I am your Salvation" seems a request for the renewing of the connection - communion with God. There is nothing greater in our lives - no greater word that reminding ourselves "God is our Salvation". 
David had doubts, got things wrong and when his happened he wasn't content. David wanted more in God and he sought God in the present not the future. 

Psalm 76 - A Psalm of Asaph - Asaph, from tribe of Levi, was a musician, worship leader, seer who was appointed by King David to lead praise at the Tabernacle - the Ark of the Covenant.  Credited with writing 12 Psalms (Psalms 50 and 73-83). Often associated with playing the cymbals (imagine the crashing noise) though this is sung with stringed instruments. 

Psalm 76 is a psalm of worship to God for a victory for the people of Israel and Judah. When enemies invaded God's power turned them back. Salem is another word for Jerusalem. Zion refers to the hill/mountain where David's palace was built.

God is renowned in Judah;
    in Israel his name is great.
2 His tent is in Salem,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shields and the swords, the weapons of war

This Psalm reminds us that God’s power is unmatched. When God arises to judgment, all the oppressed of the earth will be delivered.


Psalm 100 - 5 Verses - a psalm of thanksgiving and the only one entitled as that. 
It invites us to use this as a call to worship. Yahweh invites us to turn up the volume, shout, worship, enter, praise,bless. taken together these commands are such an invitation for the community to engage in singing in the long procession to the temple. Imagine the scene - all singing and proclaiming - not hidden behind closed doors. Yet amidst all of this is the intimate invitation to "know that the Lord is God" -it is not a superficial knowing but one of ultimate dependence and reliance - like the sheep withe shepherd. 

At a time of fracture in the world we need to shout this psalm. perhaps try singing it yourself.     

For giving grateful praise.

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.


Psalm 148 - another vibrant hymn of praise calling on everything created to praise the Lord. Nothing is excluded. This is Psalm which is not about defeat, failure, lament or human sin - it is the glory of redemption.  Reading this Psalm slowly and focussing on a few verses it reminds me of how all creation can be in harmony - co -existing together.  

13 times we are called to Praise - not to judge but to give oneself in surrender to the divine creator. What can we Praise God for - people, food to eat, waking, people who care and who we care for, the gorgeous tree, birds that fly. All reasons to praise the Lord - what are yours?

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.