Today's Psalms

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

We live in a day where social networking, and media, and mobile phones are the new ways of talking – communicating with one another.  There is Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Photobucket, Skype, iPhone, iPad, Smartphone… and the list goes on.

I find social media and the latest mobile phone technology quite fascinating – and even helpful. It helps in so many different ways! I can video call friends and family in other countries; I can keep in touch with groups of friends and share statuses of how I’m feeling (emphasized with an emoticon);  I can even share pictures and photos between family members. I have been able to communicate
especially with our StAND Youth members via Facebook given their very busy and sophisticated young lives. It makes me also young and cool.

The collection of Psalms throughout Scripture, capture and articulate the emotions of many early pilgrims. Reflections from kings, slaves, those who are strong in faith, those who are weak, those for whom oppression has become unbearable, the lament of those who feel abandoned by their God, but also those who can testify to God’s enduring love – are all collated to make up what is commonly known as the Psalter. Despite the schizophrenic nature of these psalms – they hold a significant place in Scripture – in the story of the people of God.

Earlier this year, I concluded that “Facebook is a modern day Psalter.” It is a collection of celebratory occasions, successes, encouragement,  intention, future hopes, past regrets and failure, frustration, a forum to praise God – but also to curse God, a space where many share their grief, honour personal loss of a loved one, an arena to confront an enemy… all these things and more. Facebook, then, like many other social networks has become today’s psalms.  
 
As people of God, a community of faith, we are called to “praise Him in the assembly of the people” (Ps. 109), and giving thanks to God for “He set his people free and made an eternal covenant with them … he is to be praised    forever”  (Ps. 111). And how about you and me? In the assembly of our social network groups, do we honour the Lord? Do we honour our redemption through the grace of Jesus Christ in our status updates? Is the language we use in today’s psalms, like the Psalter, a language that begins with lament and rebellion, but points to hope? The psalmist says, “May your constant love be with us, Lord, as we put our hope in you” (Ps.33).

I encourage you, then, friends in Christ, in all that we do and speak, whether face to face or facebook to facebook, may our words reflect a nature of hope, that others too, may find hope.

“To you alone, O Lord, to you alone, and not to us, must glory be given because of your constant love and faithfulness” (Ps. 115).
 
Have a great week!
 
Blessings,

 Rev Gary Mauga