April 17, 2021

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Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, we pray with Psalm 33 in which the psalmist calls on us to sing and dance and SHOUT because God is faithful in keeping promises.

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;
it is good for the just to shout praises.
Praise the Lord with the harp;
play to God upon the ten-stringed lyre.
Sing for God a new song;
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
For the word of the Lord is right,
and all the works of God are sure.
God loves righteousness and justice;
the mercy of the Lord fills the whole earth.

Psalm 33:1-5

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In the course of our lives, there are many moments when we want to shout praise to God Who has come through for us in a big way – some gift, resolution, deliverance, insight – that opens our eyes to new life and possibility.

The disciples, tossing about in an uncertain sea, might have felt a little shout coming on when they saw someone walking on the turbulent waters. Can’t you almost hear the astounded “Yippee”s as Jesus assured them it was he?

The sea was stirred up
because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea
and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.

John 6:18-20

But Jesus said to them,
“It is I. Do not be afraid.”

John 6: 18-20

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As we pray today, we might remember the many times God has walked, unexpected, out of the midst of our storms. We might not be praying in a place where it’s appropriate to SHOUT. So let us take up the ten-stringed lyre of our hearts and quietly sing our gratitude.

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Poetry: Where Everything is Music – Rumi

We have fallen into the place
where everything is music.

The strumming and the flute notes
rise into the atmosphere,
and if the whole world's harp
should burn up,
there will still be hidden lyres
playing, playing
 
This singing art
is sea foam.
The graceful movements
come from a pearl
somewhere
on the ocean floor.

Poems reach up like spindrift
and the edge of driftwood
along the beach
wanting, wanting

They derive from a slow
and powerful root
that we cannot see.

Stop the words now.
Open the window
in the center of your chest,
and let the spirits fly
in and out

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Music: The Lyre of Megiddo – Peter Pringle

The ancient city of Megiddo is also known as Armageddon. The lyre is made after an image discovered on a piece of ivory that stems from the time of the biblical King David. King David was known to have played a harp, so it is very likely that it was an instrument much like this one.