Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" – Psalm 115:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 13, 2025): Psalm 115

Several years ago, I attended a Hindu worship service. The service was not unlike a Christian service. There was a worship time, a brief teaching time, and even a time of something akin to the Lord's Supper, as the congregation was invited to partake of some of the fruit that had been brought as an offering to the gods.

Of course, the significant difference was "the gods." The front platform area was filled with various gods being worshiped. And other gods occupied some of the multiple nooks down the side of the sanctuary area. Gods were everywhere; some of them I was familiar with, like Ganesha, the elephant-headed god revered as the remover of obstacles and the possessor of wisdom and assistance for new beginnings. But many of them I didn't know. Even with all of these gods, I also knew that not all of the gods were present in the room, only the ones who meant something to the gathering congregation.

I have also attended Eastern Orthodox services, with all the saints and icons that contain images of the saints and depict the faith. The various statues in these churches take a little getting used to for a Protestant like me.

As Protestants, we often look down on these faiths, which have so many various objects of worship, but we are also not immune. A friend of mine tells the story of visiting a church that had a photocopier located at the front of the sanctuary. The photocopier had died several years earlier, so there was no practical use for the piece of office furniture; it just sat at the front of the room where the church worshipped. There was a storage room on the other side of the wall from where this photocopier was being kept, or perhaps it is a better description to say 'displayed.' So, one day, my friend decided to move the photocopier into that room. The following Sunday, he suffered from the fallout of the congregation. The photocopier had been donated to the church by a parishioner who had also passed away, joining the donated photocopier in its demise. As a result, before the service could begin, the ushers moved the photocopier back into its place of honor. Does that qualify as an icon? I don't know.

Most of our churches do have an icon, although it is so ever-present that we seldom even recognize its presence. What is this icon? It is the cross that hangs at the front of the sanctuary. That "plus sign" identifies most of our churches as Christian.

But the worship places of Judaism were unmarked. There was no representation of Yahweh, the Jewish God. All the other gods had images, such as the elephant head of Ganesha, but not Yahweh. Any image had been prohibited in the Ten Commandments. "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below" (Exodus 20:4). This lack of an image meant there was no place where Israel could point and say, "Here is my God." In fact, Judaism and Christianity were both considered pagan and atheistic because they possessed no image of their God.

As a result, the nations taunted Israel, asking them where their God was. And the Psalmist subtly prays that God would reveal to the nations where their God was through His actions. Because what else would the nations really need to see?  

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 116 & 117

Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion. – Psalm 114:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 12, 2025): Psalm 113 & 114

As Jacob approached the end of his life, he prophesied over all of his sons. Not all of the prophecies were positive. Reuben, the oldest of the sons of Jacob, learned that he would "no longer excel" (Genesis 49:4). Simeon and Levi were cursed. Jacob prophesied that because of the violence of the brothers, "Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel" (Genesis 49:7). It would be generations before the meaning of this prophecy could be realized. But the prophecy is fulfilled in very different ways. The tribe of Simeon would eventually disappear, being absorbed into the other tribes of Israel. The descendants of Levi would become the priests for the nation, scattered among their brothers and sisters, and yet the tribe would remain unique and their identity would be preserved throughout the generations of Israel.

The prophecy that Jacob spoke over Judah is critical here. Jacob said,

Judah, your brothers will praise you;
    your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
    your father's sons will bow down to you.
You are a lion's cub, Judah;
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
    like a lioness—who dares 

    you return from the prey, my son.to rouse him?
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
    nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
    and the obedience of the nations shall be his (Genesis 49:8-10).

The prophecy of Jacob is reflected in this Psalm. Rule over Israel would always be by God, but he would rule from the territory of Judah. The wording is interesting here. The translation "he to whom it belongs shall come" is actually the word "Shiloh." As Christians, we recognize Jesus as the Shiloh of Jacob's prophecy. But Israel had a city they called Shiloh. And it was in Shiloh that the Tabernacle, the seat of God, was placed. Was it an attempt to circumvent the prophecy of Jacob? Maybe. While Jacob said the scepter or rule of Judah over the tribes of Israel would not depart until Shiloh came, the first King of Israel was from the tribe of Benjamin, and the city of Shiloh was placed within the borders of the tribe of Ephraim. But during David's rule, both returned once again to Judah. David was born of the tribe of Judah, and the Tabernacle would be replaced by the Temple of Jerusalem, again within the borders of Jerusalem. Judah truly became God's sanctuary, and from there, God continued to rule over Israel until the day that Shiloh came and the Temple was finally destroyed.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 115

Personal Note: Happy 86^th birthday, Mom.

Praise the LORD. I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. – Psalm 111:1

Today's Scripture Reading (October 11, 2025): Psalm 111 & 112

I believe that everything that I have belongs to God. Everything that we have originated from him. He might ask for a tithe (10%) to be given back to him, but he gave us everything that we have, so everything belongs to him; even the portion I keep beyond the tithe. I get that we struggle with that thought. However, it is not just our finances that belong to God; everything we know or think also belongs to Him. Many of our beliefs are so deeply ingrained that we think this is the only way to believe, and that what we believe must be what God believes. As a result, we don’t give these beliefs a second thought.

However, that is not always true. Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) championed the concept of Copernican Heliocentrism. You want to impress someone, fit that term in your conversation. Copernican Heliocentrism simply means that Galileo believed the Earth revolves daily and orbits the Sun. The Catholic Church disagreed. It was obvious. The Bible said so in several places and one of those places is 1 Chronicles 16:30. “Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved” (1 Chronicles 16:30). The Earth cannot be moved, so it is obvious that it neither spins to produce night and day nor does it revolve around the Sun resulting in our seasons. When the Bible says the Earth cannot be moved, God means it cannot be moved. And so, Pope Paul V ordered an investigation of Galileo. In 1616, Pope Paul V met with Galileo and ordered him not to teach any form of Copernican Heliocentrism in the future. And it seemed that once again, faith and science were at odds with each other. Part of the problem was that the Bible spoke with the level of knowledge of the original audience, and we can’t read back into it with what we have come to know.

However, the truth is that it appears the world is firmly established. We know, or perhaps I should say that most of us know, that the Earth spins on its axis as it orbits around the Sun. Yet, even with that knowledge, we talk about the Sun rising and setting; we know that isn’t true and that the Earth is really the one doing the moving. Chinese Philosopher Lao Tzu argued, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world” (Lao Tzu), but we understand that this is a bit of hyperbole. It might be true, but we would never have a lever long enough or a fulcrum in the proper position to move the world. Both Galileo and Chronicles describe the same world, but approach it from different directions. And there is no contradiction between one or the other.

Many years ago, during my youth pastor days, I had a conversation with the mother of one of my teens. Mom didn’t come to church, even though she had grown up in the church. And so, we were talking, and I wanted to know why she had left the church behind. She was honest with me. She said that she believed in evolution, and therefore, she couldn’t believe in Jesus. And my reaction was “Houston, we have a problem.” And so, I revealed to her that I have accepted the theory of evolution for decades, and I am a pastor. I believe that there is actually very little difference between evolution and creation. I think that evolution is simply the mechanism of creation, guided by God. Evolution suggests that we originated from the primordial muck, as amino acids combined to form simple one-celled organisms, and later, more complex animals. But how would you describe that process to people who had no idea what an amino acid was, and had never seen a one-celled organism? The best way that I can think of describing the process of evolution is that God formed you out of the dust. And placing God into the equation fixes the one problem that I have always had with evolution. The idea that in evolution, organisms become increasingly complex. The world that I know tends toward chaos, not complexity. You don’t tell your kid to forget about cleaning their room because it will clean itself if they leave it alone. But with God captaining the process, we can move from simplicity toward complexity.

We hold to our theories so tightly that sometimes we can’t see anything other than what we have always believed. And someone like me comes along and says, “Maybe we could see it this way,” and we are shocked. How could we think that? It was precisely what happened when our ancestors began to baptize adults. The church was holding onto the concept that the only proper, God-ordained Baptism was infant baptism. The idea of adult baptism didn’t make sense. However, we must hold lightly to what we believe and be able to praise God in all things, because it is all His. Everything we have and everything we believe is His. It is God that we worship, not our fragile beliefs. And sometimes God needs our permission to shake us out of even our long-held beliefs that do not belong to him.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 113 & 114

He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. – Psalm 107:14

Today's Scripture Reading (October 10, 2025): Psalm 107

I recently watched a documentary about Charlie Sheen. Sheen has had a "bad-boy" image almost from the very beginning of his life. Growing up as one of Martin Sheen's sons, it seemed that his life was already mapped out for him. He would become an actor with a solid career ahead of him in Hollywood.

However, then Sheen fell into a cycle of alcohol and drug abuse. The drugs started early, and life was soon out of control for the young actor. And the cycle went something like this. First, his lifestyle would get out of his control. Then there would be some sort of intervention. Whether it was family and friends gathering to convince Charlie that he needed help, or a friend who took that role informally, Charlie would reluctantly realize that he required some professional assistance. Then there would be help, being placed in a drug rehab center or an institution like it. Upon graduation from rehab, a good acting assignment would be waiting for him, rewarding his newfound health and balance. And then the cycle would begin again.

Part of the problem is that whether you were a friend or just knew him through his films, Charlie Sheen was a very likable guy. And Charlie would be the first to admit that the consequences of his behavior throughout much of his life were not present. Charlie would flash a smile, and people would let him off from the consequences that would be automatic for anyone else.

Perhaps the most significant question is whether Charlie Sheen has finally broken the cycle. He has survived, perhaps in ways that others wouldn't have, but at some point, the cycle has to end; otherwise, this likable character won't survive.

The Psalmist speaks of those whom God has redeemed from their enemies. Those who had been redeemed had likely been suffering through a cycle of trouble. Historically, Israel seemed to suffer through these Charlie Sheen-like cycles. God would bless them, and then they would choose to follow paths that were not healthy for them. They would follow the gods worshiped by their neighbors or gods that fit their mood and perhaps their concept of what a deity should be. The nation would then fall into trouble, and they would be oppressed for a time until God provided a hero who would take care of the problem. Then, Israel would prosper for a time until the cycle started all over again.

But the Psalmist reminds his readers that that is not what God had intended for them. When he redeemed the nation or the individual, his plan was to break their chains, not just freeing those who were suffering, but crushing their manacles so that the cycle could finally be broken. As a result, the people could be redeemed, not just for a season, but forever.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 111 & 112

You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. – Psalm 104:9

Today's Scripture Reading (October 9, 2025): Psalm 104

I recently watched a documentary that examined the last time the Earth was without ice. The premise was that while we often think of the ice age as something that existed thousands of years ago, this documentary reminded the viewer that the last ice age hasn't ended yet, as there is still semi-permanent ice on the planet. The comment actually took me by surprise.

The documentary explored some of the major changes that existed the last time the Earth was without ice, which was over 34 million years ago. Most of the most prominent differences appear to be that the animals were significantly larger, and the land area was substantially smaller. There were no higher-level primates on Earth, and, of course, no humans; this was a long time before the story of Adam and Eve. The water that dominated the planet was filled with things that could only be called "monsters." If humans were on the Earth, it would have been a terrifying time to be alive.

As far as the border between land and sea, almost all coastal areas on our planet were then underwater. If you live within sight of water, your place would likely have been part of the water instead of part of the land. Europe would have been just a group of large islands in the North Atlantic region of the Earth. None of this should come as a surprise, given that we are witnessing flooding on an unprecedented scale, and bodies of water threaten to submerge many of our coastlines. The temperature during this moment in our history was probably at least eight degrees, on average, higher.

Some politicians maintain that climate change is some kind of a hoax. And maybe it is. It all depends on what your image of the planet might be. If it is of a water world where the average temperature is another eight degrees warmer than it is today, where giants roamed the Earth and swam the seas, and where we are absent, maybe you are right. If your image of the Earth is one where it was a few degrees colder and the ice mass at higher altitudes, as well as at the North and South Poles, is greater than it is today, then climate change is very real.

Which is right? I have no idea. This is what I know. I know that God placed his creation on the earth during the present ice age. We weren't here the last time that the Earth was without ice. The Psalmist also says that God has set a limit on the ocean's depth. I wish that there were a dark red line wherever the water boundary should be, but there isn't. For most of the Earth's history, God has been the one who decides where the oceans should be. It is only very recently that we have become like God, with the ability to set the boundaries of where the oceans and lakes should be. God, in his wisdom, has allowed us the ability to flood the coastlines, destroying them. He has given us the responsibility to care for the earth that he created. In this way, we have become like God. And that is a huge responsibility.

So, what are we going to do with our newfound power? It is up to us whether we protect the planet or exploit it. Where would you draw the line that stops the water from the seas? For the first time in our history, we have the power to save or destroy our coastlines. What happens really is up to us.   

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 107

Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you. – Psalm 102:4

Today's Scripture Reading (October 8, 2025): Psalm 102

I recently got mad at my bank. From my point of view, they had committed a few unforced errors in a row, and I wasn't happy. One of the people that I spoke with at the bank heard me, and I was settling down, but this bank advisor had a request. He told me, "Garry, I know that this is not part of your personality, but I need you to go into the bank in person (ever since the pandemic, I have done most of my banking online), and get angry with them." (He also said something about making some heads roll.) He instructed me to talk to one of the Branch Managers.

A couple of days later, I found myself standing in front of a bank teller, asking to speak with a manager. Many years ago, getting angry at some incompetents would have been an easy thing for me, but times have changed, and apparently so have I. The manager was busy, but I volunteered to go and sit in the waiting room at the front of the bank. Another advisor I had dealt with noticed me and came to find out if something was wrong. And I just repeated that I wasn't happy. She stayed with me, and we talked for a bit. Of course, she tried to softly explain that the bank's unforced errors were really my fault, which didn't increase my joy.

Finally, the manager showed up, and I was ushered into a room, where we discussed the errors that had upset me. The manager defended his team, and I agreed; the team members were great, which meant that the problem had to be systemic within the bank. So, the manager defended the bank systems, to which I wanted to tell him that he couldn't have it both ways, but I decided wisdom was to hold my tongue. We talked a little more before he agreed to look into the situation and get back to me. I think I was as happy to walk out of the bank as they were glad to get rid of me.

It has been about a month since that meeting at the bank. And, as of yet, no one from the bank has gotten back to me, but there have also been no more errors. I am not sure if that is a win, but we will see if anything changes moving forward.

The truth is that often, we just need to be heard. In our society, where it seems harder and harder to get corporations and banks to consider the harm their actions can cause, they sometimes seem to run our lives without much regard for the consequences. And what is troubling is that they don't seem to care. If it were just one bank or one corporation, maybe we could isolate them and move away from their products and services. However, sometimes they seem to know that the consumer has no place to go. So, they don't have to change, listen, or answer.

The Psalmist has one request of God: "Hear me." Listen to my words; understand the angst rising inside me. Perhaps this is all in your will, and my circumstances won't change, but I need to know that you at least hear me, because I am struggling and I need to know that you care; that you will still stand with me as I face the approaching storm.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 104

Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. – Psalm 100:2

Today's Scripture Reading (October 7, 2025): Psalm 100

Many years ago, I conducted an experiment. For one Sunday evening service during the summer, I thought we could simply sing the songs that meant something to us —the ones that we rarely sing in church anymore. And so, I gave the people of the church a chance to request a song, or an unlimited number of songs, that they wanted to sing on this summer evening. The requests began to pour in, which was a good sign. Some came from people who never made it to the evening edition of worship service, and I doubted whether they would make it on this Sunday evening either. The votes began to mount. It quickly became apparent that there were some favorites, requested several times by different people, or perhaps they were stuffing the ballot box or campaigning for their preferred candidates. I didn't really care which was true. The evening worship service came, and we gathered to sing the songs of the people. For this evening, the only criterion was that a group of people wanted to sing the song. A Christmas carol was equal to an Easter hymn, or just an old Gaither chorus that had fallen by the wayside. I wasn't going to preach. For a few of the songs, I would tell the story of the hymn writer or share a memory that I had of the song and what it meant to me, but I didn't choose any of them. All of the songs came on little slips of paper, requested by somebody else.

Late in the service, with only a couple of songs left, one older gentleman stood up with a question. Why had we packed one service with so many funeral songs? I looked down at the last two songs of the night that we were about to sing and recognized that they, too, could be considered funeral hymns. The simple answer was that we are singing these songs because they are the ones that people had chosen for this service. But there was also a more profound question. Why, in the middle of a beautiful summer, had we decided to sing so many songs that could also have been sung at any funeral?

Perhaps the most obvious answer is that our songs often focus on the next life rather than this one. "I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary," "My Jesus, I Love Thee," "In the Garden," and many others of our favorite songs focus on what comes after death. Sometimes, songs that deal with life are dismissed as being too shallow theologically for inclusion in church worship services.

Recently, I participated in a social media discussion about the merits of the Christian Hit "Good, Good Father" as a worship song. The song did not fare well in the debate, most feeling that theologically it did not measure up. And yet, it is a happy tune with a message that I believe we need to hear. Consider the chorus of the song.

You're a good, good father.
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you.
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am 

Some in the discussion thought that the song's lyrics were decidedly selfish, focusing more on the individual than on God. But I disagree. The message is not a complex one, but it is a necessary one and one that we need to hear. God is a Good Father; it is part of his essential character. And we are loved by him. We are the beloved, which again is a consequence of the nature of God. It is a joyful song that concentrates on our life here and now.

The Psalmist insists that joyful songs are always welcome in God's presence. Don't discard all those beautiful songs that remind us that our death is not the end. However, we also need to remember that God intends us to be joyful in this life; that our joy begins here and continues there. Our worship songs should reflect that fact. After all, we are the beloved of God. What more could we want?

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 102